Clown in overflow

[zbrusko]

My lungfish used to do this regularly in my FW system… I quickly gave up on trying to siphon or net him out around all the plumbing, and instead opted to just scoop him out by hand! — you can “work by braille” remarkably well, after some practice!

I’m sure. If I had 2 more joints in my forearm I could try!

 

[zbrusko]

I can’t get over the overflow to reach in more than a few inches.

 

[UncommonSense]

I can’t get over the overflow to reach in more than a few inches.

Well… if standpipes aren’t glued… could you pull them out, then go nuts with a net?

 

[zbrusko]

I can’t get over the overflow to reach in more than a few inches.

Well… if standpipes aren’t glued… could you pull them out, then go nuts with a net?

This is my plan if she doesn’t get sucked down when I pull the pipe. We’ll see. I’ll post here once the job is done.

 

[Mark Goode]

This is my plan if she doesn’t get sucked down when I pull the pipe. We’ll see. I’ll post here once the job is done.

Then can you come up with any ideas to get a porcelain crab out of my overflow?

 

[zbrusko]

Keep putting in larger & larger predators until you have something big enough to catch!

 

[Reefering1]

If you have valves on your drain pipes, you can slow the drains allowing the water level to rise to the top of the display tank and let the fish swim out. Nerve racking but it has worked everytime for me.
You can always dry fit valves to end of pipe, in not already installed
Disable ato while doing this.

 

[Anton Wray]

So my clown somehow got into my overflow box. She’s about 3-4” . The problem is that the tank is built in to the wall & it is very difficult to access the overflow area. In fact, I needed to use a mirror to confirm she was back there. My lights are on a bar that spans the tank, making it even harder to access. Here are some photos. I fear I need to take the lights off & pull the drain pipes. I may need the folks who did the install to help me out here. And of course, find a way to cover the overflow. I didn’t know clowns jump.

This was a nightmare in my two previous tanks.
Siphoning was too traumatic and caused the premature demise of my beautiful flame angel and a clown.
When I upgraded my tank I got the modular/shadow type overflow that prevented it from happening.

 

[zbrusko]

So my clown somehow got into my overflow box. She’s about 3-4” . The problem is that the tank is built in to the wall & it is very difficult to access the overflow area. In fact, I needed to use a mirror to confirm she was back there. My lights are on a bar that spans the tank, making it even harder to access. Here are some photos. I fear I need to take the lights off & pull the drain pipes. I may need the folks who did the install to help me out here. And of course, find a way to cover the overflow. I didn’t know clowns jump.

This was a nightmare in my two previous tanks.
Siphoning was too traumatic and caused the premature demise of my beautiful flame angel and a clown.
When I upgraded my tank I got the modular/shadow type overflow that prevented it from happening.

What is a “modular/shadow type overflow?”

 

[UncommonSense]

What is a “modular/shadow type overflow?”

I believe he’s referring to an “external style” overflow box, such as those made by synergy reef!

https://synergyreef.com/products/16-shadow-overflow
I have one of these on my 180g, and would buy from another manufacturer if I did it again… the whole thing’s thin, injection molded plastic; mine cracked in several spots as soon as I plumbed it with rigid PVC!

 

[zbrusko]

What is a “modular/shadow type overflow?”

I believe he’s referring to an “external style” overflow box, such as those made by synergy reef!

https://synergyreef.com/products/16-shadow-overflow
I have one of these on my 180g, and would buy from another manufacturer if I did it again… the whole thing’s thin, injection molded plastic; mine cracked in several spots as soon as I plumbed it with rigid PVC!

Oh, gotcha. Interesting. Doesn’t help me now! Perhaps if there is a next time (there’s always a next time!).

 

[Anton Wray]

What is a “modular/shadow type overflow?”

Modular marine has a low profile overflow.I believe synergy makes another one called the shadow overflow, so does Eshopps Eclipse, and Fiji Cube. They do require drilling if your system does not come with holes already

 

[Reef Jedi]

Were you able to get it out?

 

[vetteguy53081]

So my clown somehow got into my overflow box. She’s about 3-4” . The problem is that the tank is built in to the wall & it is very difficult to access the overflow area. In fact, I needed to use a mirror to confirm she was back there. My lights are on a bar that spans the tank, making it even harder to access. Here are some photos. I fear I need to take the lights off & pull the drain pipes. I may need the folks who did the install to help me out here. And of course, find a way to cover the overflow. I didn’t know clowns jump.

They often do this when intimidated or scared of another tank mate, often another clownfish within tank
Also reduced white intensity a little to see if it too plays a role

 

[Anton Wray]

Were you able to get it out?

The clown yes, raised water level in overflow at that time and flushed him into filter bag.
The stress was too much for the flame angel

 

[Reef Jedi]

Were you able to get it out?

The clown yes, raised water level in overflow at that time and flushed him into filter bag.
The stress was too much for the flame angel

I’m sorry, at least you did the best for what you have. May be time to think about how to prevent this in the future or maybe create an access panel/door over this area so you could get in it better.

I had a room divider tank about 15 years ago. I did all the construction my self and basically built a wall around a whole tank. I too at the time didn’t think about access into the overflow until I had the same issue. I learned that lesson once and cut out a huge access panel lol was never a problem again.

 

[zbrusko]

So my clown somehow got into my overflow box. She’s about 3-4” . The problem is that the tank is built in to the wall & it is very difficult to access the overflow area. In fact, I needed to use a mirror to confirm she was back there. My lights are on a bar that spans the tank, making it even harder to access. Here are some photos. I fear I need to take the lights off & pull the drain pipes. I may need the folks who did the install to help me out here. And of course, find a way to cover the overflow. I didn’t know clowns jump.

They often do this when intimidated or scared of another tank mate, often another clownfish within tank
Also reduced white intensity a little to see if it too plays a role

Definitely not scared of the clown 1/3 her size that has been by her side for over a year. Added a bristletooth tang 10 days ago. Haven’t noticed any issues, though. The tang hides more than anyone.

 

[kboogie]

Get a little net and shut down the tank try giving him pellets and should come right up

I've never had success with this approach. I wonder if the people who do have success with this are just lucky or very skilled.

 

[droblack]

Buy or make a small fish trap.

 

[kboogie]

So my clown somehow got into my overflow box. She’s about 3-4” . The problem is that the tank is built in to the wall & it is very difficult to access the overflow area. In fact, I needed to use a mirror to confirm she was back there. My lights are on a bar that spans the tank, making it even harder to access. Here are some photos. I fear I need to take the lights off & pull the drain pipes. I may need the folks who did the install to help me out here. And of course, find a way to cover the overflow. I didn’t know clowns jump.

I've had this happen to me multiple times. After letting my clownfish live back there for months, the second time it happened, I turned off the return pump, disconnected the overflow from the piping at the bulkhead put a bucket under the bulkhead, then pulled the piping out of the overflow to allow the overflow to drain into a bucket. The clownfish came right out with the water.