How to catch fish in a reef tank?

[TomatoClownfish]

I currently have a 28 gallon biocube, put I have recently purchased a red sea 250. The problem is, I want to transfer all of my fish over to the new tank, but I have no idea how I will catch them, as they are all excellent hiders. My fish are:

1 Tomato Clownfish
1 Red Firefish
1 Royal Gramma
1 Yellow Watchamn Goby
1 Solon Fairy Wrasse

Any tips on how to catch them?

On a different note, the red sea 250 does not have a lid, and I am worried my wrasse will jump out once it's in the new tank. Why do modern tank not have lids. It seems rather counter-productive.

 

[JPM San Diego]

Personally not a wrasse keeper, but I've read it's when, not if, they'll jump out.
I am planning a water box 7225 and it will definitely have a net top over the top.
For my water box I plan to have three reef structures with subtle (hopefully) linear channels dividing them.
I plan to have precut egg crate plastic light shields that will slip down between the reef structures.
When the inevitable times comes that I have to catch a fish I will be able to divide the tank into thirds.
I will only have to disturb 1 third of the reef work, and will have 2 thirds where I can stash the rocks and coral while I am going after the fish that needs to be caught

 

[jassermd]

If you are doing a tank transfer, you may want to drain your current tank and then catch the fish in the "puddle". The coral, rocks, sand can be left to air for a short period of time without harm.
If that's not an option, you can try a trap... I've had great success with this: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/fish-trap-icecap.html

 

[Tamberav]

Just drain the tank and remove the rock and catch ‘em.

You actually have a few jumpers, not just the wrasse.

Most people either buy a custom made lid or make their own.

 

[TomatoClownfish]

Just drain the tank and remove the rock and catch ‘em.

You actually have a few jumpers, not just the wrasse.

Most people either buy a custom made lid or make their own.

Yeah, I agree, I will remove the rocks and drain the tank to catch the fish. I am planning to make a lid, but I was more just confused about why tanks don't just come with them.

 

[Tamberav]

Yeah, I agree, I will remove the rocks and drain the tank to catch the fish. I am planning to make a lid, but I was more just confused about why tanks don't just come with them.

cuz rimless looks sooo cooool!

instead Red Sea sells a separate lid kit you can buy ;Greedy

 

[Chin_FITC Verified Sponsor]

Done a few tank-to-tank moves like this myself, and the trap-or-drain approach works, but it's slow — especially for hiders like watchman gobies and fairy wrasses that just tuck into rockwork and wait you out.

Full disclosure — that exact slog is part of why I designed the AquaCove (I'm the founder of FITC Aquatics). It's a simulated cave-and-mirror device that uses the fish’s own instincts to seek out shelter when being herded, instead of waiting out a trap or draining the tank. Might save you a weekend on your next upgrade.