Fish jumping and HQI?

[nikonosis]

What does everyone put over their nano tanks to stop fish from jumping when they are running hqi?

[chocolateblnt]

LoL I love your avatar ... I am unsure of how to resolve your problem though... just get a cover made of thick plastic so it doesn't warp under the heat. OR better yet there is this stuff Mary uses called Gutter Guard from Lowes on her thread ... it's on Pg. 4

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=778851&perpage=25&pagenumber=4

[Mikeeal]

People use eggcrate too.

[vanmo92]

i wouls use eggcrate

[trottman]

you can use 1/4 inch acrylic shoot. i have those over my 75 gallon with HQI's it does not bend at all and works great

[rockindacheeks]

i use a glass lid. It acts as a UV shield too.

[flameangel88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7030419#post7030419 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rockindacheeks
i use a glass lid. It acts as a UV shield too.


Was your glass lid custom made or you pick up at local store? Thanks.

[rockindacheeks]

its just a standard glass lid to fit a 10gal that i picked up from my LFS.

[Cutiewitbooty]

that does cut down on the ammount of light that enters into the tank, plus you might get heat issues. Most MH already have a UV sheild (a peice of glass that contains the bulb). I have a HQI over my tank with an open top and i don't have any problems.

[flameangel88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7031807#post7031807 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Cutiewitbooty
that does cut down on the ammount of light that enters into the tank, plus you might get heat issues. Most MH already have a UV sheild (a peice of glass that contains the bulb). I have a HQI over my tank with an open top and i don't have any problems.


I just purchased 175w HQI with legs for my new 24g Pod (LR & sand is coming in next week, fish in about 3 wks) and everything I've been reading said Jaw fish loves to jump out but putting a glass to cover the tank will trap heat. Anything else will block light going in. Any suggestion as to my dilema?

[nikonosis]

well i made a cover out of 1/8th inch acrylic and it doesn't get hot enough to warp it. I also put a bunch of holes in it to let the air flow through.

[Cutiewitbooty]

the egcrate doesn't block to much light as long as you put it on in the right direction. If your worried about the jumping i would use the eggcrate.

[jcatblum]

My jawfish jumped yesterday!!!! And he only had a small spot to get out--- so make sure whatever you use---the ENTIRE top is covered!!!!!

[nikonosis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7033668#post7033668 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Cutiewitbooty
the egcrate doesn't block to much light as long as you put it on in the right direction. If your worried about the jumping i would use the eggcrate.

it blocks alot more light than acrylic.

[mr pink floyd]

hoods also limit gas exchange, get eggcrate


what would the HQI do to the jumping fish anyways?

[nikonosis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7038724#post7038724 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mr pink floyd
hoods also limit gas exchange, get eggcrate


what would the HQI do to the jumping fish anyways?

There is a ton of little holes drilled in it and the back of the tank is open anyways, the overflow section.

[mr pink floyd]

ok, sump might help gas exchange too, didnt think of it, mght try acrlyic, glass can reflect light if its shiny, and if its cloudy not let as muc hlght through too,

but once again, yould your fish hit the light or something?

i dont get he problem abotu HQI and fish, i dont know much abotu HQI or halides for that amtter

[nikonosis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7039021#post7039021 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mr pink floyd
ok, sump might help gas exchange too, didnt think of it, mght try acrlyic, glass can reflect light if its shiny, and if its cloudy not let as muc hlght through too,

but once again, yould your fish hit the light or something?

i dont get he problem abotu HQI and fish, i dont know much abotu HQI or halides for that amtter

its not really about the hqi, its the fact that there is no canopy or anything over the tank and we have a wrasse and a firefish that will both jump out of the water and hit the carpet. They can't live on the floor as far as i know.

[tlharbin]

I would not use eggcrate if you are trying to keep a firefish in the tank. They make their living by darting very quickly through very small spaces. An eggcrate will not even slow him down unless it is at least as far above the waterline as his length. The bigger issue is that once he jumps, the combination of HQI lighting and eggcrate makes a very effective BBQ grille if he doesn't clear the tank (which he won't if the eggcrate slows him down). Best advice for a firefish is to provide enough nooks and crannies that he feels safe to dive instead of jump. They actually prefer to stay in the water if possible.