Firefish found in overflow box!!

[Johnny M]

I have a Nuvo fusion 20g QT. Last week added a red firefish ( 1 -3/4") and a McCosker's flasher wrasse ( 1.5") noticed last couple of days wrasse is occasionally 'picking' on firefish. About an hour ago went to feed them & could only find wrasse. Have 3 small pvc pipes and moved them around and still couldn't find firefish soooo was thinking maybe wrasse ate him??!! But realized there would be 'leftovers' and there weren't any. So continued to look on floor around tank & behind it, in rear sump by return pump etc... Lo & behold i looked in the left overflow (no sock, use aqua gadget custom caddy) & there he was still alive resting on the filter pad. Fortunately there was enough constant water level for him to survive. I use the lid - mesh screen - that comes with tank kit. There is about 1/4" of space around perimeter of lid ( it's held on by plastic tabs). Did not realize the firefish could fit thru that. Luckily he landed in the right place and not on the floor. So now i put a piece of latex around the lid so it's sealed with no more openings.
* I was thinking of dividing the tank with eggcrate to seperate them but the wrasse can fit thru it. Anyone know where I can get a small screen - 1/8" holes or smaller- to divide tank? I have no other tank to put the firefish except in the DT.

 

[Katrina71]

What about craft canvas?

 

[Johnny M]

What about craft canvas?

Never heard of it. What is it?

 

[LowLi]

ive noticed that fish that get picked on tend to jump if you have a net top they jump into the over flow.

 

[Katrina71]

Never heard of it. What is it?

Plastic canvas for threading yarn. Like the kind to make Kleenex box covers. You can get it at Walmart. You can even use tiny zip ties to connect 2 sheets.

 

[Johnny M]

Plastic canvas for threading yarn. Like the kind to make Kleenex box covers. You can get it at Walmart. You can even use tiny zip ties to connect 2 sheets.

Oh ok. Thanks. I was also thinking since I have an overflow box & return pump on each end I have a solid piece of thin acrylic that I can cut & maybe drill a few small holes in and use that.

 

[Katrina71]

Oh ok. Thanks. I was also thinking since I have an overflow box & return pump on each end I have a solid piece of thin acrylic that I can cut & maybe drill a few small holes in and use that.

I guess ya could.

 

[Jesterrace]

The Flasher Wrasse definitely needs more room. Part of the aggression issues that you are dealing with has to do with the fact that it's probably cramped and the firefish has a similar profile.

 

[Johnny M]

The Flasher Wrasse definitely needs more room. Part of the aggression issues that you are dealing with has to do with the fact that it's probably cramped and the firefish has a similar profile.

Yes I agree but have no choice right now since I don't have an extra QT. Plus adding a divider might be even more stressful for them both.

 

[Johnny M]

Well just saw the firefish in the overflow box again even with lid & latex strip around prevents him from jumping. However when I tried to scoop him with a small net to return to tank he WENT THRU THE SLOTS IN THE OVERFLOW!! Can't believe it. The slots are just under 1/8" in width! So I cut a small piece of floss pad to put over the slots, but need to make the floss very thin since it affects the water height in rear sump & DT. Don't know what I'm going to do if this guy makes it to the main DT!???

 

[reef lover]

Hopefully when hes in the dt hell pick a cave to dart to and not the overflow!!

 

[Johnny M]

Well finally used some of the gray matter in my head. Got a tank divider for the tank - I know less room = less happy but now firefish should be less stressed from wrasse ( although the wrasse is going up to the partition and giving FF the 'evil eye'. LOL) Also bought some fiberglass screen mesh material to put up against the slots in the overflow on the FF side to stop him from sliding thru *(I need the FF to grow not only in length but width.)* Doesn't look like it has reduced the flow but will keep an eye on it daily. Hopefully smooth sailing for rest of Q. At end of Q i will put the FF in the DT 1st and then about a week later the wrasse. Right now all I have in DT is a lonely Rainford's goby.