Stuck in the filter

seds · Post by **seds** » 01 Nov 2006, 15:38

I have an african glass catfish and it got stuck in the filter. The filter works like so: At the top corner of the tank, there is a huge shaft that sucks water down into it, with a little pool at the bottom. That's where he is. In this section, there is a huge thick tube that the water goes down. (It is too far to reach with the net) At the end of the tube there is a multi stage filter with several tanks. How can I get him out?

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 01 Nov 2006, 16:10

Maybe there is a way to fill the outer housing up with water?

Other than that, I'd say empty the whole tank and turn it upside down

Or infinitely small fishing hook and line, perhaps?

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Mats

seds · Post by **seds** » 01 Nov 2006, 16:15

um... Its a pretty big tank to be tipping upside down... Maybe I could wait till he goes into the bottom. He's been in there twice before.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 01 Nov 2006, 16:28

Sounds like there's a good reason to try to figure out a way for the fish to not get in there in the first place. I can't quite picture the system, but I think I know what you're talking about. Is there a way you could make a grate/pre-filter to stop the fish from getting over the edge of the filter-inlet?

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Mats

seds · Post by **seds** » 01 Nov 2006, 16:38

I think I could work on it...

Once I came home from out of town and almost all of my fish were in the bottom.
Butt this time he wont go all the way through...

seds · Post by **seds** » 01 Nov 2006, 16:56

I dumped several buckets nto the filter and he was sucked through the tube and into the bottom of the filter. I caught him and released him back into the tank. Thanks for the suggestions.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 01 Nov 2006, 16:58

Glad you got the fish out.

Making a "restrictor plate" that has many small holes to fit on top of the current inlet would probably be a workable solution. Just make sure the holes are smooth-edged with no burrs or otherwise sharp bits that the fish may get hurt on.

Or a course filter-pad cut with a slit in it to just slide over the plastic around the inlet, perhaps.

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Mats