Help getting fish out of the overflow

[zaga]

Hi

I just found my purple dottyback stuck in the rear overflow of my tank after missing for a month. It is 24" deep and I am scared of knocking off the pvc pipe that attaches to the bottom bulkhead. Space is only 4" x 6" but 24" deep.

Just trying to see if anyone has any ideas or experience getting a fish out of an overflow. Thanks in advance!

 

[homer1475]

When I get a fish in mine(tower style overflow), I pull my full siphon pipe, remove filter sock, open the gate valve fully, and let them take a ride into the sump. Easier to catch in the sump.

 

[zaga]

When I get a fish in mine(tower style overflow), I pull my full siphon pipe, remove filter sock, open the gate valve fully, and let them take a ride into the sump. Easier to catch in the sump.

unfortunately the previous owner put something at the end of the piping that goes into the filter sock. The fish wouldn't fit through there.

but that does open up some ideas as a last ditch effort.

 

[Fishy212]

Hey! Not sure if you rescued the fish yet but for small places like that you can jerry rig a coat hanger with some panty hose attached to the end of it. Hope this helps good luck

 

[alabella1]

I've had this happen 2x and I'm looking for a good solution for keeping them out. Most recently both my indigo and orchid dottybacks got in there. I ended up chucking a pump down there and pumped out almost all the water. I yanked the pipes out of the bulkheads and let the rest drain into the sump. There was just enough standing water left for them to survive and they were much easier to net with the pipes out of the way.

I would try the whole pulling the pipe and letting them get sucked down to the sump, i just don't know that I trust my sump to hold the entire contents of my overflow.

 

[alabella1]

Hi

I just found my purple dottyback stuck in the rear overflow of my tank after missing for a month. It is 24" deep and I am scared of knocking off the pvc pipe that attaches to the bottom bulkhead. Space is only 4" x 6" but 24" deep.

Just trying to see if anyone has any ideas or experience getting a fish out of an overflow. Thanks in advance!

Once you get them out, you have to try to keep them out which is where i'm at.

 

[homer1475]

Cover your overflow, thats how you keep them out. They should not be small enough they fit through the weir teeth.