Hi all,

I know other folks have open top tanks and must deal with this......

Is there an EZ and aesthetic way to 'fence' 2-4 inches around the perimeter of the tank to help prevent them 'going over the wall'?

Not too many jumpers (large SAEs mostly???) but I want to get some hatchets and I KNOW they are jumpers.

I will not get if they will fly the coop within a week, which is what I think will happen.

Any ideas?

I was thinking maybe some type of light flexible screening that can be pulled tight around a few corner 'poles'. That would be simple and effective, but the front would not be that pleasant to view

OR

Some type of clear plexiglass perimeter.....

Either way though, imagining the front view is making me go YUCK.....


Thanks again to all!

I have learned a lot on this site, and you all have been very patient and helpful.
Don't think it is not appreciated.

Instead of a fence, which may look bad, you could "screen" in the top of the tank in lieu of glass lids. Something like eggcrate material, or I've seen a very fine mesh that would not block much light.

Could you maybe just keep the water level a little lower?

-mike b-

Hi Mike,

Sorry I forgot to mention that I have a reef ready tank with dual overflows so this is not an option........

Duh, that could be important for me to communicate on this, ya think? lol

MY BAD! Sorry,


Good idea though, but not sure I could remember NOT to top off the tank everytime I look at it

I guess I could just flood the living room with 6-8 inches of water, and just find them swimming around when I get home

Thanks again to all!

I think a nice ploy carb thin top with little poly carb square "feet", say 1/2" and have these just sit on top of the tank.

Take them off when working or pics etc.
Screen also works, but I like the look of poly carb better or glass sheets.

You need not a sheet that covers everything, you can have several, say 3-4 that cover every 1-2 ft etc.


Regards,
Tom Barr

I was thinking about this the other day and I'm not sure if this would work but maybe it's worth a shot.

What if you took 4 - 2 or 3" wide strips of plexiglas, long enough to go around all 4 sides of the tank, and glued them on the ends to make a big plexiglas square that just sits on the top edge of the glass? From what I've noticed, fish usually jump the tank by jumping up right next to the inside of the wall, not 3 inches towards the center, so if anything jumps up there next to the glass they would hit the plexiglas wall and be deflected. Just a thought, I was going to try this but found that evaporation was too fast with no top so I had to get a full top for mine.