Alternative to screen top?

mainn · May 25, 2018

I am doing a shallow mangrove build The tank is currently cycling so have some time to work on this, but since it will be filled with mangrove trees, I can't put a top on the tank. Does anyone have suggestions/ recommendations for building a fish containing device, or do I just have to hope nothing jumps.

My initial thoughts lead me to making some sort of acrylic/ screen rim that comes in a few inches but leaves the middle open, however I don't know how viable this would be or how to go about making something like that.

Crabs McJones · May 25, 2018

mainn said:
I am doing a shallow mangrove build The tank is currently cycling so have some time to work on this, but since it will be filled with mangrove trees, I can't put a top on the tank. Does anyone have suggestions/ recommendations for building a fish containing device, or do I just have to hope nothing jumps.

My initial thoughts lead me to making some sort of acrylic/ screen rim that comes in a few inches but leaves the middle open, however I don't know how viable this would be or how to go about making something like that.

What about using Eggcrate?

You can buy it in sheets and trim it to fit your tank. And depended on the fish, should keep them from jumping out :D

mainn · May 25, 2018

If it was only an extended rim so to speak do you think that it would work? My concern is that a fish will jump and end up landing on it and dying anyway.

Crabs McJones · May 25, 2018

mainn said:
If it was only an extended rim so to speak do you think that it would work? My concern is that a fish will jump and end up landing on it and dying anyway.

Hard to say, are you going to be housing known jumpers?

mainn · May 25, 2018

I am going to try and avoid anything like wrasse and the like, but I am having trouble finding a good list of fish less prone to jumping.

mainn · May 25, 2018

I was also thinking doing something like you see them do for cat fences might work if done with the 1/4 inch mesh screen and wire.

Crabs McJones · May 25, 2018

mainn said:
I am going to try and avoid anything like wrasse and the like, but I am having trouble finding a good list of fish less prone to jumping.

You would probably be ok with open top then. I have never personally used one and never experienced a jump out :) Either that or do the screen top, and cut out where the mangroves would be coming through :)

mainn · May 25, 2018

The issue is with cutting holes for the individual trees is that you would have to get them in and out of the holes every time the lid is removed which would be a bit of a chore. What kinds of fish do you keep? The tank I am setting up is 12x24x24, so I am also worried about the shallowness of it causing jumping.

Crabs McJones · May 25, 2018

mainn said:
The issue is with cutting holes for the individual trees is that you would have to get them in and out of the holes every time the lid is removed which would be a bit of a chore. What kinds of fish do you keep? The tank I am setting up is 12x24x24, so I am also worried about the shallowness of it causing jumping.

Mine is a 40 breeder, 36x18x16, I have two clowns, a firefish, I had a sixline wrasse, and a scooter blenny. Sixline never jumped or even attempted to jump, neither did the firefish :)

mainn · May 25, 2018

Wow! I've had a watchman goby hop into my overflow twice on my other tank, and that is even with a screen top. There's a gap a little bigger then 1/4" between the top of the overflow and the screen.

Rakie · May 27, 2018

All fish jump. What you're talking about is basically a euro brace. Euro brace are pretty effective and stopping fish from jumping compared to a rimless tank... BUT, that doesn't mean it can't happen still.

Doing what you said, cutting out an acrylic 'rim' and seating it inside the tank (get rimless tank screen holders) is a great idea. It will significantly help, but nothing is guaranteed.

mainn · May 27, 2018

I figured doing that with less jump prone fish would inprove my chances quite a bit

OriginalUserName · May 27, 2018

My firefish turned himself into jerky.

Just spit balling here, but maybe you can rig up something that works like those screen curtains people place on their patio doors? If your mangroves are mostly in the middle that could probably cover most of your top.

mainn · May 28, 2018

I am a little confused with this one. Could you explain a bit more?

samnaz · May 28, 2018

I've never owned a fish and therefore never had the need for a lid on my current tank... When I do eventually add a fish down the road, I was planning on adding one of these or something similar: http://rimlessaquariumlids.com/index.php?route=common/home

Is your tank rimmed? If it is, I guess this approach wouldn't work.