fish in overflow help

JStorey · 06/02/2007, 10:51 PM

I had a couple of McCoskers disappear over the last couple of weeks and assumed they had died and were eaten. Then my blue spot jawfish disappeared a couple of days ago. Using a flashlight i found him in my overflow along with a couple of not so fortunate McCoskers. He swam towards the light and i was able to scoop him back into my tank but i cannot get to the wrasses at the bottom and need to get them out. Any suggestions? Can you pull out the pipe in the overflow and drain them into the sump? If so, do you just pull it out and push back in place? Don't want to flood the living room. Once that is done i need to take preventive measures so this doesn't happen again. The tank is an oceanic 135 megaflow with opening over the overflow approximately 10"x5" wide. What would be the best way to cover this? I have a glass canopy to stop them from hitting the floor. If I just cover the opening they could still jump and land on the cover and bake under the lights so i would need something to block them and or cover the top. Any sugeestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

dragon_slayer · 06/02/2007, 10:55 PM

i had a Royal Gramma jump into my overflow when my Panther Grouper got after it and it lived there for about 3 yrs and got amazingly FAT from the lack of exercise i guess, i thought it would likely get stuck if i tried to pulling the standpipe and letting it get sucked down so i finely caught it out with a net by removing the canopy so i could get in there.

kc

jdieck · 06/02/2007, 10:56 PM

For covering the aquatrium top you can use eggcrate cut to size.
You can try removing the drain durso but unless you have more than 11/4" drain they may get trapped in the pipe specially if you have an elbow or a union.
If you can reach the bottom of the overflow with your hand then turn the recirculation pump off, then carefully pull the drain durso pipe up just a crack so water from inside the overflow drains out buyt the fish wont fit. Once the overflow is almost empty about 1/2 to 1" you may get the fish with your hand or small net and take them out.
Fully re-insert the stand pipe and re-start the pump.

JStorey · 06/03/2007, 11:17 AM

Got them all out. What is the best way to cover or fish proof the overflows so this doesn't happen again?

dragon_slayer · 06/03/2007, 01:15 PM

the eggcrate Jose mentioned.

kc

Lotus99 · 06/03/2007, 01:20 PM

We've had a couple of fish go through the teeth of the overflow. We have a temporary fix right now, where we've clipped some plastic canvas (the stuff for sewing) behind the teeth with some food/letttuce clips we had hanging around. They seem to do the trick until we work out a more permanent solution. Perhaps we'll use some zip ties. The canvas collects some debris, so we don't really want to silicone them on.

JStorey · 06/03/2007, 01:42 PM

Where do you get eggcrate? Lowe's, Home depot? Do you just sit it on top or attach it somehow?

aquarius77 · 06/03/2007, 01:48 PM

Either store you mentioned should have it. If you have a standard tank that has a lip around the rim for hoods and whatnot to sit on you can cut the eggcrate to sit on those lips.

aquarius77 · 06/03/2007, 01:53 PM

I appologize, i thought you meant to cover the tank.

You could sit it on top of the overflow or even put it down inside the opening some. I like to use the plastic mesh over the mouth of my overflow, it is flexable and staus put with no special effort.

If you want to use the eggcrate you could trim it to 1/4 inch bigger than the mouth and then cut grooves in the eggcrate for it to rest on the opening, it should sit down a bit more and should not ever move.

aquarius77 · 06/03/2007, 03:13 PM

I just went searching and i found some of the plastic mesh from one of my older overflow boxes. I see now that yours is approx 10x5. The peice i have is about that size laid out flat. Im not sure if it would help but your welcome to it if you want it.

jdieck · 06/03/2007, 05:10 PM

A couple of tips. First keep an eye on that netting on the comb if it catches too much debris you might have a flood in your hands.
For covering the overflow it has always been my preference to use black acrylic or acrylic painted black, the idea is to keep light out of the overflow which prevents algae growth in areas were there are no algae eaters and are difficult to clean by hand.
for jumpers I would use the egg crate to cover the tank itself, as they can jump into the overflow they can also go carpet surfing.
Finally for egg crate to be used underwater I prefer to use acrylic egg crate and acrylic or styrene egg crate for outside of the water (like for covers) Most egg crate sold at hardware stores are made of styrene. Although anecdotal my experience has been that styrene may have some substance that promotes algae. Unfortunately acrylic egg crate is difficult to get by.

