Would it be a problem if I filled up my overflow?

[Anonymous]

I know this sounds like a stupid question, but I don't know what to do.

My lawnmower blenny jumped into the overflow about two weeks ago and I can't get him out. With the standpipe in there, there is no room to get my hand down there to grab him. I have tried to net him, but he squezzes behind the pipes and I can't get him. It doesn't help that this tank is pretty tall, so it is tough finding a tool that will even reach to the bottom is not easy.

If I take the top part of the standpipe off, I can barely get my hand all the way to the bottom, and he still gets away from me.

I was wondering if anyone knew if something bad would happen if I just went ahead and filled up the overflow area with sand or rock rubble, up the where the water goes down the pipe, so the blenny would be within reach or even more likely to take the "big ride" to the sump. I could take it out later.

I am out of ideas.

 

[Len]

Hey Laura,
I had a similiar problem on two occassions: one with a Chevron and one with a firefish. Evenutally, I bought myself two small nets and reshaped them so they could easily fit into the overflow (with the standpipe present). It takes a lot of time and patience, but I was able to luckily force the fishes into one net by prodding it with the other. Mind you, this was all done "blindly" but with enough poking around, the fish will eventually run itself into one of the nets.

I'm not too keen on your idea since I don't know how you plan on removing the sand later on. Seems like too much work to me, but hey, I'm lazy Fish going done the overflow pipe has never been a positive thing for my fish .... more often then not, they die as a result.

 

[das75]

could you try to fill the space in your overflow with something like rope?

 

[TrevDog]

Had it happen to me with a neon dottyback (evil fish). I got him out by taking the standpipe out and letting him dump into the sump. A bumpy ride but surefire way to get him out.

My dottyback never learned from the experience though.... :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Well, I have tried to remove the standpipe and can't, I don't know if it was glued in or what. (I bought the tank second hand) I am afraid to "force it".

I worry if I put something like a pile of rope in there, he will be able to wiggle under and I still won't be able to get him.

I won't do the sand thing, if you all think it is not a good idea, it was just an idea I had yesterday. One thing that occured to me recently is I bet it stays churned up in a sand storm if I put it in the overflow anyway. I had planned on siphoning it out. Plenty of times doing a water change I accidentally sucked up a bunch of sand from the sand bed, so I thought I could just siphon it out of the overflow.

Len, I think I am going to keep trying to get him with little nets I guess. I did notice yesterday when I got home that he is now eating flake food so I am not so concerned about him starving.

 

[Anonymous]

Try syphoning him out with a large-diameter hose- might work at night.