anemone stuck in filter intake

bosstoneschick · Jan 10, 2021

I have a tank with the built in sump wall and there was a tiny hole for the water intake...i woke up to anemone being kinda in that hole.....i put gloves on and tried to gently get it out but it won't move....I took my fish out (2 clowns) and shut off the pumps and just have the heater on....any idea how to get it out and not hurt it? everything i searched on here they were stuck in actual filter tubes and people took the tube out and they detached then but this is built into my tank as a wall so i really cant....it's been about 2 hours of me just waiting hoping it would come out and still nothing...

Spieg · Jan 10, 2021

If the hole is high up in the tank, I'd drain the water until the hole is above water line. Also I'd put a filter over the hole to prevent this in the future.

bosstoneschick · Jan 10, 2021

Spieg said:
If the hole is high up in the tank, I'd drain the water until the hole is above water line. Also I'd put a filter over the hole to prevent this in the future.

no its not high up its actually closer to the bottom than the top of the tank...oh i plan to fix it after this...i just never imagined it would get in such a tiny hole

bosstoneschick · Jan 10, 2021

Spieg said:
If the hole is high up in the tank, I'd drain the water until the hole is above water line. Also I'd put a filter over the hole to prevent this in the future.

do you think i should still drain it to just below? i have buckets that i could

Spieg · Jan 10, 2021

Probably the fastest solution. When nems think they are out of the water they will retract/release and try to move elsewhere. Maybe start by getting the water out of the sump side of the wall.

WhiteSandsReefer · Jan 10, 2021

Happened to me with a huge BTA. I just slowly and gently worked him out by hand. It took a couple hours, so patience is key. He took minor damage and heeled quickly.

Could wait and see what he does. It looks very inflated and turned in which will not help the situation.

Good luck!

bosstoneschick · Jan 10, 2021

Spieg said:
Probably the fastest solution. When nems think they are out of the water they will retract/release and try to move elsewhere. Maybe start by getting the water out of the sump side of the wall.

thank you im gonna lower the water some and see what happens

bosstoneschick · Jan 10, 2021

WhiteSandsReefer said:
Happened to me with a huge BTA. I just slowly and gently worked him out by hand. It took a couple hours, so patience is key. He took minor damage and heeled quickly.

Could wait and see what he does. It looks very inflated and turned in which will not help the situation.

Good luck!

yeah im afraid of hurting it so ive been letting it to hopefully get out itself...i'm gonna lower the water level a bit and that tiny hole is gettin fixed soon as its out...i never thought it would get in such a small space

WhiteSandsReefer · Jan 10, 2021

bosstoneschick said:
yeah im afraid of hurting it so ive been letting it to hopefully get out itself...i'm gonna lower the water level a bit and that tiny hole is gettin fixed soon as its out...i never thought it would get in such a small space

Draining and tipping the tank will work. Especially if it's a nano tank. Mine happened in my 125 also at the bottom. So no possibility of draining etc for me. Lol

You'll get him, it may take a while. He will be fine out of water much longer than you think.

bosstoneschick · Jan 10, 2021

WhiteSandsReefer said:
Draining and tipping the tank will work. Especially if it's a nano tank. Mine happened in my 125 also at the bottom. So no possibility of draining etc for me. Lol

You'll get him, it may take a while. He will be fine out of water much longer than you think.

someone told me to take a turkey baster and shoot water at its foot

bosstoneschick · Jan 10, 2021

bosstoneschick said:
someone told me to take a turkey baster and shoot water at its foot

it's starting to move into the sump part more...so hopefully it keeps going so i can grab it outta there then!

bosstoneschick · Jan 10, 2021

WhiteSandsReefer said:
Draining and tipping the tank will work. Especially if it's a nano tank. Mine happened in my 125 also at the bottom. So no possibility of draining etc for me. Lol

You'll get him, it may take a while. He will be fine out of water much longer than you think.

we are at least making progress...

WhiteSandsReefer · Jan 10, 2021

It's hard to tell all that's going on completely

Use a fingernail to scrape his foot off whatever he is latched to.

bosstoneschick · Jan 10, 2021

WhiteSandsReefer said:
It's hard to tell all that's going on completely

Use a fingernail to scrape his foot off whatever he is latched to.

it's not attached it's just inflated to go back thru the hole in that one spot...if it would deflate a tiny bit it would be out...i've been using a turkey baster and an airline hose shooting water at it

Spieg · Jan 10, 2021

bosstoneschick said:
it's starting to move into the sump part more...so hopefully it keeps going so i can grab it outta there then!

The pictures help... the hole is bigger than I was thinking. I believe it will pass through the hole like you said.

bosstoneschick · Jan 10, 2021

Spieg said:
The pictures help... the hole is bigger than I was thinking. I believe it will pass through the hole like you said.

yeah if it would just deflate a tiny bit more it would go thru completely and go back into the sump part for me to get it back out....first thing as soon as it is out is to find something to cover that hole!

bosstoneschick · Jan 10, 2021

Spieg said:
The pictures help... the hole is bigger than I was thinking. I believe it will pass through the hole like you said.

this was a pic i had before of the tank that i zoomed into the part its stuck in....i never thought it would or could get into that!

CanuckReefer · Jan 10, 2021

bosstoneschick said:
yeah if it would just deflate a tiny bit more it would go thru completely and go back into the sump part for me to get it back out....first thing as soon as it is out is to find something to cover that hole!

Ugh... I awoke to a similar problem this morning. My LTA was being sucked into a submersible UV unit I have. Luckily got it off with looks to be minimal damage. A few busted up tips seems to be about it.... will be fashioning up some kind of screen or shield to go in front of the intake, which is something I should have done long ago... live and learn I guess. Best of luck freeing your buddy from 'the jam up '
Here is mine bout and hour after the incident...

vetteguy53081 · Jan 10, 2021

Tickle its foot with a soft toothbrush or G E N T L Y go under foot with the edge of credit card and it will slowly release- do not use as a scraper.
Both methods worked for me more than once