Midas Blenny Blended in MP 40

[CMO]

My full grown Midas Blenny was just blended in my MP 40. It swam in between the time I checked that the power head was all clear and switched it back. One of the saddest things I've ever witnessed. Be careful everyone. I've already posted in the ecotech forum - but it's pretty sad that a company would make a product for aquariums that can and will blend reasonably large fish like this alive. There's got to be a better way.

 

[scottrotton]

Sorry for your loss, but why blame ecotech? these pumps have been designed like this for years. Pumps leaking toxic chemicals leaking into the systrem or parts failing fair enough, but a suicidal fish seems a bit harsh to blame a company for that.

My blenny decided to jump out of my tank cover by a red sea cover and i still didnt work out how it happened but i cant go blaming the company for a fish jumping, i think the same applys here.

 

[CMO]

A suicidal fish? Right. Providing a front cover with smaller openings (like on nearly every other power head out there) or at least an optional front cover would save a lot of fish.

Manufactures of products for humans have a responsibility to test and ensure that said product will not harm people beyond gross negligence. Basic testing of this product would show that it can and will regularly harm the creatures we are purchasing it to help flourish.

If Echotech were my Company I'd feel pretty bad knowing my products are blending fish alive. I would redesign the product in their shoes.

Pretty much every fish I have that can fit through the openings of the power head does so at every opportunity when the pumps are turned off. Are all these fish suicidal too?

 

[scottrotton]

It seems you just want to vent some anger, did the powerhead magically change shape after you bought it? if not you knew what you were buying. I also have an mp40 and have never lost a fish in it, ive only been doing this for 5 years but thats a fair amount of time. For me the benefits of the mp40 outweigh risks, if they dont for you it may be time to switch to one of the other pumps you mentioned, the ewcho tech pumps still get a high price on the second hand market

 

[pecan2phat]

I got one of these for my anemone but also helps with small fish

 

[Joshky]

Sorry to hear about your loss, it's never easy to lose a fish.

 

[DylanE]

A suicidal fish? Right. Providing a front cover with smaller openings (like on nearly every other power head out there) or at least an optional front cover would save a lot of fish.

Manufactures of products for humans have a responsibility to test and ensure that said product will not harm people beyond gross negligence. Basic testing of this product would show that it can and will regularly harm the creatures we are purchasing it to help flourish.

If Echotech were my Company I'd feel pretty bad knowing my products are blending fish alive. I would redesign the product in their shoes.

Pretty much every fish I have that can fit through the openings of the power head does so at every opportunity when the pumps are turned off. Are all these fish suicidal too?

In no way, shape, or form is you blending your fish on Ecotech. It sucks that it happened, but learn from it and move on.

 

[CMO]

I got one of these for my anemone but also helps with small fish

Do you have more info on this? Where can I get one? Thanks

 

[tiggs]

They're typically 3D printed and I've seen them at a few different places (although I don't recall where at). Here's one though..

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3D-Printed-Ecotech-Marine-Vortech-MP-40-anemone-guard-/302690485930

 

[ncaldwell]

I can understand it both ways. It's not their fault but I have almost lost a fish that swam in the opening during the present feeding mode. It was caught in time but I dont use it anymore. There could be a better front opening on them

 

[CMO]

They're typically 3D printed and I've seen them at a few different places (although I don't recall where at). Here's one though..

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3D-Printed-Ecotech-Marine-Vortech-MP-40-anemone-guard-/302690485930

Just purchased 2 guards. Thank you both that mentioned these - I was unaware they existed.

I went with the ones from Anemone Protection Guards face book page.


Now if these could just come with the pumps in the first place my fish would be sleeping in its empty hole tonight

 

[charreef]

In no way, shape, or form, is this ecotech's fault. I'm sorry that happened to your fish but saying it's the pump's fault is laughable. These pumps have been around for quite awhile, and tons have been sold. One fish being blended up per [insert large quantity here] means nothing. Get a new fish and move on.

 

[CMO]

In no way, shape, or form, is this ecotech's fault. I'm sorry that happened to your fish but saying it's the pump's fault is laughable. These pumps have been around for quite awhile, and tons have been sold. One fish being blended up per [insert large quantity here] means nothing. Get a new fish and move on.

You should not own an aquarium with that mentality. Yes, every fish matters - even one in a very large number of pumps sold. A quick search would show many more fish than you assume are being blended. This is entirely preventable with a slight redesign to the propeller cover.

Why is it that things like this are laughable when it pertains to products for our pets but not our children?

 

[pecan2phat]

I like the guards though it makes the westside look like the next size up Vortech, guessing he needs to leave a void space between the guard and the pump.
Took 8 days in delivery time from UK to the North East US, 10 days total time from order date.
This is what an MP10 looks like inside the guard:

 

[Radman73]

I love the Vortech's I've owned though I'm still ticked they stopped making repair parts for the older MP40's lol! However, on my current build I went with a couple Tunze Stream 3's. One thing I like is that when I turn them on, they spin very slowly for a couple of seconds, and then spin up to speed. Not sure if that was done on purpose to protect fish or not, but I thought it was a nice touch as it "should" scare a fish out of there before it ramps up.

To the OP, sorry for your loss. But I am in the camp where I don't feel this is on ecotech. I'm glad you have found a solution which works for you though.

 

[CMO]

My post is more of a recommendation or suggestion to Ecotech based on my experience. If there's a simple solution to this which there is I'd hope they'd try and continue progressing their product in the future. If no one says anything they won't know its a problem or cared about. So here I am on behalf of my dead fish asking for change.

Also, the sponges ecotech currently provides are awful and require cleaning at least once a week. A redesign of the covers could solve both issues.

 

[terri_ann]

I'm sorry for the loss of your Midas. My lawnmower blenny did the same thing about a year ago but it is EcoTech"s MP60. He lived and still is! How, I dont know! He stayed on the sandbed for 3 days poor guy!

I don't think you are/were blaming Ecotech. They can swim into a powerhead in a split second/blink of an eye. I feel your pain, anger and sadness for the loss. I also understand your thinking about modifying the guard...maybe they will? Hang in there!

 

[CMO]

@terri_ann thanks for the support and I'm glad to hear your fish made it through okay!

 

[rock_lobster]

Too much flow lost with those tiny hole covers plus you will need to clean that much more often to keep any flow at all. I think it would be a better idea to make sure there are no fish in or swimming directly to the vortech when you turning it on maybe place a net over it before hand if you cant watch it. Anything can be deadly if not paying attention.

 

[CMO]

Too much flow lost with those tiny hole covers plus you will need to clean that much more often to keep any flow at all. I think it would be a better idea to make sure there are no fish in or swimming directly to the vortech when you turning it on maybe place a net over it before hand if you cant watch it. Anything can be deadly if not paying attention.

Yeah that is a concern of mine but it looks like they're made with extra room to provide additional intake space. I'd rather lose a little flow than have any more fish die this way. I'm currently using the foam side covers which clog up real quick and reduces flow considerably. Pulling the plastic covers and giving them a quick scrub sounds easy enough.