Is it worth tearing a tank down to remove 3 fish?

[Dingo Dog]

I have a 46 gal bow reef tank and 3 fish I'd love to have only a memory of. Some relationships just aren't meant to be. I just don't know if it's worth it or not. I'm concerned about stressing out the other fish. I have a yellow tang, Solaris wrasses, 2 damsels, 2 chromis and 1 pajama cardinal. I want the 2 chromis and cardinal gone.
I'm familiar with the homemade 1 liter bottle trap but that hasn't been successful for a few reasons. It floats around, spooks the fish and hits my corals. I see no viable option other than taking the tank virtually down and chasing the little #*&$@ around with a net.
For those who have gone through the process, would you recommend it? Any tips or recommendations? Please share you experiences.

Thanks in advance.

[rcgates]

You can got about this two ways:

1) add weight to your bottle trap so it doesn't float around

2) get some plexiglass/acrylic that basically makes a divider for the tank.
- clear part of the tank
- chase the fish to catch to the cleared area
- drop the divider
- the fish have a smaller are to swim in and nothing is in the way

I used #2 to get a fish out of my 125, took about 5 minutes or less to catch, and about 20 to put the rock back the way I liked.

[Hoosier Reefer]

Hook and line ?

Maybe buy a big grouper ?

[sj miller guy]

I've had to tear down my 55 three times in a two month time period. Twice for removing troublesome inhabitants and once to remove a dead fish...caused by one of the afore mentioned fish.

It really wasn't fun tearing apart my rock and coral etc., but in the long run it was much easier. I took a large cooler and placed it on some bar stools next to the tank and removed any live rock that did not have any coral or anthing I did not want to keep on it. The cooler held all of that rock which was the majority. The rest I just left in the tank.

This freed up all the room I needed to chase down the trouble makers. It was a little frustrating basically setting up the entire tank again, and again, and again but it was less stressful than trying to catch the fish without it. When I tried to remove them without dismantling the tank, you chase and chase and chase actually causing more stress IMO. Plus half the stuff you knock over anyway. I never lost a fish due to the stress of this.

The bottom line is, either way isn't fun. But IMO I would recommend dismantling at least part of the tank, it makes it that much easier.

[fishmanblue]

I have drained my 55 for 20 minutes to get fish out with corals left in it 20 minutes didn't hurt a thing , it was just like the tide going out for a few minutes. No problems at all, that is what Anthony Calfo said to do it and don't sweat a thing about doing it . It actually did a better job at getting fish gunk out going through a sock in the process. if that makes sense

[allstar.h2o]

Use a fish trap. http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_...ap.asp?CartId=

I made this one out of scrap acrylic, ghetto but works good.

[CyanoMagnet]

I have a easy way of getting fish out of my tank with regular houshold appliances.

First you get a clear glass. Then you cover the top with clear seran wrap. Then you put a slit large enough for your fish to get in.

Then puts some food in after starving them for a bit, and wait.

As soon as the fish get in the glass (because they will be trying to get in for a while and not succeeding) get in there and get the glass out. They will be panicking.

I got all my fish out this way.

[barjam]

I can clean my tank of fish in about 10 minutes... they include a YT, two clowns, gramma and two chromis.

What I do is turn the lights off for a few hours and get a real dim red light. They are blind and fairly easy to pluck out.

The only one that is even remotely difficult is the gramma because he is hard to see. I could grab the clowns with my bare hands if I wanted.

[CyanoMagnet]

I couldnt do that in my tank.

Tangs and other fish all sleep in the rock.

[DaveJ]

Depends if you want them out alive or not..... alive the traps will work eventually. Hook and line sometimes works, a little salmon egg on it and you are good to go. I've heard of meat forks, skewers, suction hoses and dropping rocks as well.

[barjam]

Mine are asleep in the rock as well, but if you can move the rocks just a little it will usually cause them to swim in the open a bit and then they will be dazed and unable to easily return.

Or at least that was my experience.