Fish in overflow.

[Scribe]

So I noticed one of my 5 Chromis missing yesterday. Figured the worst, and started looking around the tank for a corpse. Looking behind the tank tonight I noticed there was movement in the overflow. Turns out somehow this guy made it into there and looks to be moving around. Problem is it's a 90 reef ready, with the overflow off the back left corner inside the tank. The tank is in a corner to, so all access is over the tank with limited visibility. Trying to avoiding pulling the pipes and draining the overflow into a bucket or something similar. Any thoughts ? Food and net?

 

[StikHedRon]

You will prolly have to pull your drain pipe and let him run into your sock or sump, easiest way really and not accidentally do something bad to the tank

 

[ethridge78]

same here pull the pipes you might try a net he might swim to the top in a hurry and you can grab him good luck

 

[Scribe]

Pulled the pipes. I have a 2 -4 inch piece of PVC connected to my bulkhead apparently at the bottom....tried to flush him out and into a net, but I guess the 2-4 was enough for it to escape to. I see this is going to be an interesting battle.

 

[PaulKreider]

I'd try getting a small net and give it a shot once the lights go out and hes more sluggish.

 

[FL_Reefer]

I've had the same thing happen with a green chromis. Poor little guy was in there for a couple of days and didn't even know it. All I did was stick my hand down in there and grabbed him out. I've lost a couple of fish this way ( taking a ride to my sock filters) so I went and got some gutter guard from Home Depot and zip tied it to the overflow teeth a couple of inches above the water level. Haven't had it happen again.

 

[TimothyJ]

I've heard of people filling the overflow with something they can easily pull or syphon out (plastic flossing, marbles, etc) to fill the over flow up. This forces the fish to come to the top. The more you put in, the higher up the fish will have to go. It also reduces the area you have to catch him in. Catch him and then remove said material. I would not run the system during this. Also, I have never done it, but have read it being done this way multiple times.

 

[Scribe]

Good idea Timothy. I'll have to give it a shot.

 

[TimothyJ]

Hope it works out!

 

[qterry22]

Marbles would be a great idea. I have had one of my clownfish jump into my overflow on a few occasions and had a heck of a time catching him. I thought of filling the over flow up with rubble rock but worried about all the nasty stuff that could get caught in there. Marbles being smooth and all should prevent this and allows me to fill up the over flow. Thanks for the idea.

 

[AZDesertRat]

I drain mine down most of the way then use a small net and one of those mirrors on a wand so I can see down in the overflow.
I had a Watchman Goby live in the overflow for over two years until I discovered him one day, while working on the sump inside the stand I happened to see movement above me in the overflow area so popped the top and there he was. I pulled him out and within a week he was back in there again. Found out a wrasse was picking on him so left him alone that time.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

I had a Blue Spotted Jaw Fish jump into the overflow once. I syphoned him out.

 

[Scribe]

So now the question is how many marbles does it take to fill up an overflow. Wonder if golf balls would work.

 

[dunc101]

How big is the chromis? Could you get a large 1 inch flexible tubing and "siphon" him up? A couple of weeks ago I accidentally siphoned a decent sized black molly from my frag tank. They do seem 'interested' when I do a water change though and weren't hiding. BTW, I was only using a 1/2 inch flexible tubing. The fish looked fine after its adventure.

 

[Scribe]

He can't be more then 2 inches. Now I'm thinking of trying some egg crate grid. Cut the overflow in half with a pice top to bottom, then cut in half again, try to angle and work a small DIY net in there.

 

[Scribe]

Meant to update. Put a piece of egg crate in the overflow to cut it in half. Then put a large brush behind the drain pipe and wall of the overflow, and there was nowhere to hide. Had to bring out a bigger ladder to get a better view into the overflow. After that, just a quick netting of one lonely chromis. Now it's back with the rest of the crew.