Clown Jumped, is eggcrate good enough?

[coryaquarium101]

I don't know why my clown jumped last night. I have a HOB skimmer, and where I found the clown was below the skimmer, so maybe he was trying to jump upstream into there?
I bought some plastic grid that is used for lighting at home depot, I think it's called eggcrate, about half inch or less squares. I made it fit really good with not any more room than the squares openings, I have 2 oscelaris clowns about 1-1/2" long. I was wondering if this is going to help them from jumping? They might still be able to get through the squares but they would have to be pretty accurate. It really made me sad when I found him this morning.

cory.

 

[singold]

It seems that many here use eggcrate when not comfortable with open top & that want to avoid glass tops or lid preventing air flow transfer, trapped heat, etc. I used to use glass tops, added eggcrate and have not had any jumpers getting through as of yet.

 

[Sk8r]

It won't stop a firefish, but it will probably stop a clown, especially on an emergency basis. THere are more complicated fixes, fake canopies with open tops, etc. But keeping your remaining fish in---eggcrate is a good bet. It has a more and less light side: there's a slight pitch to the little squares. You find it in the construction supplies area in Lowes. The silly people don't put it in the lighting dept.

 

[coryaquarium101]

what do you mean a fake canopy with open top?What is the product called at Lowes?

 

[billdogg]

it eggcrate - you got the right stuff. it will stop all but the most determined of fishes - i have it , have used it for years - love it

 

[snorvich]

Well, egg crate will not keep in fairy wrasses, flasher wrasses, firefish, etc. It probably will work fine for clownfish or other large fish.

 

[pgammon]

You had 3 clowns in the tank?

 

[crvz]

Sounds like your clowns are pretty small, so they may still slip through, but it's a good solution all the same. As they grow, the likelihood will decline.

And I wouldnt call it a fake canopy, it's just a canopy that leaves a large hole in the top (I think that's what sk8r is talking about). You can see how mine turned out here.

 

[pgammon]

crz, that's a VERY nice canopy, nice woodwork!
Phyllis

 

[otrlynn]

Beautiful canopy. Can you post a picture here when you have it completed and installed?

 

[Sk8r]

Excellent job.
Mine is same principle, but is superlight pine 1x2s in a frame with glued-on black formica-like sheeting covering sides, sitting down over rim, completely open top, can be lifted in one hand. Bowfront design, angle-braced at corners. I screen the hose-ports in the back with Gutter-guard, the stuff you use on gutters, and I screen the downflow with plastic needlepoint canvas (hobby store: ask by that exact name: it's hard to find on the shelves unless you know what you're looking for.) Anything that escapes my tank has to be able to jump 9" from the water (height of my canopy, which also supports my lights) or navigate the weir teeth. Since I keep a dartfish and micro-nano-fish, this is helpful.

 

[coryaquarium101]

I had 2 clowns then 1 jumped out, so I bought a new clown to replace the suicide clown. Yeah the eggcrate so far I like, doesn't really block much light and is pretty easy to make fit with some careful trimming.

 

[JStorey]

I use 1/4" pond netting fitted into screen window frames. Works great, it was cheap and easy to make, keeps the fish in and lets light through.