Snail shell stuck in standpipe

Does anyone have any ideas about how to get a dead snail shell out of the standpipe in the overflow area of our tank. It's really restricting the flow. We've tried vacuuming it out and snaking it out from the other end without any success. Any suggestions would be appreciated. We REALLY don't want to have to saw off the pipe underneath the tank. Thanks!

 

Be creative. Find something flexible but strong enough to push it through.

 

wire brush?

 

The snake that we pushed through ended up getting stuck in there overnight (and rusting a little) --not sure I want to push anything else up through there and risk getting something stuck again. Any ideas/ techniques for grabbing the shell from above?

 

Maybe a coat hanger bent into a little hook on the end?

 

Coat hanger did not do the trick. It's a 30 inch tall tank and you are sort of blindly stabbing down the pipe. I think we're going to have to cut the pipe beneath the overflow.

 

We cut the pipe ad took the snail shell out. Thanks for all of the suggestions.

 

I know you already took care of it the hard way sorry, but just for future information, I wonder if a long stick with marine putty (like the kind for frags) on the end would work to pull it out?

 

Is your standpipe not removable?

Mine is just a slip fitting. the pipe comes out of the bulkhead to do maintenance.