MP40 kill fish?

Spike2484 · Dec 9, 2012

Does anyone have experience with their MP40's or 60's being strong enough to suck in fish? I have lost two tangs now since getting my MP40's and have found them both sucked to the power head. I'm fully aware that this can happen for a number of reasons if the fish is sick, being picked on, not eating, etc but the two tangs I've lost now have been perfectly fat, full, and healthy. I've seen them often picking algae off the power heads like many other places in the tank, but I just can't make sense of this. I'm not necessarily trying to diagnose a problem with my tank as I've had a reef tank for 10 years and understand my params and such, I'm just curious if anyone has had this experience with the power heads and if so do the black mesh covers help or any other suggestions? Thanks.

gmoney243 · Dec 9, 2012

i never had that problem when i had my mp40s. only time i see fish stuck to a powerhead is if its dead/dying anyway. possibly i guess if the fish was very small and couldnt swim away from the suction but i wouldnt think a nice fat tang would get sucked in. did u wash off the wet sides before placing in tank? its possbily something got in and killed them. either way that sucks

Spike2484 · Dec 9, 2012

I totally agree I wouldn't think that would happen for any reason other than a sick fish. It's a 210g tank with probably 10-12 other fish and it hasn't happened with any other fish and neither of the tangs showed any external problems and were eating well.

reefkoi · Dec 9, 2012

I have MP60's and I keep pipefish in there and they dont get sucked in......my bet is the fish was on its way out already

Trex · Dec 9, 2012

While it isn't an 40, and only an 10, but my lawnmower blenny will sit on top of it, and not have any issues. Given that tangs are pretty much built for swimming, I would be shocked if a healthy one couldn't get away.

Steven R · Dec 9, 2012

Trex said:
While it isn't an 40, and only an 10, but my lawnmower blenny will sit on top of it, and not have any issues. Given that tangs are pretty much built for swimming, I would be shocked if a healthy one couldn't get away.

I agree to all the above tangs are super strong swimmers and was either ill or going to be ill and was weak.

ReefRacer · Dec 9, 2012

My MP40 caught my perfectly healthy, 3 year old tang and messed him pretty good. Didn't kill him but he died a couple hours later. My MP40 shuts off for feeding time and the tang would take that time to graze a little on the 40. When it kicked back on he got sucked against it. My wife was feeding the tank for me and witnessed the whole thing. She didn't know how to turn the 40 off and by the time I explained on the phone it had been a few minutes.

I think mine was more a freak occurrence. He never had any problem swimming around it while it was on prior to this.

Jester376 · Dec 9, 2012

While it wasnt a tang, I had a 1.5" longhorn cowfish get sucked to and killed by my mp40. I only had the fish for about 6 days but he seemed healthy until one day when I came home from work and he was sucked to the side.

Spike2484 · Dec 9, 2012

Interesting info everyone. Thanks. I have had two other stories of people witnessing their fish being sucked to them while feeding from my local forum in addition to the couple here. I never gave it a lot of consideration but it sounds like it can definitely happen. Are there any thoughts to preventing it? A guy from my local forum said he dislikes the mesh ring as food gets stuck in it but that's the only thought I have. I guess I just have bad luck to lose to tangs to it.

chadderboxx · Dec 9, 2012

Trex said:
While it isn't an 40, and only an 10, but my lawnmower blenny will sit on top of it, and not have any issues. Given that tangs are pretty much built for swimming, I would be shocked if a healthy one couldn't get away.

that funny mine does the same thing i have a mp10 also but i have more of a problem with my 6line hanging out in my overflow box.