40 Gallon Breeder reef tank build...
- Thread starter mmittlesteadt
- Start date
mmittlesteadt
New member
I may go a different route. My canopy is open in a half circle on top (that's not how he got out though...the back is all open). One thing I like about the open top is the ease of feeding without having to remove anything. If I build a screen top I'll have to take the canopy and screen top off.
I have a piece of glass that is about 6" wide by the length of the tank and it covers my corner overflow and goes all across the back. Fish can't jump right out the back, and because of the canopy they can't jump out the sides or front either.
What I'm guessing happened is he jumped and landed on the back glass. Then he flopped about, but in the wrong direction and instead of going back in the water, ended up on the floor behind my tank. Ugh. Poor guy.
I think what I'm going to do to keep my top open, but escape proof is...I have a roll of gutter guard that I used to block off my overflow. I'm going to build a fence of it that runs the length of my tank, but perpendicular to the glass that runs along the back 1/4 of my tank. The only way a fish could jump out would be to jump out and bounce off a bunch of surfaces to even get anywhere near a place that would allow escape. That will keep the front 3/4 of my top open.
You can see my overflow on the left in the pic below. The glass sits inside the lip of the frame, over the overflow and goes all the way across the back of the tank.
And then my canopy is cutout for the light. Front and sides prevent escape, but not the back...
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mmittlesteadt
New member
A little update. Here's a pic of my tank from June...
And how it looks now here in July. All of my corals are doing great...Zoa and mushrooms, GSP, Xenia, Kenya Tree and even my Goniapora is doing quite well.
There are also 4 of my 5 fish in one pic. Anyone spot them all (Firefish, Twin Spot, one of my two Ocellaris Clownfish and Lawnmower Blenny)?
My Twin Spot is doing great and he is really keeping the sandbed clean (left side is totally clean now) and the Blenny is going to town on my rockwork.
My Chalk Bass would have been front and center during this pic. RIP Chalky.
And how it looks now here in July. All of my corals are doing great...Zoa and mushrooms, GSP, Xenia, Kenya Tree and even my Goniapora is doing quite well.
There are also 4 of my 5 fish in one pic. Anyone spot them all (Firefish, Twin Spot, one of my two Ocellaris Clownfish and Lawnmower Blenny)?
My Twin Spot is doing great and he is really keeping the sandbed clean (left side is totally clean now) and the Blenny is going to town on my rockwork.
My Chalk Bass would have been front and center during this pic. RIP Chalky.
firebirdude
User and Abuser
The back wall is sick. I really want to do something like that on my next tank. But I told myself I was going big on the next tank...soo.... screwing up on the wall scares the heck out of me on a tank that size. lol
mmittlesteadt
New member
Thanks. Looking forward to your pics as well. I know exactly what you're going through.
mmittlesteadt
New member
Thanks. It's not that hard to do. I have the build of the back wall further back in my thread. On a huge tank, I'd run a beananimal with a coast to coast overflow and design a similar fake rock wall on it.
gavinsepanik
New member
bump
Kyle461
New member
mmittlesteadt
New member
I never would have thought...what with all the fabulous tanks on this forum.
mmittlesteadt
New member
Some update shots...
Kenya Tree is growing like mad along with my Xenia...
Got a pic of my Twin Spot, Blenny and my biggest Hermit in the same shot...hanging out at the Algae Diner...
And one of the Blenny hanging out in the shade...he really blends in...almost chameleon like...
Kenya Tree is growing like mad along with my Xenia...
Got a pic of my Twin Spot, Blenny and my biggest Hermit in the same shot...hanging out at the Algae Diner...
And one of the Blenny hanging out in the shade...he really blends in...almost chameleon like...
ZeeSparrow
New member
Very cool. Love the camouflage.
gavinsepanik
New member
Beautiful fish, Love your tank. Great Thread
mmittlesteadt
New member
Thank you. Like any reef tank, its a work in progress.
MD Aquatic
New member
Im loving this thread. Great work on the build and it seems to be coming along so well
chillwill007
New member
Everything looks great. Love the fish selection. But I think now u just need a nice Midas Blenny as your swimming fish
mmittlesteadt
New member
I'm going to get another chalk bass at some point, and two Banghai Cardinals. Very interesting contrasting patterns and they reflect a lot of colors under Kessils.
sixpackgarage
reef mechanic
Great thread to read. Really enjoying the progress. Subscribed 
mmittlesteadt
New member
Thanks.
Kenya Tree is really taking off. It's bigger, has spread and I have it growing all over.
Xenia has started to grow in two new places on the frag plug too. GSP has spread all over the frag plug now. Goniopora was fully out until I stuck my hand in the tank and adjusted the light for the photo. So far it is doing well.
Kenya Tree is really taking off. It's bigger, has spread and I have it growing all over.
Xenia has started to grow in two new places on the frag plug too. GSP has spread all over the frag plug now. Goniopora was fully out until I stuck my hand in the tank and adjusted the light for the photo. So far it is doing well.
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