New Fish Keeps ending up in overflow ...

[joegoersch]

I had a Mandarin Goby who sadly passed after 3 or 4 years. I bought a very small (maybe an inch) Ruby Red Dragonette who I hoped would also enjoy the pods the tank was designed to encourage.

The first few days my Diamond Goby picked on him, after than everything great.

Then one day he was gone. I was surprised as he seemed to be doing well. Then I saw a red spot under the skimmer below my DT. Sure enough it was the little guy. I have a California style overflow covered with a half inch (Home Depot) plastic light grate. Clearly not fine enough to confine the little ruby red.

I put the Ruby Red back in the main tank-no small task getting him out of the tank with the skimmer and reactor. Two days later same thing. And again. And again.

Any ideas of an easy way to cover my overflow with a smaller mesh or grating that's readily available and easy to place snugly but will not impede water flow too much ?

Thanks

 

[somebloke]

Would this help? It's thin enough to cut to size.

Darice 33900-20, 1 Piece, Mesh Plastic Canvas, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0037A97I6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Tkcqzb3HGXHMN

Sent from my R1 HD using Tapatalk

 

[joegoersch]

Would this help? It's thin enough to cut to size.

Darice 33900-20, 1 Piece, Mesh Plastic Canvas, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0037A97I6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Tkcqzb3HGXHMN

Sent from my R1 HD using Tapatalk

Bingo ! Thanks. You really don't know how much this helps. So much appreciated. Our baby sitter cries each time this happens thinking her favorite fish has died !!!:beer:

 

[flooddc]

You can also get a roll of gutter guard ($2) from Home depot or hardware store to cover your overflow.

This:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Frost-King-E-O-6-in-x-20-ft-Plastic-Gutter-Guard-VX620/202518614

 

[LX20000]

You think he hangs up there due to pods floating by ?

 

[Sk8r]

plastic needlepoint canvas used in embroidery---your hobby center or sewing store. Cuts with scissors and stitches with fishing line into most any shape. Wide enough mesh to let water and small things through, but no fish is that small.

 

[joegoersch]

You think he hangs up there due to pods floating by ?

good question. this is what baffles me. I NEVER see him by the overflow during the day, at least....but then in the morning I find "fish overboard"...

puzzling..

 

[joegoersch]

plastic needlepoint canvas used in embroidery---your hobby center or sewing store. Cuts with scissors and stitches with fishing line into most any shape. Wide enough mesh to let water and small things through, but no fish is that small.

Yes I ordered something like this
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DEGKMO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm hoping holes are too small and that it won't clog...I'll try it. I imagine I can periodically hose it off...

I don't know how long it'll take for this little guy to get bigger so half-inch grate will work.... Baby sitter thinks it got a little bigger while in the skimmer section

 

[Sk8r]

The only thing I've ever seen clog it is hair algae.

 

[alcimedes]

My only suggestion, whatever design you choose, make sure it has a 'dome' on it of some kind, not flat. That way if it does start to clog, the water level can just go up a bit and find clear drainage still.

If it's flat, the entire surface can end up covered at once and lead to a flood.