Another fish death by overflow.. help?

[DracoKat]

about 6 months ago, a wrasse jumped into the corner overflow and got stuck in the pipes and died (And flooded the floors).
So I decided to use a plastic sewing canvas to cover the over flow. Today I find another wrasse had jumped and got stuck on the overflow cover and died.

I really do not want any fish getting stuck in the overflow area due to it being a pain to get out.

any ideas how I can prevent any more casualties? should I just remove the cover and stick a mesh over the pipes to prevent anyone from going in? any other ideas?

 

[Alfrareef]

The second it's a good choice. Also getting/building a tank cover might solve the issue also not buying jumping fish like the wrasses might reduced chances of getting fish trapped at the overflow.

 

[DracoKat]

I should've mentioned, I do have a cover. Mesh cover a DIY from BRS. It jumped between the cover into the overflow cover which was like half an inch gap. Fish was pretty big too at 4.5" big

 

[Alfrareef]

Ah! Houdini síndrome... I'll go for the last option: not buying jumping fishes.

 

[Xclusive Reef]

use a piece of mess or egg crate to place between the overflow and the tank cover.

 

[DracoKat]

but I like wrasses!

I am going to figure out how to tie a piece of mesh on the pipe with zip ties. tight space to work with.

 

[DracoKat]

use a piece of mess or egg crate to place between the overflow and the tank cover.

I had a mesh on the overflow. the fish got stuck between cover and mesh

 

[Flippers4pups]

Or

 

[Flippers4pups]

In my case, I had to take a old overflow and cut it to make up the difference between the DT overflow and my canopy. No fish in my overflows now.

 

[Xclusive Reef]

I had a mesh on the overflow. the fish got stuck between cover and mesh

oh man that's just bad luck. if they are getting stuck in the mess then check the size of the openings in the mess. make sure they are 1/4 or less.

 

[DracoKat]

Can you take a pic for me @Flippers4pups ?

 

[DracoKat]

I used the plastic canvas thingy that @Flippers4pups used. I wish I took a photo of the fish and the canvas before I took it down so you guys can get a better idea.

For now I took the canvas mesh off and covered the pipe with netting to keep fish from going inside. I'll have to figure out how to build up on it to press against the lid with no gap

 

[edsbeaker]

You might want to consider using plastic needlepoint mesh used for crafts. The holes are small, and the material is pretty stiff. It's also cheap. Look for it in the needlecraft section at places like Hobby Lobby, Michaels, or JoAnne Fabrics. It comes in many shapes and sizes.

 

[DracoKat]

that's what I used. I guess I wasn't explaining it right. The fish still got between that and the lid (Which is the screen from BRS DIY kit).

I need to figure out how to raise it where the fish can't get in between

 

[Flippers4pups]

Can you take a pic for me @Flippers4pups ?

I just had the corner overflow panels that came from my sump tank, that I removed. They just happened to be the same as the marineland stock overflow panels on my new DT. I only cut about an inch of the top and notched the sides to fit under my canopy. I originally had cut a piece of plywood, painted it and put holes in it for ventilation. Zip tied them to the cut overflow piece. I'll take a picture of one now in place and out for you.

 

[Flippers4pups]

 

[Flippers4pups]

If you have a screen top already, just take some thin plastic, cut it the height you need to take up the difference between the overflow box and the screen top and warm it up. Then bend to the same radius as the top of the overflow box. Then zip tie it to the weir teeth so it won't move.

 

[DracoKat]

If you have a screen top already, just take some thin plastic, cut it the height you need to take up the difference between the overflow box and the screen top and warm it up. Then bend to the same radius as the top of the overflow box. Then zip tie it to the weir teeth so it won't move.

That is a genius idea. I will have to do that!! Thank you!! I will have to find some plastic to use.

 

[Flippers4pups]

That is a genius idea. I will have to do that!! Thank you!! I will have to find some plastic to use.

Bam! Your welcome!

 

[cmcoker]

That's what I did with plastic gutter guard

Basically like a fence on top the overflow