Powerhead ate my pipefish

[paul b]

I can't believe how stupid I am.  Well, yes I can.  I have been having a problem losing pipefish for a long time and I couldn't figure out why.
But I did now and I should have realized it which is driving me crazy because I usually see these potential problems.  The problem started a couple of years ago when I changed from my ancient 25+ year old powerheads and started using Korilla's.  The pumps are fine but they have a bunch of long slots on the sides where the water enters to be pumped out by the propeller. 
That slot is the same diameter as most pipefish and pipefish not being the tuna's of the sea, can't pull free once they get stuck in a slot.
Now I think I solved the problem as I glued these acrylic bands around the powerhead.  This one is done and I will now do the other one.  I still have my dragon faced pipefish but if I had not seen this, He would be toast, or at least pipefish gel. 
Now I am trying to get a few more pipefish but of course no one has any.

[YHSublime]

We have pipefish at our lfs's. As a matter of fact I was in quantum reefs down our way, and a pipefish had spawned during shipping as they unloaded a shipment at the store!

[paul b]

Well bring some to me.  Go north east and bear right at the Statue of Liberty.

 

I am in New York, the big apple,  I can get a Pizza at 3:00 am but I can't get a stinkin pipefish. 

Edited May 15, 2014 by paul b

[YHSublime]

Well bring some to me.  Go north east and bear right at the Statue of Liberty.

 

I am in New York, the big apple,  I can get a Pizza at 3:00 am but I can't get a stinkin pipefish. 

 

I can get a Pizza at 3:00am, and a pipefish here in DC, but I've never had a Pipefish Pizza.

[Rob A]

I might be headed up there in the next month or 2. Wife wants to go to see a play.

[tomtom2245]

Well at least you found out what the problem was and great idea for the fix. Way better than using some filter floss that would just get all gunked up.

[paul b]

 

I might be headed up there in the next month or 2. Wife wants to go to see a play.

Bring some pipefish, forget about the play, I seen them all.

Filter floss would clog right up

[Rob A]

Lol, sounds like a plan.

[Squishie89]

Pipefish are crazy. One of mine swims around at the top of the water when all the tank lights go out. He will hit the powerheads but I have never seen him have trouble getting away or get stuck at all. About 3 or 4 times I found this pipefish in the sump. I finally figured out that during his nightly rendezvous he would get swept into the overflow right in the cut of the overflow where the return line comes out (this was easily fixed by stuffing polyfilter foam in the gap). I use the koralia evolution 1050 and 1150. Paul, I do really like your modded koralia, very ingenious.

[paul b]

I hope the pipefish like it.   They lay right in the slots and can't get out.   My dragonface pipe eats from the surface.  He learned that the brine shrimp congregate up there after he can't find them near the bottom any more.  Then he gives me dirty looks when I turn the pumps back on.

[sen5241b]

You might try a sponge filter instead of a powerhead that's going to make chopped pipefish.

[paul b]

A sponge filter is to fine and would clog quickly, it would also remove the new born brine shrimp that I hatch every day.  I think my modification will work as it will keep the pipefish from laying across the slots and getting caught.

I don't think they will get caught if they lay across the fins now.  At least I hope not.  If I still have a problem I will think of something else.

[Prunfarm]

How about the mesh that 'sleeves' of garlic come in?  I made a queen bee marker with that stuff - but that is a different discussion/forum lol.

[paul b]

Unfortunately My normal pipefish supplier was not able to get me a multibanded pipefish today but I found a place that has five of them.  I bought one and may go back for more.  I re tweeked my powerhead by weaving fishing line around the acrylic rings I added to the thing.  I will do more tweeking before I get more pipefish.