Fish cave tunnel system

[Slocke]

Do you have detritus problems? At least extensive ones?

Not yet at least. The largest cave is kept clean by the engineer goby. Literally spits out everything that gets in there including poo. The others are used by the snake eels and snowflake who I don’t believe do any cleaning.
I do see nassarius snails go down the tubes though.

 

[Spare time]

Your setup is unique, and unique in it's use. BUT you have to expand on all the logistics. 1st,you expanded your network along the way, your 1st application was simple. Then you had one eel use the simple network, then you added another eel and they learned form the 1st. Then you expanded your network with multiple eels and engineers gobies, a totally different set of variables. To start with an elaborate network for one goby, they may use or not, either way you will end with ditritus dump and maybe unmanageable nitrates. Or you might just end up with a dead goby buried in an underground pvc network and an ammonia spike and end up tearing down your tank to remove it. If it's something of real interest, start simple and expand.

Why wouldn't the clean up crew and microfauna be able to get in there and clean? Especially if the fish died.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

By the way, here's the rest of the burrow description from that article:
Burrow depth: 11-22 cm (may sometimes go deeper)
Terminal chamber size: 24cm long, 23cm wide, 6cm high (max)

Some fish have a second chamber attached to the first -
Second chamber size: 8.5-11cm deep
Some fish also have two entrances to their burrow.

For a fish 6cm in length, the burrow opening was 1.4-2cm in diameter, and the entrance would have gone down (as noted in that circle paragraph you showed) about 6cm.

 

[lion king]

First off thank you for you thoughts. Ok so about what you said about nitrates and a poop dump. PVC or not, doesn’t ANY burrow that is homed by a fish or eel ALWAYS HAVE poop and detritus? Sure it will hold some nasties, but although fish aren‘t the smartest or the cleanest of animals, every animal has an instinct of its own to keep itself and it’s home clean. Now this is for a Jawfish. Even if I don’t do the pipes and let it burrow in it’s own home, if it were to die wouldn’t I still have the same problem but in the sand? I do think of making the pipe network smaller.

One of the biggest contributor is detritus settling into pipes that are not used, not poop per se. In self made tunnels these are tunnels they are actually using, so the action of travel keeps the tunnels more clear of detritus.

Yes they could die in their own tunnels, I would be more concerned of a new addition possibly in poor health just immediately disappearing into a pre-made tunnel. Once established and healthy they would be less likely to die in a tunnel, since only a vibrant healthy individual would construct an elaborate tunnel system. I'm just throwing out points to consider, not necessarily against it or trying to dissuade you from it.

 

[lion king]

Why wouldn't the clean up crew and microfauna be able to get in there and clean? Especially if the fish died.

This is another point to be considered, even with a hard working cuc, depending on varying factors a tank can take a bacterial hit when someone dies. I've dealt more with eelsand have had to advise people of how to fish a dead eel out of a tunnel before, just things to consider beforehand, not after.

 

[Petcrazyson]

One of the biggest contributor is detritus settling into pipes that are not used, not poop per se. In self made tunnels these are tunnels they are actually using, so the action of travel keeps the tunnels more clear of detritus.

Yes they could die in their own tunnels, I would be more concerned of a new addition possibly in poor health just immediately disappearing into a pre-made tunnel. Once established and healthy they would be less likely to die in a tunnel, since only a vibrant healthy individual would construct an elaborate tunnel system. I'm just throwing out points to consider, not necessarily against it or trying to dissuade you from it.

So I’ve made a smaller version of the tunnel system. And you gave me an idea. Should I add some sand into the tunnel system so the fish gets the feeling he is excavating and sizing up his home?

 

[Petcrazyson]

I do agree with nutrient issues.
I don't know jawfish but as far as I understand they need a pretty massive tunnel system so its either piping or 6+ inches of sandbed. Either way you may have a detritus issue. My experience is that an animal will happily take something rather than build it themselves if possible.
I don't know whether jawfish keep clean burrows or not but I wouldn't surprised if they do (like my engineers and definitely not like my eels).

As for your design I'd suggest researching jawfish tunnels. Are they just one tube or are they more complicated.

So I did more research and I’ve made the system different. Here’s the new pic

The cave is smaller. The opening is also a thinner piece of PVC. There’s a section that is larger than the rest which is the long top part, and then I made a round-about. What do you guys think? Should I add some sand into the highlighted areas just so the fish feels he’s expanding his home? I’m also going to put some rubble inside the larger area and some rubble outside the cave door. Suggestions?

 

[HB AL]

I would just keep it simple and have a ton of rocks, they will make there own home's in the plethora of rocks, caves and passages. Lots of rocks has always produced successfull tanks for decades in my tanks filled with unique characters.

 

[lion king]

I would just keep it simple and have a ton of rocks, they will make there own home's in the plethora of rocks, caves and passages. Lots of rocks has always produced successfull tanks for decades in my tanks filled with unique characters.

I would also keep it simple and allow them to add on as they like, which they will do with excavation of rocks and bulldozing of sand. When I do use pvc with eels, as I am with my new tessa, I use it as a base then allow space for them to live in the rocks as well. I added a simple cross section of 2" pcv with an up pipe as a support base because the large size of tessa can sometimes tumble rocks. Maybe he will use it, maybe not; but 2" is large enough for any cuc, and he will have plenty of real estate if he chooses to live in the rocks. I'm still not happy with my design, that's why no pics yet.

 

[TrottingReef]

So I did more research and I’ve made the system different. Here’s the new pic

The cave is smaller. The opening is also a thinner piece of PVC. There’s a section that is larger than the rest which is the long top part, and then I made a round-about. What do you guys think? Should I add some sand into the highlighted areas just so the fish feels he’s expanding his home? I’m also going to put some rubble inside the larger area and some rubble outside the cave door. Suggestions?

So what did you end up doing? I am about to upgrade to a 400g and for my snowflake and engineer goby I was thinking of doing 2 pipe systems across the tank going through the rocks and sand. Was thinking pipes coming out of the rock work opening above the sand level about an inch or two. Was also thinking about adding some sections of larger diameter pipes to create caverns and additional tee intersections coming off those caverns that open up on the into the sandbed at bottom of tank with the bottom of the rock work so they could expand if they liked.