Jumping Wrasses - Glass Tank Top?

[stephencraig]

I have had and my family loves Fairy Wrasses, and have had several over the past years. However, as might be expected I have lost too many due to jumping. I first tried screens with regular window screen, but those blocked too much light. Over a year ago I remade the screens using 1/2' bird netting. That seemed to work for a while, but recently I have lost two that jumped THROUGH the screen (one this morning in fact, a beautiful red super male).

I'm considering having low iron glass panels cut, but I am concerned I am overlooking something. I have an Elos rimless 200 gal, that connects to an Elos sump, which also connects to a 35 gal refuge. I understand that covering the top of the tank would reduce oxygen exchange from the tank surface water, but I'm thinking I would still get plenty of that from the sump, Euro-Reef skimmer, and refuge.

Thoughts?

Also, the tank is on a chiller.

I would appreciate any input.

Thanks.

Stephen

[ErikH]

Richard (ReefCube) made a sweet net setup for his tank. Other than that, a rimless tank shouldn't house jumping fish. :)

I know that structurally the lid should be sound, but something tells me that you would not want to put a top on a rimless tank. Main fear being moving the top, which would be INSANELY HEAVY without dipping a corner in the water. Once it is off balance, you can pretty much count on following it right into and through the corner of your tank. I have a non stock glass top on my 45, but it's only a 45, and the glass is 3/4" starphire. I have 3 Helfrichis in there, so yeah, jumping would not be cool for me either!

Good luck, sounds like you are on the right path.

[vman181]

I’m not sure how your lights are nor do I know how it would work or look for that matter. But what about placing some sort of netting that goes from the side of the tank over the top of the lights then back to the other side of the tank. Like I said. I don’t know your set up so it could look ugly if you can see the top of your tank easily. You could always remove it when people come over.

[stephencraig]

I will contact Reefcube to see if he has any pics.

As far as the glass goes, I was thinking of 3 seperate panels (no where near 3/4 inch think) of glass or plexiglass, that I would mount some type of edging on so that the edging held the panel between the top tank edges.

As far as netting over the whole thing, I don't think that would work, one reason being I have 2 - 400W MHs in a wooden fixture that is suspended with supports. I'm not sure hanging netting would stop the jumping wrasses (if they are jumping hard enough to go through 1/2" bird netting), and other being heat generated from the lights.

Stephen

[Kristy]

I totally feel you on this one. There is absolutely nothing worse than the realization that you have kept a beautiful, healthy fish successfully and then lost it because it jumped to its own stupid death.

We have egg crate over the top of our tank for just this reason and are absolutely religious about keeping it covered at all times because we have a few notorious jumpers that are our favorites as well (several wrasses, hawks, gobies). Even have a "window" in the egg crate that is cut out and have a larger piece of egg crate over it, so that we can slide that over to feed or work in the tank without removing the entire top.

EVEN WITH ALL THAT, there is the occasional really determined fish that somehow manages to find a crevice to squeeze through, thinking that it is heading for the holy land I am sure. Just this weekend we discovered that our diamond goby (one of Mike's all time favorite fish) had somehow jumped out the back of a completely covered aquarium, probably while we were moving things around doing tank chores. We have also had the displeasure of seeing a really thin fish (long nosed hawk, firefish, etc.) that can manage to leap perfectly vertically through the openings of the egg crate and land on the top to broil under the MH lights. Horrifying.

I've seen Reefcube's net top and it does look slick. Also the holes are a bit smaller than the egg crate. This would definitely be the way to go with a visible open top that is not covered by canopy.

Good luck to you and sorry about your fairy wrasse!

[stephencraig]

Thanks. I sent a PM to Reefcube, so hopefully I can get info that way. I can re-make the screens if he has something smaller, just haven't been able to find anything other than window screen, which blocks too much light. I would really prefer glass or plexiglass panels (since there would be no light blocking issues), but just unsure of the oxygen exchange and possible heat issues.

Stephen

[ErikH]

How fast is the flow through your fuge?

I would imagine you can have enough airflow with a skimmer. If you start to see cyano all of the sudden, there could be elevated Co2 Levels.

[stephencraig]

Pretty slow, however its got some pretty good surface area, around 30 x 24 or so. Plus I'm figuring the marcoalgae is doing its thing too, on the oxygen exchange.

Stephen

[ErikH]

Sounds like with the skimmer you should have enough oxygen. I know your fuge is connected to your sump, but is it all running off the same pump? Or is there a faster pump as a return? I wouldn't guess that you would have problems if it is quick, but if you take that skimmer out of the equation and have a large bioload, you may end up with some problems.

[ReefCube]

well in my opinion depending on the look your going for and if it matters I feel the mesh top no matter how nice you make it takes away from a rimless tank for sure, especially if you plan to do low iron starphire stuff. I have some pics I can send you tomorrow of what I did when I had my solana. I have to say it looked really nice but it would look beter without it and you dont have to take it on and off when you need to get in the tank.. I need to find them. The best thing you can do is just keep fish that dont tend to jump. I really wish i could do wrasses again but I dont want to risk a dead fish on the floor.