Wrasses in internal overflow box - how to get them out

[Adauqua]

I accidentally and happily spotted two missing wrasses (4” Xmas and 3” exquisite) that are alive in the internal overflow box. I thought they are dead for weeks. How can I fish them out? Stop return pumps, siphon 1/2 water in the overflow box and use fish net? It’s a challenge since tank + stand is 70 inches height and in the corner + closed to wall + 5 pipes in the overflow box. Very little room to wiggle.
All advices are appreciated.

 

[psidriven]

are standpipes removable? if not, get nets long enough to reach the bottom and drain all the water out. or make partitions with plastic sheets to corral them into a corner.

 

[gmdcdvm]

Good luck! That is awesome that you found them alive and well in the overflow. Go figure. Any chance you can have them go down the pipe into the sump and then fish them out?

 

[Adauqua]

are standpipes removable? if not, get nets long enough to reach the bottom and drain all the water out. or make partitions with plastic sheets to corral them into a corner.

Two are removable but no room to reach and pull them out. Will try the partition and drain most of water idea. The main problem is no room and tank is 190gl

Good luck! That is awesome that you found them alive and well in the overflow. Go figure. Any chance you can have them go down the pipe into the sump and then fish them out?

They are too big to go down the drain into the sump

 

[Turkeysammich]

Pull the drain pipes they will go down the drain. If not. With the drain pipes removed. You can fish them out with a long net. Just have a long ladder so you can get up and over that aquarium. Build a grate to go over the overflow box cuz it’s happened to me a couple of times.

 

[Adauqua]

Pull the drain pipes they will go down the drain. If not. With the drain pipes removed. You can fish them out with a long net. Just have a long ladder so you can get up and over that aquarium. Build a grate to go over the overflow box cuz it’s happened to me a couple of times.

Great advices from the master. Thank you! I'll try @psidriven ideas if possible without removing the drain pipes first.

 

[Srt4eric]

Shop vac... jk.. I've heard of people actually using very small barbless fish hooks to fish them out.

 

[derek_SR]

Shop vac... jk.. I've heard of people actually using very small barbless fish hooks to fish them out.

Hahah from the very first post I was planning to say this. I am not kidding though - I think shop vac is a real option.

 

[Kensington Reefer]

Get a ladder
Pull the pipes
But control the flow rate so fish don’t get hurt
Then with a net fish them out
Those fish are worth the effort

 

[Srt4eric]

Hahah from the very first post I was planning to say this. I am not kidding though - I think shop vac is a real option.

I just didn't want peta to get mad at me.

 

[nlopedota]

Hahah from the very first post I was planning to say this. I am not kidding though - I think shop vac is a real option.

We had a client with a similar situation where they filled the overflow with coral rubble until the fish rose to the top where they could fish it out. After rescuing the fish they shopvac’ed out the rubble. Best of luck

 

[MichaelB]

Any updates on progress with Operation wrasse rescue?

 

[PjFish]

Been there! Take water out so level is below the overflow toss mesh bags filled with with rubble / marbles/sand anything small that sinks. I used those small bio balls .. then just scoop out fish at top by hand..

 

[PjFish]

Oh stuff towels down the wall void or cover with tarp/ shower curtain anything so they can't jump and slide down behind the the the tank!

 

[tribbitt]

Did the wrasscue work out?

 

[Adauqua]

With professional plumber @Srt4eric living closed by, I confidently removed one drain pipe, stand one leg on the stand one on the ladder to lean over and use soft plastic baffles + net to fish them - mission accomplished

Once my back healed, I think I can outplay/beat Tom Cruise for the role in Mission Impossible 9

Rejoin the gang

Thanks everyone for chiming in with great advices - almost renting a shop vac at Home Depot

 

[dangalang]

Wow that's a tall tank and stand! No step ladder recommendations needed here, had to use a legit ladder hahah.

 

[MichaelB]

Wow that's a tall tank and stand! No step ladder recommendations needed here, had to use a legit ladder hahah.

Lol so high I'm surprised he didn't need to hang from the ceiling.

 

[Turkeysammich]

Aquarium looks great.

 

[Kensington Reefer]

Nice long nose butterfly