help with my fish!

[geoxman]

About 1 month ago I took down my 140wide tank and I transferred all of my fish into a 100gl Rubbermaid container that I use as a sump.
I set up my new tank last week (3ftX3ftX12in-all black 3/4 acrylic-top down view tank) with water and substrate from the sump with about 150lbs of LR-there was only a small cycle.

So Friday I put my two year old clowns in the tank and Saturday when the lights came on they were no where to be found-weird??
I searched and searched and never found them.
Yesterday I put my chromis in the tank and this morning they were gone-as I was looking around I stepped on some thing and sure enough they jumped out, I looked further and found my dried up clowns under my desk.

I am wondering why they are jumping out?? They could very easily have jumped out of the Rubbermaid? Does anyone think the all black tank might be reflecting something at night time? There are no lights on in my office at night, so they aren't leaping for food.

I am also thinking that they are not use to a shallow tank since they have been in a 25in tall tank most of their lives.
I think I will keep the remaining fish in the Rubbermaid and start new with stock in the new tank, so they are use to a shallow tank.

I forgot to add there is no euro bracing and the water level is 3/4 from the top of the tank.

Any thoughts or if anyone has a shallow tank and has some feedback/answers/experience I would appreciate it.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

fish can and will jump. especially when they are stressed, such as after a move. people who dont protect from this with a cover or enclosed canopy are asking for it.

 

[geoxman]

they have been uncovered for over a month in the rubbermaid with the water line about 3/4 inch from the top and they have not jumped-so I am not buying that fish will jump without a cover.
I have seen many tanks including my old one that was uncovered without a canopy or cover.

My guess is that they are not use to the shallow parimeters of the new tank where the rubbermaid is 35in deep.
I guess I answered my own question in my first post-I will stock all new fish in the new tank and leave the others in the rubbermaid sump

 

[jmaneyapanda]

well, not to sound to abrupt, but they DID jump from a tank without a cover. it happens to everyone who tries it eventually. sad but sorry truth.

 

[rambone]

moonlights usually help keep some fish from jumping out of the water

 

[jmaneyapanda]

i dont kniow if i agree with that rambone. fish that jump out of a tank do so, because they dont know they wont land in water. in nature, when fish dart, they dont leave water, or if they do, the land back in the water. I think fish in are tanks dart out of fear or escape, and lights or not, they will possibly not land back in water.