06/02/2007, 10:51 PM	#1
JStorey Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 457	fish in overflow help I had a couple of McCoskers disappear over the last couple of weeks and assumed they had died and were eaten. Then my blue spot jawfish disappeared a couple of days ago. Using a flashlight i found him in my overflow along with a couple of not so fortunate McCoskers. He swam towards the light and i was able to scoop him back into my tank but i cannot get to the wrasses at the bottom and need to get them out. Any suggestions? Can you pull out the pipe in the overflow and drain them into the sump? If so, do you just pull it out and push back in place? Don't want to flood the living room. Once that is done i need to take preventive measures so this doesn't happen again. The tank is an oceanic 135 megaflow with opening over the overflow approximately 10"x5" wide. What would be the best way to cover this? I have a glass canopy to stop them from hitting the floor. If I just cover the opening they could still jump and land on the cover and bake under the lights so i would need something to block them and or cover the top. Any sugeestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

06/02/2007, 10:56 PM	#3
jdieck Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maumee, OH Posts: 15,673	For covering the aquatrium top you can use eggcrate cut to size. You can try removing the drain durso but unless you have more than 11/4" drain they may get trapped in the pipe specially if you have an elbow or a union. If you can reach the bottom of the overflow with your hand then turn the recirculation pump off, then carefully pull the drain durso pipe up just a crack so water from inside the overflow drains out buyt the fish wont fit. Once the overflow is almost empty about 1/2 to 1" you may get the fish with your hand or small net and take them out. Fully re-insert the stand pipe and re-start the pump. __________________ Did I write what I wrote? What the heck am I talking about! Well..... Nevermind. Current Tank Info: 225 gal reef, DSB, 40 g sump w/ LRT100 return, 37 g pre-sump, 3 MH 250 W 15K, 4 96 W PC dual actinic,ETS 1500 Skim.w/LRT70, 20 lb Ca R., 40 W UV, 1/3 HP chiller, two 350 W Htrs, Neptune II Cont., 330 P LR/ 330 P LS. 55 gal Refugium

06/03/2007, 01:20 PM	#6
Lotus99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,398	We've had a couple of fish go through the teeth of the overflow. We have a temporary fix right now, where we've clipped some plastic canvas (the stuff for sewing) behind the teeth with some food/letttuce clips we had hanging around. They seem to do the trick until we work out a more permanent solution. Perhaps we'll use some zip ties. The canvas collects some debris, so we don't really want to silicone them on. __________________ "So long, and thanks for all the fish" Current Tank Info: 125g reef, gobies, cardinals, softies and LPS; 36g Neo Nano tank; 10+ FW tanks

06/03/2007, 05:10 PM	#11
jdieck Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maumee, OH Posts: 15,673	A couple of tips. First keep an eye on that netting on the comb if it catches too much debris you might have a flood in your hands. For covering the overflow it has always been my preference to use black acrylic or acrylic painted black, the idea is to keep light out of the overflow which prevents algae growth in areas were there are no algae eaters and are difficult to clean by hand. for jumpers I would use the egg crate to cover the tank itself, as they can jump into the overflow they can also go carpet surfing. Finally for egg crate to be used underwater I prefer to use acrylic egg crate and acrylic or styrene egg crate for outside of the water (like for covers) Most egg crate sold at hardware stores are made of styrene. Although anecdotal my experience has been that styrene may have some substance that promotes algae. Unfortunately acrylic egg crate is difficult to get by. __________________ Did I write what I wrote? What the heck am I talking about! Well..... Nevermind. Current Tank Info: 225 gal reef, DSB, 40 g sump w/ LRT100 return, 37 g pre-sump, 3 MH 250 W 15K, 4 96 W PC dual actinic,ETS 1500 Skim.w/LRT70, 20 lb Ca R., 40 W UV, 1/3 HP chiller, two 350 W Htrs, Neptune II Cont., 330 P LR/ 330 P LS. 55 gal Refugium

06/02/2007, 10:55 PM	#2
dragon_slayer Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Location: South East Alabama Posts: 7,853	i had a Royal Gramma jump into my overflow when my Panther Grouper got after it and it lived there for about 3 yrs and got amazingly FAT from the lack of exercise i guess, i thought it would likely get stuck if i tried to pulling the standpipe and letting it get sucked down so i finely caught it out with a net by removing the canopy so i could get in there. kc

06/03/2007, 11:17 AM	#4
JStorey Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 457	Got them all out. What is the best way to cover or fish proof the overflows so this doesn't happen again?

06/03/2007, 01:15 PM	#5
dragon_slayer Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Location: South East Alabama Posts: 7,853	the eggcrate Jose mentioned. kc

06/03/2007, 01:42 PM	#7
JStorey Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 457	Where do you get eggcrate? Lowe's, Home depot? Do you just sit it on top or attach it somehow?

06/03/2007, 01:48 PM	#8
aquarius77 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Highland, Il Posts: 2,198	Either store you mentioned should have it. If you have a standard tank that has a lip around the rim for hoods and whatnot to sit on you can cut the eggcrate to sit on those lips.

06/03/2007, 01:53 PM	#9
aquarius77 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Highland, Il Posts: 2,198	I appologize, i thought you meant to cover the tank. You could sit it on top of the overflow or even put it down inside the opening some. I like to use the plastic mesh over the mouth of my overflow, it is flexable and staus put with no special effort. If you want to use the eggcrate you could trim it to 1/4 inch bigger than the mouth and then cut grooves in the eggcrate for it to rest on the opening, it should sit down a bit more and should not ever move.

06/03/2007, 03:13 PM	#10
aquarius77 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Highland, Il Posts: 2,198	I just went searching and i found some of the plastic mesh from one of my older overflow boxes. I see now that yours is approx 10x5. The peice i have is about that size laid out flat. Im not sure if it would help but your welcome to it if you want it.