Today I added my first two fish to my new 80 gallon upgrade, a pair of semi-piccaso clowns and a Midas Blenny. The clowns are sleeping under one powerhead and the Blenny is sleeping atop the other. My 100 pounds of live rock has been all but ignored. I know this will change, but I have to wonder, what's the deal with powerheads? Why do the fish always gravitate to the least natural element of my reef? Any ideas?
Why do fish love powerheads?
- Thread starter Boxelder
- Start date
Eric the half-bee
Passer of gasses
Nope, but my long nose hawk likes to sit atop the tunzes as well.
iamwrasseman
New member
what is the tank temperature ?
79-81 f
heater is set at 79 but I have two 250 metal halides so i figure they might bump it up a degree or two durring the day. They were just properly installed a few days ago so I'm not certain. Tank has been cycling a month and the LR came from the shark tank at my LFS.
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iamwrasseman
New member
they are probably liking the height of them for a "birds eye view" .
iamwrasseman
New member
i wouldn't be concerned with their actions as many fish like them as perches
Thanks. It's always nerve wracking for me, getting a new fish, but I'm getting more confident every time.
I agree with the other its probably nothing.
Nonetheless, it could be a lack of oxygen problem, often fish get close to powerheads when the aquarium oxygen content is low, since that particular area, given the strong water flow, tends to have a higher oxygen concentration.
You can read a good article on this subject by Eric Borneman here:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-08/eb/index.php
Nonetheless, it could be a lack of oxygen problem, often fish get close to powerheads when the aquarium oxygen content is low, since that particular area, given the strong water flow, tends to have a higher oxygen concentration.
You can read a good article on this subject by Eric Borneman here:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-08/eb/index.php
IME many fish will get into the flow of a PH, especially if it's new, and swim against that flow. It's not a question of them "liking" it, IMO. They simply aren't smart enough, at least at first, to know to simply swim out of it. It's like a person caught in a rip current at the beach. You have to "know" to swim sideways to get out of it, otherwise you just swim against it, instinctively.
I think this is a quite intelligent hypothesis. :reading:
iamwrasseman
New member
they certainly do learn and understand where the flow is and its direction as most of my fish display characteristics that show this .
flameangel88
New member
My Crosshatch has been sitting on top of the powerhead and wedge against the glass top with the trigger after the light goes out. She's been doing this the past couple of months and comes off when the light is on.
Maybe it's the fish equivalent to a treadmill?Or maybe some fish are lurking for "free" food?
Tim
Or a dog sticking their head out of the car??? :spin2:
maynardjames
New member
mine too seems to enjoy it. also does loops around my mp40 vortech on his side of tank. sometime for several minutes at a time. think its just getting a little exercise. i have never been diving on a reef, but have been told the current is very fast compared to our tanks, maybe it just reminds them of the ocean
