Firefish goes exploring

[jedimaster1138]

My firefish didn't come out for dinner tonight. I didn't think too much of it. I actually didn't sit and stare at them eating tonight, as I usually do, because I was feeling like poo and wanted to lay on the couch (change of seasons cold/throat thing sucks). So I figured he ate eventually.

Later in the night I checked things out and saw that my filter sock was in need of changing. OK fine. That takes 2 seconds, figured I could suck it up and handle that, sick or not. So I turn off my return and un screw the last leg of my drain via a union in prep to slip on a new sock. While I'm doing this I catch a flash of color out of the corner of my eye...

... my firefish was in my sump.

Wound up having to pull out my skimmer to scoop him up and out. He seemed mostly ok... he was swimming about on the sump floor and at one point darted straight up, as they are want to live up to their species name. I got him back in the DT and he immediately went into his hidey hole cave, into which I cannot see. Tried to coax him out with some food, but he stayed hidden. Hopefully he didn't get hurt in his trip down the drain. I honestly don't see how he didn't...the teeth on the box are narrow and then there's a stockman type silencer and the pipe runs down have a few elbows...

Fingers crossed that he's ok and that it doesn't happen again.

My drain starts with a LifeReef overflow which i highly recommend, FWIW, well I did until tonight though I'm not sure if it's the overflow's fault really. It's as high up as it can go, IE the top edge of it is up against my acrylic lip/euro brace type thing, so the only way he could have gotten into the inside box is through the teeth which are 1/4" apart. I guess that's theoretically enough for him to slip through...why he'd want to do that I don't know. I'm gonna have to cable tie on some netting, or something, unless someone has a better idea.

Crazy little fish.

 

[KathyC]

Good that yoiur firefish is ok, and not surprising that he stayed in his cave after you put him back in the DT. Likely he was a bit stressed after his adventure.

He may have jumped into the overflow rather than swimming through the teeth. Do you have a cover on the tank?
I have mesh covers on my tanks but I also have a piece of gutter guard just behind the teeth to my overflow that extends to cover the gap between the waters surface and the mesh cover so that fish cannot get on there. You might need to do something like this too.

I do want to ask about this..

my filter sock was in need of changing. OK fine. That takes 2 seconds, figured I could suck it up and handle that, sick or not. So I turn off my return and un screw the last leg of my drain via a union in prep to slip on a new sock.

While I see you said it takes 2 seconds to do...it should be easier than that to change a filter sock. Perhaps post a pic and we can suggest a minor mod that will make this task even easier without having to unscrew that union.

Fee better!

 

[jedimaster1138]

Well Mr. Firefish was out of his hidey hole hovering in the current this morning as he normally is, amused by his tank makes flitting around (just 4 crazy chromis atm). He ate breakfast rather vigorously, which doesn't surprise me as he missed dinner last night during his stay in the sump hotel. Usually he's more leisurely in his eating, and picky. This morning he was scarfing stuff down like me at Southern Hospitality (go there if you haven't already 2nd ave and 76).

I didn't notice any fin damage or otherwise injury, which is amazing given the size of the holes he had to get through. I also had another thought just recently which relates to your question about my union bit Kathy...

My overflow is in the center of my tank (left to right) and drains straight out the bottom. I then 90 it (boo, but i couldn't fit a 45 without sawing my cabinet) to the left so i drain into the left section of my sump, then 90 it again so it goes vertical. The vertical pipe terminates about 3 inches off the bottom of my sump (water level around 9) and the last 3-4 inches of that pipe also have holes cut/drilled into it. It's around that vertical pipe that I have tied a custom made felt sock (my girlfriend is handy with a sewing machine and made me 25 socks for 9$ total weee) with a draw string that I tie pull snug and tie to the pipe.

It's immediately before the "make it vertical 90" that I have a union. When I change the sock, I turn off flow, wait, take the cup off my skimmer (because it's directly in front of the drain and thus in my face) and the unscrew that union, pull that vertical pipe out, clean it, and tie on a new sock before replacing everything.

It's not the best plumbing job, and it ruffles my OCD, but it works. I could have accomplished something with fewer 90s....or just drained into the center section (that's my refugium though) but I'd have to get my reciprocating saw out and would also have to re-do my return plumbing, which i just don't feel like doing now, because it's in the way. Originally my drain was a flex hose from a different overflow (a CPR CS90... FYI: Lifereef > CPR EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK AND TWICE ON SUNDAY) so it was an easy run...when I did it and I kinda built the return around it.

This isn't the most recent picture, I've made some changes since, but it illustrates the idea.

Oh...here's the crazy part I meant to talk about earlier...

The sock ends up high, pretty much at the 90. Well above the water line. that means that in order to get into the sump the firefish had to drain down the pipe, taking a few 90s, then he was in the water - in the sock. In order to get into the sump that means he had to vault out, straight up, blasting through a tiny opening in the draw-stringed on sock, and then reverse course back down in to the water.

Crazy mofo!

 

[jedimaster1138]

He may have jumped into the overflow rather than swimming through the teeth. Do you have a cover on the tank?
I have mesh covers on my tanks but I also have a piece of gutter guard just behind the teeth to my overflow that extends to cover the gap between the waters surface and the mesh cover so that fish cannot get on there. You might need to do something like this too.

I'm closed up completely on top of the DT. Where there are gaps i either have clear netting or pieces of acrylic, or both. So i can remove the acrylic for heat purposes and still keep the fish from vaulting out.

The top lip of overflow box is right up against the euro brace, so he didn't go out, over the top of the box, then in. He would have had to swim through the teeth to get into the box. I guess i'll try either egg crate or netting...i accomplished something with netting an a cable tie last night, but only on the small side sections, not the wide front run. It was late and I was happy to have rescued the fish and just wanted to go to bed.

When you say gutter guard, exactly what do you mean?

Fee better!

Thanks. I think I'm gonna have to see a doctor...my tonsils are so big they are smashing the little punching bag thing together. I have a feeling this is my 5th or 6th run of strep in the last 12 months. Weeeeeee

 

[KathyC]

You're funny
I think your Houdini fish deserves an extra meal today

This stuff - it is fairly rigid so when you bend it to fit a curved overflow it tend to keep it's shape.

Pic won't post -- google 'gutter guard' - look at the images..second row - 6th pic from left

I'm not even going there as far as an easier suggestion to change your filter sock..looks like you have things well in control! lol :spin:


Yeah...you might want to check with a Dr..that is way too often in 12 months

 

[jedimaster1138]

Houdini might be a good name for him! Good call.

I know what stuff you mean now. Good idea. If I can't come up with something tonight involving my BRS netting or egg crate I'll hit Home Depot tomorrow. Smart Kathy is smart.

Yeah the plumbing...I'm not entirely happy with it. Or the sump in general. But it's the first sump I've built and plumbed, and it works, so I'm trying to temper my OCD and not order 800 fittings from savko and go nuts "improving" it every other week. I've decided sitting in a chair watching my fish swim and my coral sway is more fun...sorta...

Now the next tank... that's another story. LOL I need a house first

 

[Lee]

I recently had the same experience with my cleaner shrimp. I fished him out of my sump about a week and a half ago & he's fine. I still cannot understand how he made it al the way into the sump (similar acrobatics as your firefish would be needed).