DIY Fish Trap

reefshadow · 11-23-2003, 01:25 AM

Hi, Everyone!

I made the mistake of putting 3 centropyge angels in my sps reef and so decided to make a trap rather than tearing the tank apart. It was very easy and very effective!

I started with an acrylic cylinder, and cut two square pieces for the front and back of the trap. In one of the square pieces I cut an entrance hole big enough for the angels to enter. On the back square piece I glued the mirror from a compact facing inward so that the fish would be confused and also to stimulate an agressive response and encourage the fish to enter. I also drilled a small hole in the cylinder to burp air out of and also to bait the trap. Using weld-on, I assembled the trap and let it sit overnight.

The next day I put the trap in the reef, high enough in the rockwork so that I could bait it and also so that it was within my reach. The fish were curious but would not approach the first day, so the next day I started baiting the trap by squirting frozen brine shrimp in the hole in the cylinder. The fish would hover around the entrance and feed, but only one went in that day. Within 3 days however, the angels were swimming freely into the trap to get food, all the other fish too large to fit were hovering around the entrance in complete frustration! On the fourth day I sprang the trap, simply clapping my hand over the entrance hole and lifting the trap out of the water. I caught all the angels within 10 minutes. Boy were they suprised.

This is the way to go if you need to catch a pesky fish. I also figured later that I could have saved some hassle by buying one of those acrylic storage jars for spaghetti and simply using that.

Don't tear apart your reef!

reefshadow · 11-23-2003, 01:30 AM

here's a better pic of the trap

Travis · 11-23-2003, 01:44 AM

Another excellent how-to article. Thanks Reefshadow!

Dennis7 · 11-23-2003, 01:50 AM

Great trap! Need to keep in mine if I every need one.

wooddood · 11-23-2003, 05:18 AM

very nice i'm gonna make one.thanks.sure better then tearing the tank up,catchinf fish in full blown reef is'nt easy.i've got a couple fish i want gone,thanks again. dave.

Craig Manoukian · 11-23-2003, 06:12 AM

You should patent that real quick! What a great idea RS!

reefshadow · 11-23-2003, 08:06 AM

Thanks, all.

I was proud of this because my diy skills suck, and I had no help from the hubby this time! So all you gals, you too can diy!

Wooddood, what fish are you needing to catch? Some of my more shy smaller fish never entered, like my polymnus clowns and the chromis. But i bet they would have given enough time.
I did ALL my feeding through the trap though, so they had to approach, if they wanted to eat. Given a few more days i'm sure they would have gone in. Let me know how it turns out for you!

Craig, maybe we could co-patent it. you can do the fabricating part because I sucked at it!

Seeyaguys, Becca

Pro_builder · 11-23-2003, 08:47 AM

That is a good idea. I will have to keep that in mind when I get a fish that I don't want in the tank anymore.
Great discription of how you made it too.
Thanks again

Icebox · 11-25-2003, 11:34 AM

That is a great idea. I will keep that in mind for catching fish I need to move around. That is a whole lot easier than taking all of the rock out.

Thank you!!!

11-23-2003, 01:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
Travis Smilie Bartender Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 6,330 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Another excellent how-to article. Thanks Reefshadow! __________________ Help build the Encyclopedia of ReefKeeping Find over 1400 Reef Aquarium Articles at The Reef Aquarium Index

11-23-2003, 01:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
Dennis7 Ricordea Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 190 View Gallery Karma Komment	Great trap! Need to keep in mine if I every need one. __________________ Dennis 120 gal/tank, custom overflow in center, closed-loop on a Squid, custom sump,Reef Concepts skimmer, CA reactor, Refugium gravity feed into tank, Lighting: 2 - 250 watt MH's, 4- 55 watt PC's, and 110 watt VHO. 12 gal NanoCube, with 2-32 watt PC's and a 13 watt PC, in a custom hood.

11-23-2003, 05:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	very nice i'm gonna make one.thanks.sure better then tearing the tank up,catchinf fish in full blown reef is'nt easy.i've got a couple fish i want gone,thanks again. dave. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

11-23-2003, 06:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
Craig Manoukian Regular Guy Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marina Del Ray, CA Posts: 15,732 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	You should patent that real quick! What a great idea RS! __________________ Currently tankless. 20 Gallon mini reef with mated pair of Maroon Clowns given to Rougiem! 80 gallon reef given to Rougiem/Wooster HS.

11-23-2003, 08:06 AM	#7 (permalink)
reefshadow Ricordea Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: washington Posts: 196 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks, all. I was proud of this because my diy skills suck, and I had no help from the hubby this time! So all you gals, you too can diy! Wooddood, what fish are you needing to catch? Some of my more shy smaller fish never entered, like my polymnus clowns and the chromis. But i bet they would have given enough time. I did ALL my feeding through the trap though, so they had to approach, if they wanted to eat. Given a few more days i'm sure they would have gone in. Let me know how it turns out for you! Craig, maybe we could co-patent it. you can do the fabricating part because I sucked at it! Seeyaguys, Becca __________________ 240 gallon glass mixed reef 2x 250 watt m.h., 2x 175 watt m.h., 3x 110 watt vho's. 55 gallon propagation tank, 2x 96 watt pc's Empty 125 gallon tank reefer girrrl!

11-23-2003, 08:47 AM	#8 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	That is a good idea. I will have to keep that in mind when I get a fish that I don't want in the tank anymore. Great discription of how you made it too. Thanks again __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

11-25-2003, 11:34 AM	#9 (permalink)
Icebox Torch coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Creston, NC Posts: 528 View Gallery Karma Komment	That is a great idea. I will keep that in mind for catching fish I need to move around. That is a whole lot easier than taking all of the rock out. Thank you!!! __________________ Mike

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)