neon gobies in overflow, need help catching them

[Outerbank]

My neon goby pair is living in my overflow. The overflow is pretty small. There is not much room for my hands or a net. I managed to net them once after about 2-3 hours of work. They found there way back and I am looking for an easier way to catch them. Any tips?

Thanks, Scott

 

[AuroraDrvr]

Big tube and siphon them into a bucket.

 

[Outerbank]

I tried that today. I will try again tommorow. I will have to block off the overflow and remove the durso pipe and return line, otherwise they will hide against a corner and I will not be able to reach them. The tank is 30 inches deep, so the reach is not all that easy.

 

[Bill14]

Just pull the drain line and let them drain into the sump or direct your drain line into a bucket. Just be ready to pull them off the bottom if they don't go down.

 

[RC Slocum Rules]

O.k. but how to keep them out?

 

[AuroraDrvr]

Fiberglass screen that has 3/16" or less holes. Don't go too small on the holes, otherwise you'll restrict the overflow too much.

 

[Outerbank]

Thanks. These are all standard methods and I will try again tonight. I just am not very good at catching fish in the overflow. The Neon Gobies have a tendency to wedge themselves in small corners and it is hard to move them or net them, even with pretty vigorous waterflow.

 

[Outerbank]

Well, I finally caught them. I ended up shutting off the pumps and made sure the tank water level was below the overflow by about an inch. I then slowly let water out of the overflow by loosening the durso overflow. I then cut my pvc pipe with a pcv wirecutter several inches below the bulkhead and flushed them out into a pail. Reattached a 90degree elbow and all went well.

 

[ShrimpChipGal]

Clear container. Chase them with something to go into the clear container.