Operation goby

[Reefer Madness]

So when i got home from work this afternoon I was on a mission to find my missing goby. First I removed all the rock and sifted through the sand. Unfortunately I couldn't find him.

 

[Reefer Madness]

Next was the overflow. I removed the return pump, and filtration and low and behold there he was...a picture just to emphasize really how small he is.

 

[Reefer Madness]

So now I know where he was at how the F do I get him out since he is in such a hard part to access.

 

[Reefer Madness]

So my first idea is suck him out. Sounds simple enough and shouldn't be that hard right lol let's just say that plan was terrible and didn't work. So I now have a plan to block him off and cut down a piece of plastic to trap him here. I used a small tube to scare him into the chamber I wanted him.

 

[MarcosD]

Damn. That’s tough. I got a clown goby stuck in the return chamber of my Red Sea AIO and got him out with a lot of patience and x-small telescoping net I got from Petco. But their AIO chambers arent as complicated. I know @tribbitt had an issue catching a small fish not too long ago. People were saying shop vac…

 

[Reefer Madness]

So I go back to my plan to suck him out and unfortunately it isn't working as there isn't much water in the compartment. The frustration is building lol then I think I can net him out but unfortunately don't have a small enough net. Sooooooo more modifications happen and this is what I come up with. I bent both sides of the net so it would fit into the small chamber. I then scared him into the net and got him into the bucket.

 

[Reefer Madness]

Operation goby is a success and he is back into the display. I put a small piece of net in front of the weir as that is how I suspect he got out. Any ideas of how to block the weir so he doesnt escape again would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Bigfish]

Now way I literally had to deal with this same exact thing when I had to move my tank this weekend hahahaha, happy yours made it out too!

 

[tribbitt]

Problem with sucking the fish out is that fluid dynamics is not on your side lol. I ended up using a net too

 

[Reefer Madness]

Problem with sucking the fish out is that fluid dynamics is not on your side lol. I ended up using a net too

Yeah I'm just glad I found him and he is back into the display.

 

[MarcosD]

Yeah I'm just glad I found him and he is back into the display.

I hate to tell you this but he’ll probably make his way back in there again… At least my clown goby did

I don’t know what you can add to stop him from going back in there without making it sus. I considered some 1/4 netting but was worried of something clogging it and the overflow getting blocked

 

[gmdcdvm]

Do you have pics of the weir? Maybe some black zip ties to narrow down the size of the gaps? Glad you were able to get him out.

 

[Reefer Madness]

Do you have pics of the weir? Maybe some black zip ties to narrow down the size of the gaps? Glad you were able to get him out.

Well I put a piece of neating there for the time being but I was thinking that maybe someone could print a piece out maybe similar to this. This is from intank aquatics made to adjust the water level but i was thinking something like this that would just press fit in.

 

[Reefer Madness]

I hate to tell you this but he’ll probably make his way back in there again… At least my clown goby did

I don’t know what you can add to stop him from going back in there without making it sus. I considered some 1/4 netting but was worried of something clogging it and the overflow getting blocked

That is my concern as well.

 

[richiev]

Plug your drain pipes. Let your pump run into the return section is totally empty and out is blowing bubbles. Does the tank overflow?

If not, then you don't really have to worry about it overflowing, as long as your ATO auto deactivates if it runs too long or the display height gets too high.

 

[Reefer Madness]

Plug your drain pipes. Let your pump run into the return section is totally empty and out is blowing bubbles. Does the tank overflow?

If not, then you don't really have to worry about it overflowing, as long as your ATO auto deactivates if it runs too long or the display height gets too high.

This is my new aio tank not my 170ext

 

[richiev]

This is my new aio tank not my 170ext

Would it overflow if the weir was completely plugged? I'm assuming that AIO has a specific return area with a smaller amount of water in it (that's how my AIOs have been).

My logic being if you can prove to yourself it wouldn't overflow even if the weir was plugged, then you should feel safe to use the netting.

If it would overflow, and it wouldn't cause too much a water trickle sound, you might also be able to lower the water volume in the tank. Not to lower the actual level in the main display, but to lower the amount in the return section

 

[Reefer Madness]

Would it overflow if the weir was completely plugged? I'm assuming that AIO has a specific return area with a smaller amount of water in it (that's how my AIOs have been).

My logic being if you can prove to yourself it wouldn't overflow even if the weir was plugged, then you should feel safe to use the netting.

If it would overflow, and it wouldn't cause too much a water trickle sound, you might also be able to lower the water volume in the tank. Not to lower the actual level in the main display, but to lower the amount in the return section

Yeah I was thinking about a 3d printed piece might be the way to go. Atleast until the goby gets big enough that it isn't a problem.

 

[Reefer Madness]

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6540723

I'm thinking this might work

 

[MarcosD]

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6540723

I'm thinking this might work

Ooh yeah that looks good. Should be easy to remove and clean too