fish stuck in overflow. any ideas?

[reefaddict]

I have an aga 125 drilled with the overflows in the corners.six or so months ago my flame angel got in an overflow. i was able to extract it basically by being patient and using my hand to feel for the fish. four months ago a yellow tail damsel took the same plunge.I have tried numerous times to get that fish out of there but nothing i have tried so far has worked.one net, two nets, no nets just fingers, siphon hose. it is hard to reach the bottom of the tank with my fingers so it gets painful after a little bit of sloshing around in the overflow.
the fish gets plenty of food and looks healthy through the tank bottom.I am leaning towards leaving it in there but i thought i would ask for help before i give up.
thanks in advance for your responses.
Mike L.

 

[wrightme43]

Well you could take a old net and bend the handle so that it sticks up 90 degrees and stick it to the bottom of the overflow blocking the exit, and turn off the return pump, letting all the water drain out of the overflow trapping the fish in the net, then put it back in the tank, then turn on the pump. Make sure that the sump doesnt overflow of course. Then get some gutter guard and put it with silocone on the inside of your overflow and keep the fish out.

 

[reefaddict]

fish in overflow

my overflows have a pipe that sticks up about 6" right in the middle of it. i was afraid to remove it because of possible leaks. if i can get that pipe out of there, your idea will work.

 

[NaH2O]

reefaddict - recently my clowns each took a turn in the overflow....one managed to get past the eggcrate. I turned off the return pump, and turned the valve that let water drain into the sump from that overflow. Removed the top off of my standpipe (durso), and used a net to scoop them out of the overflow. If that didn't work, I was going to do what Steve suggested. Good luck! Let us know how it goes

 

[reefaddict]

stuck fish

thanks for the input. i will try the full overflow method first ,then the empty one.
i wonder what the record is for a fish in an overflow? this one has been in there 4 months and i think he likes it.
so much for giving the fish swimming space!

 

[Scooterman]

My stand pipe is not glued so I can pull it out, I had fish several times get in there once when I pulled the stand pipe out it sucked the fish in the drain, I had to reach way down and with one finger I was able to pull it out and toss it back in the main tank. What would be really cool is if the box was clear instead of black, so you could see your little fishie in there lol