I'm freaking out!

**Flyby Stardancer** · 10-05-2013, 01:56 AM

Okay, I just went in to feed my fish and cats (because I need to go babysit my nieces), and when I got to Grimsby's tank, I couldn't see him at all...

I glanced over to the sump, and there he was! Somehow he had apparently gotten into the overflow and sucked into the sump. :( And now he's missing his left pectoral fin. I'm freaking out a bit and don't know what to do!

He's never had a problem swimming around the tank, even though the overall overturn of water has to be higher than it was with the filter that came with the tank. Now I'm unsure about the safety of the system. I really can't afford to shut off the filter, but I don't know what to do otherwise to keep him safe, and I won't even be home for several hours!

**Aeonflame** · 10-05-2013, 04:53 AM

You can use pieces of eggcrate to block off the overflow.

What kind of fish is it?

**fishmommie** · 10-05-2013, 04:55 AM

sorry about your betta. hope all goes well with him
do you have any porous fabric you can place over the overflow - like cheese clothe or even a some net from one of your fish nets?

**Aeonflame** · 10-05-2013, 05:08 AM

Using any sort of netting is a very bad idea. Don't do this.

If it becomes clogged with debris or dislodges and blocks off the drain, your tank will overflow.

**Flyby Stardancer** · 10-05-2013, 05:49 AM

Originally Posted by Aeonflame

You can use pieces of eggcrate to block off the overflow.

What kind of fish is it?

Originally Posted by fishmommie

sorry about your betta. hope all goes well with him
do you have any porous fabric you can place over the overflow - like cheese clothe or even a some net from one of your fish nets?

I tried covering the overflow with foam and again with craft mesh when I was first setting it up, but anything close to it causes too many bubbles that break the siphon. I have craft mesh placed further out to keep floating plants away, but that does nothing to keep him safe.

**Aeonflame** · 10-05-2013, 05:58 AM

You can use eggcrate, aka fluorescent lighting diffuser.

EggCrate_Acrylic_Diffuser.jpg

**Flyby Stardancer** · 10-05-2013, 11:53 AM

The overflow is just 1/2" PVC pipe. I'm not sure how egg crate would help.

**fishmommie** · 10-05-2013, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by Aeonflame

Using any sort of netting is a very bad idea. Don't do this.

If it becomes clogged with debris or dislodges and blocks off the drain, your tank will overflow.

Good to know. I'm not experienced with sumps so I should have stayed out of this. I was also thinking in terms of a temporary fix, however, until he could get something permanent in place.