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Wrasses in internal overflow box - how to get them out

A

Adauqua

Supporting Member
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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.
 
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.
 
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?
 
psidriven said:
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.
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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 :(

gmdcdvm said:
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?
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They are too big to go down the drain into the sump
 
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.
 
Turkeysammich said:
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.
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Great advices from the master. Thank you! I'll try @psidriven ideas if possible without removing the drain pipes first.
 
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..
 
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!
 
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

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Rejoin the gang

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