My rant.

[Matt_Wandell]

I think I've earned the right to go on a mini-rant.

Open topped fish tanks: As sensible as leaving a crawling baby near an open swimming pool. One is just more disposable than the other. Not only is this a bad idea, it seems to be the trendy thing to do with tanks nowadays. Why put your fish at risk?

Discuss.

 

[Jacob D]

Matt: Everybody knows chicks dig open top tanks.


But seriously; I could see a closed top tank being a logistical issue for some people, or at least they might think of it as a logistical issue. Egg crate and bird netting don't count as closed top in my book since fish tend to slip through and/or get hung up to dry. A "real" closed top comes with the problems of heat and condensation management, but those can be pretty easily addressed with fans; so those turn out not to be problems afterall.

I'm with you: keep your wet friends safe with a closed top no matter how sexy your rimless looks

 

[sneakerpimp]

....

 

[KMP]

Rimless, rim or rim with canopy. I've seen just as many fish cook on the 'rim' of Oceanic Tech tanks or tanks with euro bracing and cross braces as I have seen fish jump out of rimless tanks. If a mesh screen (done right) is not the best option (for keeping fish in) - what is?

 

[bradleyj]

IMO, a 1/4 inch mesh top is fishproof. And I've been trying to say it forever.

 

[davocean]

There's nothing trendy about open tops, we've done it a long time, most of us, better gas exchange, helps keep evaporation and temp issues.
Birdsnest tops are best IMO, but even still I lost a pair of helfrichi's through 1/4" birdsnest.
This topic probably would have been better posted in reef discusion than reef fishes, JMO.

 

[iamwhatiam52]

I want to cover my tank even though I have only had one carpet surfer (matted file fish) in 5 years

What kind of mesh is best and what is the best way to mount it?

 

[davocean]

Nice tank Bradleyj, and that is the top I had.
My helfrichi pair disagreed w/ you though!
Lasted one day...

 

[bradleyj]

I used to have 1/2 inch bird netting, Doubled up to decrease the size of the holes. But I still would lose a small fish every once in awhile. But now with the 1/4 inch clear netting, I keep flashers and have yet to lose another fish. Well over a year now. And, now you can find it at Bulk Reef Supply.

 

[tcmfish]

I think people should cover tanks as well. The prices people pay for some of these fish are up there, and for a fraction of the cost of a fish you could make a top.

Also I think this is the appropriate forum for this post because you don't get too many jumping corals, although I have had the occasional snail crawl out of a tank.

 

[bradleyj]

Nice tank Bradleyj, and that is the top I had.
My helfrichi pair disagreed w/ you though!
Lasted one day...

Thank you and I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sure there may be other fish that could manage an escape, but not many.

 

[davocean]

I used the same as Bradleyj, vinyl screen kit from HD w/ 1/4" birdsnest, but since my tank was rimless I mounted inside perimeter, and used clear clips to hold it in place to keep the clean rimless look.

 

[Jacob D]

Nice tank Bradleyj, and that is the top I had.
My helfrichi pair disagreed w/ you though!
Lasted one day...

Ouch, that's rough. A friend of mine had a similar top and lost a C. naokoae the day he put it into his tank, it didn't fit through the netting but got hung up on it (like a gill net).


I don't want to say my setup is jumper proof because I know what will happen if I do, but it's pretty secure. There are some older pics here. This is obviously not for everyone though.

 

[auem]

i keep water level 4"(in winter) to 6"(summer) below the top...i know it is aesthetically not pleasing,specially if not a in-wall built;...problem of air-exchange/air circulation is taken care by 2 fans..
it work for me,though it is not a good solution i guess....

 

[aquaph8]

IMO, a 1/4 inch mesh top is fishproof. And I've been trying to say it forever.

Bradley, where is that mesh from. I use home depot bird netting on mine doubled up and i still lost a fire fish to though it the other day. Here is what the current one looks like. I like yours better.

 

[bradleyj]

You can buy it at Bulk Reef Supply. Search under 1/4" clear netting.

 

[aquaph8]

Thank you sir. You have a very beautiful tank. Love those wrasses.

 

[bradleyj]

Thank you Brett. Sorry, you need to find it in the (miscellaneous items) in your search.

 

[Matt_Wandell]

Here's another solution, made by Greg Scheimer.

i keep water level 4"(in winter) to 6"(summer) below the top...i know it is aesthetically not pleasing,specially if not a in-wall built;...problem of air-exchange/air circulation is taken care by 2 fans..
it work for me,though it is not a good solution i guess....

Sounds like a great solution!

 

[LKGRenegade22]

The extra lip around the top of that tank in the post above mine or having the water level 6" from the top will NOT keep a fish in...not even close.