Good enough QT cover?

[Sean Duggan]

Hi everyone setting up a QT tank for some blennies and fire fish. Did a DIY cover out of some material I got from Home Depot. There’s a slight gap but I don’t think a fish could jump through it without getting extremely lucky. What do you guys think.

 

[Billldg]

My concern would be ventilation and gas exchange. If the tank doesn't breath enough it will overheat. I have always used egg crate/Lighting grid that I got at Lowes. I am glad to see you are setting up a QT.

 

[Sean Duggan]

I thought about that but was afraid that a blenny or fire fish would have a better chance of shooting through the crate

 

[JumboShrimp]

Probably OK if you don't raise the water level too high, and you don't name him "Houdini."

 

[Billldg]

I am not sure about those fish as I never owned either, but I used the egg crate for wrasses which are known for jumping. The biggest problem with a solid top is it will not breath.

 

[Billldg]

It may be a pain, but if you drilled a bunch of small holes, maybe 1/4 in holes along the ridges you would have gas exchange and allow the tank to breath.

 

[Sean Duggan]

It may be a pain, but if you drilled a bunch of small holes, maybe 1/4 in holes along the ridges you would have gas exchange and allow the tank to breath.

That’s actually a great idea. I’ll grab a 1/4 inch bit and just go to town on it to get good ventilation. That you for that idea!

 

[Sean Duggan]

Took your advice and drilled a few hundred holes into the cover for ventilation. Hopefully this will be enough

 

[Nathan Milender]

Nothing is perfect. If you are really worried you can switch to a sponge filter and a mesh cover. You just make grommets with a hot glue gun for the lines. No matter what you do there are going to be some losses. I don't use lights on my QT and that seems to help keep them calm. Also plenty of pipes on the bottom seem to give them reasons to be away from the top.

 

[Billdogg]

I used a couple pieces of eggcrate (lighting diffuser) on my QT. To keep little ones for escaping I ziptied some window screen to it. It was a simple matter to trim it to fit so that the HOB filter can do it's thing but still offer complete protection from jumping and great oxygen exchange. They aren't the prettiest things I've ever made, but they cost me exactly $0.00 (all leftovers from other projects) and are exceptionally functional!