Egg crate versus screen top - advice

[Marchillo]

I've been doing the eggcrate for a year over my tank and avoided "jumping" fish. I do a lot of research before I add anything (so I thought). Never had an issue until today. I heard some chaos near the overflow. I look in the overflow and boom my diamond goby is in the overflow. Not listed as a jumper (live aquaria). I've seen tons of people experience this fish jump to their death (after more in depth search today).

Anyways I ran to the lfs and grabbed a thick screen that they use for their pond displays. I zip tied this to my eggcrate so this will work temporarily as it diffuses way too much light. I am ordering a screen kit from BRS tonight.

I definitely dodged a bullet on this one. So beware if you think eggcrate will be sufficient. This is a pretty fat fish. Still can't believe he got through.

 

[Indymann99]

This is exactly how I found my 1st Orange Diamond Goby after a couple days in QT...

I doubled up the egg crate (overlapping it) to QT the next Goby. Once in the DT my goby never swims above mid tank.

 

[Marchillo]

I cut two small holes where I have my autofeeders. If the goby gets through that then he is really determined to go to fish heaven. I never see the goby above the bottom 1/3 of my tank either. He is easily spooked eventhough none of the other fish bother him. He hasn't come out since I fished him out of the overflow earlier today. Hiding in his cave. Unless he jumped when I went to the lfs but I had 3 Tupperware covers on the tank with very little jumping areas. lol.

Ouch and sorry for the loss of that guy.

 

[WaReefer458]

yup. I ditched the eggcrate after having 3 fish jump thru it. Now I have screen instead.

 

[RayAllen3422]

From what I have heard the DIY clear screen from BRS allows more light through than the egg crate too.

 

[gone fishin]

I really think fish use the eggcrate squares as a target and aim for them. FWIW I have not had a jumper issue with the screen. I have seen them bounce of the screen.

 

[Marchillo]

So of course after posting this I have yet to see this guy again. It's only been a day and a half. I looked behind the tank and have not seen him and I've tried to look in the sump and didn't see him although accessing the sump is a pia and I certainly can't see everything in there.

I had a crazy day at work yesterday so I came home and crashed. I'll take out the filter socks tonight to make sure he didn't end up there.

I'm guessing there is a good chance this guy was super stressed after I fished him out of the overflow and put him back in the tank.

Anyone have experience with diamond Gobys hiding out for a couple days?

My temporary cover shouldn't allow for him to jump out again. There was a gap of about 90 minutes from when I put him back in the tank to putting on the new cover but I put Tupperware covers over the tank which covered 95% of it.

My inclination is that when I put him back in the tank, he'd be more likely to run and hide than to find another launching point. Agree? Disagree?

 

[snorvich]

All fish can jump. Most smallish fish can get through egg crate.

 

[Darth_Tater]

I cut two small holes where I have my autofeeders. If the goby gets through that then he is really determined to go to fish heaven.

I have the BRS screen on my tank. I cut the smallest hole I possibly could out of it to put a wavemaker power cord through (it was small enough the cord barely fit). I later moved that powerhead, but I thought the hole was so small nothing would possibly jump through it. Then I found my firefish on the floor. I still have no clue how it fit through that hole, I swear the fish was bigger around than the power cord I had a tough time getting through it.

 

[gone fishin]

I would be inclined to say he is laying low somewhere. They are pretty good at not being seen if they do not want to. My YWG graced me with an appearance this morning:lol:

 

[billdogg]

I really think fish use the eggcrate squares as a target and aim for them. FWIW I have not had a jumper issue with the screen. I have seen them bounce of the screen.

Took the words right outa my mouth.

 

[billdogg]

Rather than cut a hole in the screen top, cut just a slit, leaving all the screen otherwise in place. If you then have to move something, it is a simple matter to sew it shut with fishing line.

 

[Marchillo]

My goby is out and about. Looks like I dodged a bullet there. He was so active before the incident. I hope he gets back to that point.

 

[jj5]

I've been using screen tops for years now. Cleaner looking than egg crate and if built right there's no place for a fish suicide to occur.