Firefish stuck in sump baffles

techreef · 10/16/2007, 07:57 AM

I noticed last night that my firefish wasn't out and about during feeding time, but chalked it up to my carpenter's wrasse hassling him and the firefish laying low for a little while. But when I opened my stand to empty my skimmer cup, I found the firefish in my sump, between the first and second glass baffles leading out from the skimmer section of the sump. I left him in there overnight to recover from the strain and scratches of the trip down to the sump. Does anyone have ideas on how I get this fish out of the baffles? The 3 panes of glass that make up the baffles are spaced about 1" apart from each other. Thanks!

Bender · 10/16/2007, 08:11 AM

Can you raise the water level in your sump a little bit to give the fish more room to swim over the lower baffles into a larger area of the sump? If the fish won't go on its own maybe you could persuade it by pushing it alongwith something behind the fish. I had to do the same thing with an adventurous clown fish. Once into the larger area of the sump, lower the water level back down below the baffles and net it out. Good luck getting it out.

techreef · 10/16/2007, 08:35 AM

Thanks Bender. Your icon is what I felt like last night when I found the fish down there! Yeah, I'll kill the return pump and see if I can coax Alfalfa up and out. Sheesh.

bpd964 · 10/16/2007, 08:37 AM

Agreed... Raise the level in the sump higher than the baffles.. Been there, done that too.. Good luck..

10/16/2007, 07:57 AM	#1
techreef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Montclair, NJ Posts: 1,046	Firefish stuck in sump baffles I noticed last night that my firefish wasn't out and about during feeding time, but chalked it up to my carpenter's wrasse hassling him and the firefish laying low for a little while. But when I opened my stand to empty my skimmer cup, I found the firefish in my sump, between the first and second glass baffles leading out from the skimmer section of the sump. I left him in there overnight to recover from the strain and scratches of the trip down to the sump. Does anyone have ideas on how I get this fish out of the baffles? The 3 panes of glass that make up the baffles are spaced about 1" apart from each other. Thanks!

10/16/2007, 08:11 AM	#2
Bender Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Granger ,IN USA Posts: 1,013	Can you raise the water level in your sump a little bit to give the fish more room to swim over the lower baffles into a larger area of the sump? If the fish won't go on its own maybe you could persuade it by pushing it alongwith something behind the fish. I had to do the same thing with an adventurous clown fish. Once into the larger area of the sump, lower the water level back down below the baffles and net it out. Good luck getting it out. __________________ Bender Current Tank Info: 180 inwall reef tank

10/16/2007, 08:35 AM	#3
techreef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Montclair, NJ Posts: 1,046	Thanks Bender. Your icon is what I felt like last night when I found the fish down there! Yeah, I'll kill the return pump and see if I can coax Alfalfa up and out. Sheesh.

10/16/2007, 08:37 AM	#4
bpd964 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bridgeport, CT Posts: 2,237	Agreed... Raise the level in the sump higher than the baffles.. Been there, done that too.. Good luck..