Some Plumbing for Nikki

[Curtswearing]

Feeling the draw with your hands, you would not likely think that a sponge filter would even be necessary. Especially, since the draw was purposely halved to help in this manner.

There's no telling what the cause of death was. I also know that you weren't irresponsible in any way. This was just an unfortunate incident IMO...no need for guilt.

I'm very sorry for your loss.

 

[Schottman]

Sorry to hear about your loss Nikki. I can understand how you feel. It hurts to loose a fish or a pet of any sorts. Is there a way to keep this from happening in my 120 that I am getting ready to place a closed loop on? It will be run by an ampmaster 3600.

DaVe

 

[NaH2O]

Thanks everyone. What makes it so frustrating, is I try to plan to have a suitable environment, since I am taking on a responsibility, but I also understand that sometimes these things happen. (me still hitting head against the wall)

I am wondering if she didn't get caught off guard when the MBV switched sides and was just blown out of her whereabouts, then sucked on. It really is hard to say.

Schottman - I only have an AMP 3000 on my 120. I'll recommend the sponge filters over the screen intakes, since yours is a larger pump. Does anyone know if these will hinder flow at all?

 

[Scooterman]

It's Curts fault Nikki, I just know it!



Sorry, that is always a major bummer, even more so In a system as nice as yours. Maybe you can try a rock formation that would keep most creatures out instead of sponges, try and build a cave around the suctions, there should still be plenty of cracks to not hinder the intake, but maybe pass it by Mike first. I had my Hippo go into the overflow 5 times, at first he would end up in the sump but the last two times he was too big, got such in the down pipe. I don't know how he stayed so long stuck like that, he laid on his side both times from exhaustion.

 

[Dr B]

That is odd Nikki... I had two cleaner shrimp get sucked in my strainers, but that was a fluke. I replaced those two, and all 3 of my shrimp have been fine since.
I have a lot more gph going through my strainers... and they do have great suction. But I cannot imagine a healthy and strong swimming fish getting sucked up in one.
I have seen my tomini tang playing all the time in my currents, and even pecking algae off the end of the strainer occasionally.
Sorry to hear about your loss, especially on such a nice find that you get attatched to right away =/

 

[NaH2O]

It is weird. I played around in the current this morning to try and figure out how it happened. If I can get away without having sponge covers - I would prefer that. I actually think that the direction of my output closest to the intake is what did it. My theory (lol) is the fish was swimming non-chalant and the MBV switched sides. The strong flow plus direction of this output would have blown the fish pretty hard against the rock formation directly infront of the intake. I think that is what did it. Time to call in the fish detectives. My plan is to change the direction of that output and see how it goes. I may install a sponge filter to put on the intakes for new livestock until they get adjusted to the ever changing flow.

Oh, and it was Curt's fault, Scooterman

 

[Ed Hahn]

Nikki,
Kevin @ Aquatic Dreams made a suggestion to me about splitting my intake for my pump into two screens with a tee. I am curious about sponge covers also. Sorry, about your loss.

Ed

 

[NaH2O]

Ed - could you explain that a little more? I have 2 intakes on my closed loop. Do you mean I would then have 4 intakes?

Thanks

 

[Ed Hahn]

Nikki,
I am sorry I thought you had one intake for your closed loop. I was told to split the intake with a T pipe and put two strainers on instead of one. If you had two intakes you could split that with a T pipe also and have less suction at one area. Yes, you would have 4 instead of two and less suction in one area. How large are your intakes? Mine is one and half inches. I will split into two with two one and half inch strainers.

Strainer(>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<}Strainer
--------------T pipe----------------

 

[CarlaW]

Sorry to hear about that Nikki. It sure makes one go take a look at their intakes, I know I did! Hope you figure it out. I really think it may have been just a coincidental thing!!

 

[NaH2O]

Ed - my intakes are Tee'd off in back. One strainer on top of the other with 1-1/2" pipe. I don't believe this is the problem anymore. I think it was just one of those things - fish was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I do need to adjust that one output. Even if the fish didn't get slammed against the rock, it maybe darted away from the flow and right into the strainer.

Here is a shot of how the closed loop looks again from behind. You can see the intakes off to the right:

 

[big t]

Nikki, this really sucks. Sorry to hear that. I murdered my yellow tang that I had kept for close to 2 years when I upgraded to my new tank. Everything had been in there for about a week or so, and I had to shut off all the electrical because I was tapping into the circuit for a new room. My screens didn't stay in place and when the power came back on my poor tang was sucked into the intake, it was horrible. I have not had any problems however with my new tang, or any other fish since then with the intake screens in place, and I have the same pump as you. I also have 2 intakes.

 

[dwall174]

I'm not sure what size of strainers your using! However they make 6.5" Long Strainers witch would give you a larger surface area & help distribute the suction over a larger area.

 

[NaH2O]

Thanks dwall - they do carry the 1-1/2" mpt in a 6" length. I will measure to see how much space I have.

Tom - that's horrible. I suppose it could have been worse.....at least she was in one piece. When the little one asked this morning where the tang was again, I told her "Rainbow Bridge" (some of you may have heard of that), and she said "No mommy, She's in a bag in the garbage can."

 

[zeltar]

Hey Nikki, check out this link. These are the ones I have for my CLS.
http://www.poolspahelp.com/spa_jets.htm check out item 10-6806.

I just go to thinking about your setup, if you have sched. 80 BH's then they would need to be modified to accept this type. You would need to rabbet out 1/4"x1/4" from the out side front edge. I will take a pic tomorrow as I still do not have water in my tank yet. I like the way they look and it took me a long while to locate them and then figure out how to make them fit.

Sorry about your little buddy.

Thanks dwall - they do carry the 1-1/2" mpt in a 6" length. I will measure to see how much space I have.

Tom - that's horrible. I suppose it could have been worse.....at least she was in one piece. When the little one asked this morning where the tang was again, I told her "Rainbow Bridge" (some of you may have heard of that), and she said "No mommy, She's in a bag in the garbage can."

 

[Frankie]

I kind of like this Idea Mike. Im going to be drilling a 120 soon and could use some advice. I posted a thread in "Tank Designs"
if anyone can help me. Good luck with the new tank Nikki!