Mental Note: Vortechs

JDigital · #1 12-03-2009, 06:32 PM

Decided to take a couple minutes and try out a few things with my camera today, I decided to unplug my vortech for these pics.

After I had finished snapping some pics, I went to plug my Vortech back in, and as I plugged the cable back into the controller I took a glimpse at the wet side of the vortech and saw some movement and realized that my 6 Line Wrasse had decided to take a peak INSIDE the pump... I got the plug pulled ASAP but I was about 1sec too late and watched as the pump powered up for a brief second. Not enough to kill or mangle him, but it sure "scrambled his eggs"...

He swam out once it stopped and shot in behind the rocks. Poor guy... stupid thing is that would have been my opportunity to catch him as I have been considering getting him out.

Mental Note: Check your wet sides before powering up!

Carmen · #2 12-03-2009, 06:34 PM

Ugh...poor little guy! Hope he's okay!

parkinsn · #3 12-03-2009, 06:36 PM

I did the same thing with my bi-color blenny

but I never shut it off.... He made it out unharmed though.

Delphinus · #4 12-03-2009, 06:36 PM

Yeah you really have to be careful with the propeller pumps. I've heard several horror stories of curious fish getting decapitated and whatnot when powering back up.

Blennies in particular and anyone who likes caves: dottybacks, wrasses, etc. ..

workn2hard2day · #5 12-03-2009, 06:39 PM

Glad he is ok. That solves my question of having the "sponge shield" on or off.

parkinsn · #6 12-03-2009, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by workn2hard2day

Glad he is ok. That solves my question of having the "sponge shield" on or off.

They would have gone in the front not the side. I found the sponge was more of a pain and just cloggs up.

JDigital · #7 12-03-2009, 06:42 PM

I haven't seen him since he darted into my rock work either, so can't see if he got injured at all...

Was my own fault... I've been around fishytimes place before and seen his dottyback hop inside the pump and said "man, that would suck if you turned the pump back on without realizing a fish had swam inside"........

kien · #8 12-03-2009, 06:57 PM

ya.. this isn't just a problem with the Vortechs.. Any fish small enough to swim into my tunze (6105s) can and will whenever i turn the pumps off for feeding time. First time I noticed it my strawberry/purple pseudochromas was in there and it took a chunk of his tail off as he darted out

Now I make sure I scare anyone out with a kabob skewer.

Leah · #9 12-03-2009, 08:08 PM

It is something I have always thought about when plugging them back in,
that has to hurt.

JDigital · #10 12-04-2009, 01:06 AM

Well, he's back out sorta swimming around... mostly finds a spot and hovers around... however his right gill doesn't look so hot, as there looks to be some sort of white stuff hanging out... he doesn't appear to be breathing any heavier than normal though. I didn't see him eat with the others tonight, so that could be bad sign.