Ok, you had me "bust'n a gut" with the stuck ferts even though it is a serious problem. As I put a "search" to my libraries of information in my cortex it came but with this suggestion. I take it you are using the black corrigated leach line urethane tubing that you buy at Home Depot'e correct? So how about this suggestion, Using a hand held "jig saw" make a single cut all the way from one end to the other on the tubing . This way the tubing would flex or expand outward and you would be able to spread the tubing apart so they could clear the passage. Hope some of this helps . We had a very tall cage that was given to us, it had no platforms and the ferts had to climb the bare wire. We bought 15 ft of the same tubing and spiraled it from top to bottom. We also put several connection boxes and "Y"'s anf "T"'s so there were many places to explore. there was also a part that made a circle , the ferts would go round and round for exercise. Well glad to know that no ferts were hurt. Mark J., Peta S Bethke., Maximillion (The Chihuahua) & Zeus (The Weasel) [Posted in FML issue 4261]