Wrasse in overflow box

[Enigma13]

My solar wrasse has jumped into the one of overflow boxes on my 144. With the depth (30") and width (29") of the tank, location of the overflows (back), and the plumbing within them (little guy is hiding among the drain and return piping) I have almost lost hope netting him out.

Does anybody have any suggestions or can offer any advice on how to get him back to freedom? He seems very healthy still and is eating if I drop some food into the overflow so I think he will be fine if I can just get him out. Please help if you can.

Jason

[Instar]

Siphon him out. If this doesn't work with the pumps running, try it with them off.

[hobogato]

if you turn off our return pump, so no water is going thru the drain to the sump, then you can use a large hose to siphon the water out of the overflow into a bucket. just make sure it is big enough that the fish will fit thru it easily. be prepared to reach in an get him out if he doesnt go down the siphon tube, or add the water back in and try again.

option two - if your durso isnt glued in, pull it out and he might go down the drain now at the bottom of the overflow.

[Enigma13]

Thanks for the suggestions. I am going to run to HD and get a large diameter hose and try the siphon method. The durso is actually screwed into a threaded bulkhead and I do not think it there is enough clearance to unscrew it now that the box has been glued in. If siphoning doesn't work I will see what I can do though on that end. The suggestions are much appreciated.

[caferacermike]

I've gotten fish out of my overflows using the turkey baster. Squeezed it out, reached in and stuck the fish to the end by releasing the bulb. Only works for a second though.

[Enigma13]

RESCUED. After failure on the siphon method and a lot of fiddling I figured out that my Durso wasn't screwed in. I had a threaded to slip adaptor screwed into bulkhead and then Durso placed unglued in adapter. Pulled that out and washed him down to the sump. Netted from there and hope that the stress didn't put him beyond hope. Thank you all for your suggestions.

[caferacermike]

That's exactly why I don't glue mine in place. Great news.