Losing fish to vortechs :(

[dynamite]

Originally Posted by cwatkins

This sounds odd. I don't know how a healthy fish could get sucked into a vortech. Is it too low in the tank?

I have fish actually reach into the propeller to eat the algae (albeit only when its in feed mode and going slow).

Maybe it's time to use the foam guards then. Note you'll need to increase the speed as the foam slows down water movement.

I know I'm just gonna post a picture of my tank to see if they're to low or what... I think this is weird and I don't feel like using those foam guards.
There's no agression in my tank. Sometimes I see some agression between my female false perc and male black clown and some mouth openings lol from my TailSpot Blenny (RIP ) to my Cherub angel... The Yellow Tang are Cherub angel are excellent citizens. They all school together lol and it's fun to watch

[dynamite]

This is how I have my Vortechs... I'm sorry for the film on the glass but I ordered a new blade, salt, the Prodibio Bioclean kit and I was suppose to receive everything on tuesday but Canada Post got lockout... So yeahhh I'm mad.
The pictures were taken with my iphone

[asylumdown]

I've got a tail spot blenny in a 20 gallon with an mp10 and the little burrow he's claimed as his is about 4 inches from the bottom of the pump. He never seems to even struggle against the pull of the pump.

I too have a hard time getting my head around a healthy tang not being able to cope with one of these pumps, but then again freak accidents are always hard to imagine until they happen.

[regent2009]

I have the mp 40 ESW (60-70%) in my 72 bowfront for 2 months now. no foam mesh. no fish lost.

[mike31154]

From the photo your pumps certainly appear to be positioned lower than I have mine. Looks like close to 12 inches down from the top? I just measured mine and the top of the dry side motor is about 4 and a half inches from the rim of the tank on the right side and the left side one is about 5 inches below the rim. Still think healthy fish of a reasonable size and cognizant of being in the vicinity of a VorTech should not easily get trapped. Cleaner shrimp, blenny & baby clown are smaller critters and perhaps just bad luck that they got too close at the wrong time. Might not be a bad idea to raise your VorTechs just a bit more. Aside from getting them a bit farther away from the livestock, it will improve surface agitation and as a consequence, better gas exchange/oxygenation. Downside to the increased surface agitation (on my system anyhow) is that it really messes up my once highly polished T5 & MH reflectors, can't get 'em clean any more, grrr... Will be switching to LEDs some day anyhow, no more reflectors.

[StirCrazy]

as everyone has said, a yellow tang should not get stuck unless he was not good to start with or extreamly small.

the positioning shouldn't matter at all as I had 6 of thoes types in my tank when it was running, I am a big proponant that your flow should be spread over as much of the tank as possible as long as your sand bed will alow it. I had two right on the bottom, two in the middle and two towards the top as I had a bare bottom.

look for a healthy yellow that is at least 3" in dia. and you shouldn't have problems

Steve

[dynamite]

Thanks again for all your replies... Well I have BAD news...
Just when things couldn't get WORSE... Not receiving anything of what I bought online for my tank or the present I bought my dad for Father's Day.. because of the Canada Post's strike (Thank you I'll start using UPS).
I just saw that my small Yellow Tang 2in.. Once healthy... has a few tiny black spots.. So I'm guessing it's black ich.
It's the 1st time in 3years with this tank that one of my fish gets sick and the worst part it's I don't know what to do!!! He seems healthy he's swiming, playing and schooling with the other fish like always and he's pooping huge green poop He seems ok.. But I don't know what to do! I don't want him to die or my other fish to get infected! What should I do??? I don't have a quarantine tank It's the black ich going to go away if I keep him "healthy" and well fed? And what caused this black ich outbreak?

SOS!!!

[naesco]

Give her a freshwater bath and the black ich will drop off.
What is the size of your tank?