Stupid 6-line

[Matt]

Our 6-line wrasse as decided to surf over the overflow, and is now hanging around in there. It is a small space (6" square, 20" water depth), with 1.5" durso and a .75" return coming up the middle. In other words, not much room for a net.

When I put the net in, he dived straight down into the furthest, tightest corner behind the plumbing! Doesn't he know I'm trying to help? I drained the overflow, but he was still in an inch of water in an inaccessible spot, and I couldn't reach him.

I don't know how I'm going to help the little guy.

Any tips?

[Aquattro]

siphon him out with a hose??

[albert_dao]

have you tried grabbing him?

[Matt]

siphon him out with a hoseI don't think I have a hose big enough... have you tried grabbing him?With my hand? No, I haven't. I don't know if I could reach him - for sure not without some disassembly of the durso if he goes back there again. I wonder if I could bait him with some food to ignore the net...

Matthew

[TheReefGeek]

Is your durso not easily disasembled? I can just pull straight up on mine and it just leaves the bottom nipple. They dont have to be glued.

I would disasemble the durso(s) so you can get a net or your hand in there.

[Delphinus]

I had a pair of fairy wrasses which loved jumping into the overflow of their tank. To get them out I usually just let them find their own way out, but to "encourage" them to do so, I would turn off the sump line (i.e., I just attached a valve and closed it), then flooded the overflow so the water level in there matched the level in the tank, then I left them alone for half an hour or so. Usually they'd just swim back into the tank within a few minutes anyhow, but if they wouldn't still after that, I'd just throw some flake in and they were pigs for food so that was usually enough. I don't think I ever managed to net them out. I know one time when the the female was caught in there, I went to go get the net because she wasn't coming out on her own, but as soon as the saw the net coming she jumped out (and into the tank).

They were quite prolific jumpers though and that sort of leads into why I don't have them anymore. One night when I was away my fish sitter forgot to close the canopy after feeding them, and they both jumped that night. :( My 6-line has never shown the same tendency to want to jump so it may just be because of this jumping behaviour that they were so easy to remove from an overflow. Thought I'd mention this technique anyhow, might be worth a try. If that doesn't work then I think Rory's suggestion of removing the internal plumbing is the way to go. At least you'll be able to get the net in there a little easier.

[Matt]

Disassembled the durso, drained the overflow, blocked the exits to the plumbing, nudged him with a turkey baster, and scooped him with the net.

That only took about 40 minutes ... but a happy ending. Thanks for all the suggestions!

Matthew

[BMW Rider]

I had a pair of fairy wrasses which loved jumping into the overflow of their tank. To get them out I usually just let them find their own way out, but to "encourage" them to do so, I would turn off the sump line (i.e., I just attached a valve and closed it), then flooded the overflow so the water level in there matched the level in the tank, then I left them alone for half an hour or so.

One of my green chromis is playing hookey from school and is lounging in my overflow. I am going to try this method for getting him back in class. I tried to pull the durso out, but it is way too tight and I can't get a good enough grip on it. I just need to find a cap or something to plug the overflow off.

[TheReefGeek]

Matt, glad you got your guy out safe and sound.

Ed, try gripping the Durso with a big pair of pliers to turn it and pull up and out.

[muck]

Ed, try gripping the Durso with a big pair of pliers to turn it and pull up and out.

Id be very leery about doing that as the last thing you need is to create to much stress on the bulkhead. Next thing you know the bulkhead is cracked or more likely the bottom pane of your tank is cracked. :eek:

[TheReefGeek]

If it is THAT stuck that you might crack the bulkhead of glass, then yes, don't chance it. But the pliers might just give you better grip to get the pvc apart without applying so much force to be dangerous.

[mark]

Good that you got him out, but wondering if it does it again could you just remove the Durso and let him ride the overflow to the sump?

[Delphinus]

I suppose that's an option if the piping is large enough and doesn't have too many bends. I'd be afraid of the fish getting stuck somewhere ... what then?

But it's something I'd probably consider if all other options fail.

[BMW Rider]

Id be very leery about doing that as the last thing you need is to create to much stress on the bulkhead. Next thing you know the bulkhead is cracked or more likely the bottom pane of your tank is cracked. :eek:

I tried using a big pair of pliers and couldn't budge it. It must be encrusted with calcium deposits or something. Other than the delinquant fish in the overflow, I have no other reason to remove it. I plan to put some finer mesh on the to to keep fish out in the future. I think this fellow swam in through the eggcrate baffle.

BTW, I'm not worried about the bulkhead cracking, when I had the tank built the guy supplied me with 2" schedule 80 bulkheads. Those things are huge and tough.

[Matt]

Good that you got him out, but wondering if it does it again could you just remove the Durso and let him ride the overflow to the sump?I tried that (I kept the net below the water line in the sump), but when the sump was draining, he fought the current like a demon, and wound up behind the bulkhead in the 1" of water remaining. I'm actually glad it worked out like that, since it would have been a stressful waterslide for the poor bugger.

[Tarolisol]

Good luck my six line has lived in my overflow for about a year. Ive tried numerous times to get him out with no luck.