Death by Powerhead

Dego510

Dego510

AC Members
Oct 22, 2009
66
1
6
Chicago, IL
. . . a new suicide method. I came home today to a buzzing sound on my tank. Upon looking, I noticed that one of my adult Demasoni was stuck in my Koralia 3 powerhead . . . dead. Has this ever happened to anyone? I didn't think it was possible. A Koralia 3 provides a lot of current, so I don't understand how a fish could/would swim into it.

It sucks b/c there isn't much aggression in my tank. :x

Here's a pic.
001.jpg
 
Despite their renowned preference by many aquarists....the Italian made unit has flaws when run on a 60 cycle AC power grid...they can reverse direction on start up after a power outage or extreme voltage dips actually. Beats me why any one in the states would use them.
 
Sorry for your loss,i had a fish sucked into power about 4 years ago. It didnt make sense to me either, but somehow I convinced myself that the fish must been to weak to stay away from the force of suction the power head produces, seeing that none of the other fish had any problem.
 
One of the reasons I stopped using Power Heads and I have 12 of them piled up I need to eBay. Even without reversing I had a few nice fish get jammed into the AC power heads I once use. Now I just have a Magnum 250 HOB on every tank that make great Power-heads by removing the end diffuser and maintaining the 2 bidirectional elbows above the water line, push air mixed with water in any direction I need and at any air/water mix velocity depending on how high the discharge is maintained above the water-line, and its a filter/polisher to boot.
 
I feel bad to see that picture of an innocent victim of a power head. I've thought of using it in my planted tank but worried it could become a plant or fish chopper. I had a fellow club member cutting soft corals to give to friends and the soft coral slipped off her hand and got sucked/chopped to pieces by the Koralia. :(
 
I'm a little bit worried about my Koralia 2. I'd like to replace it with a safe PH like a Maxi Jet or AC.
 
I only use Aquaclear powerheads. I attach a quick filter to them to prevent fish getting sucked onto them. You can even use the quick filter on the AC110 powerhead formerly called the 901 and 5000. They move just as much if not more water and you can aereate the water with them. Unfortunately they cost 80-100.00
 
I've never had this happen, but i worried about it so i have a fabric mesh screening all around the powerhead do nothing gets scrambled.
 
Very interesting! I never knew or thought that these powerheads could reverse. It must of reversed after I started it up after my last water change. I'll have to make sure to check the flow every time I restart it. I may even put some type of mesh screen over it.
 
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