removing fish

[lmh11706]

when i first started my reef tank 3 yrs ago i started with inexpensive damsels and they were too aggresive so i had to break down my tank and get them out because i could never add any new fish-well ill never learn-i bought a koran angel when it was small an inch or so and now its 4 inches and eating all my colored zoas which i love-while a beautiful fish i need to get it out-i like the corals more-do i have to break it down again or is their some other method.probably not-but let me know

 

[thirty5]

Well before you kill yourself and break down the tank. You can get a trap and try that first. Or if the fish eats well.. You can get a very tiny hook, and get very thin fishing line. put a piece of mysis on the hook and go fishing. But make sure that you get hooks WITHOUT barbs.

 

[barbra]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10976283#post10976283 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thirty5
Or if the fish eats well.. You can get a very tiny hook, and get very thin fishing line. put a piece of mysis on the hook and go fishing. But make sure that you get hooks WITHOUT barbs.

This is a poor suggestion, hopefully it's just a joke. Perhaps you can shoo it to one side of the tank and block of the escape route. At worst you just tear up part of the tank.

 

[coralnut99]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10976283#post10976283 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thirty5
Well before you kill yourself and break down the tank. You can get a trap and try that first. Or if the fish eats well.. You can get a very tiny hook, and get very thin fishing line. put a piece of mysis on the hook and go fishing. But make sure that you get hooks WITHOUT barbs.

Lots of folks will be skeptical of the barbless hooks, but as long as you're not trying to catch a Grouper that can swallow the hook bait and all with great ease, it's not as stressful as you would think. Traps can be effective, but very expensive for what you're gettiing. If you have a good relationship with your lfs, they might lend you one, or a fellow reefer might.
Another approach might be to "cut the tank in half. Some tanks have a fairly open rock structure. If you can insert a piece of acryilic that just slight wider than your tank's depth, and stand stand it staright up; you can limit the amount of things you have have to move. If you have rocks stacked end-to-end across the back of your tank, obviously, this sin't an option.

 

[thirty5]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10976385#post10976385 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by barbra
This is a poor suggestion, hopefully it's just a joke. Perhaps you can shoo it to one side of the tank and block of the escape route. At worst you just tear up part of the tank.

No it was not a joke... Many people do this if they are unable to trap the fish. I have a 180 gal tank, there is no way that i am going to tear down the the tank to get a fish out. I said trap first. Then hook, if you cant hook then you wont have a choice but to tear down.

 

[risika67]

You could also set your net in the tank and leave it there for awhile. The fish will eventually get used to it and then hopefully swim into it at some point

 

[thirty5]

Or, dont feed for a day or 2 then put your net in the tank and leave it there.. THen get READY and Feed, but say drop in a cube of defrosted mysis so it does not go all over the place. then when they come to feed WACK get em.

 

[lmh11706]

ive had my net in the tank for 6 hrs now and place the zoas polyps in it.the fish are out swimming but my koran angel which im trying to get wont go near it-im going to try and feed and get the food in the net only-i would hate to break down-i like my aquascape.

 

[hugodboss]

i also had a koran and it was a mission to get him..i ended up pining it on the side of the tank were he would go to try and bite my clown but he knew that i was after him.

 

[LukFox]

Try a clear container and put some sinking pellets into it. It works for me everytime. I have a clear container with a long handle. I've caught tangs, clowns, wrasses, and angels in under a minute with it.