there have been many threads about other reefer's experiences/solutions when it comes to getting fish out of the overflow.
I've had to do it a few times now, all within the last few months. seems like once a month.
first was a clown fish and a cardinal at the same time. I couldn't figure out how they got into the overflow. the top of the overflow has a plexiglass cover, and I could have swore I had the sides of the overflow completely blocked off where the loc line passes through. after the 3rd time of having this issue, I got wise and sealed off every gap i saw, regardless of how small it was. if the fish get back in, then they belong there, they earned it!!
with the cardinal fish and the clown being in the overflow, I turned the return pump off, and removed the emergency drain pipe and allowed the water to drain into the sump. The vacuum had enough suction and both fish went on down to the sump. success!!
the 3rd time, a few days ago, one of my chromis ended up in the overflow. this was more of a struggle. Since chromis are really good swimmers, this one fought the urge to take the water slide down to the sump. tried a number of times with no success. Tonight it finally worked. using the same process.
since I have a 100 gallon stock tank as my sump, in the basement, I had to be a little creative on how to catch the fish. the net/mesh bag i used to capture the fish as they came down the water slide, kept slipping off the emergency pipe. I had nothing to secure it in place. A little light bulb went off in my head. I used to have a fish breeder box when I had my freshwater tank, many moons ago. For some reason that popped into my head. I found a pair of them on Amazon for $10. I placed the box in the sump, and the emergency drain hose inside it. obviously, when the fish went for a ride, the breeder box was there to catch it. easy peasy!
here's a picture of the box. it measures about 6"x6". I was able to wedge it inside the sump between the skimmer and the stock tank itself. I used the nylon jump screen material to screen off the gaps. hope that fixes everything.
I've had to do it a few times now, all within the last few months. seems like once a month.
first was a clown fish and a cardinal at the same time. I couldn't figure out how they got into the overflow. the top of the overflow has a plexiglass cover, and I could have swore I had the sides of the overflow completely blocked off where the loc line passes through. after the 3rd time of having this issue, I got wise and sealed off every gap i saw, regardless of how small it was. if the fish get back in, then they belong there, they earned it!!
with the cardinal fish and the clown being in the overflow, I turned the return pump off, and removed the emergency drain pipe and allowed the water to drain into the sump. The vacuum had enough suction and both fish went on down to the sump. success!!
the 3rd time, a few days ago, one of my chromis ended up in the overflow. this was more of a struggle. Since chromis are really good swimmers, this one fought the urge to take the water slide down to the sump. tried a number of times with no success. Tonight it finally worked. using the same process.
since I have a 100 gallon stock tank as my sump, in the basement, I had to be a little creative on how to catch the fish. the net/mesh bag i used to capture the fish as they came down the water slide, kept slipping off the emergency pipe. I had nothing to secure it in place. A little light bulb went off in my head. I used to have a fish breeder box when I had my freshwater tank, many moons ago. For some reason that popped into my head. I found a pair of them on Amazon for $10. I placed the box in the sump, and the emergency drain hose inside it. obviously, when the fish went for a ride, the breeder box was there to catch it. easy peasy!
here's a picture of the box. it measures about 6"x6". I was able to wedge it inside the sump between the skimmer and the stock tank itself. I used the nylon jump screen material to screen off the gaps. hope that fixes everything.
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. I have essentially no protective measures to prevent them from slipping over or past the weir and I’ve only had one fish get in there in 9 years…
