Carpet diving - need advice please

king1522 · 04/17/2006, 08:43 PM

I am in the process of assembling a 40 gal. cube I plan mostly for hard corals. I would like to see if I can be successful in keeping mostly sps. However, I would like to keep a few reef friendly interesting small fish. I like the gobie family. Of course almost any fish will go carpet diving on you! My thoughts are this. I have a combination hanging canopy with a 250 mh and actinics I will hang over the tank. I have elected not to have a top (actually, I disassembled the original trying some experiments) because of heating problems. Although, I plan to hook up a chiller. I need your advice and thoughts about keeping the fish from jumping out of the tank. I frankly don't have a clue as how to approach this problem. Or, am I really overthinking the problem!

Thanks for you advice and comments
Don

loyalty · 04/17/2006, 09:01 PM

i've seen people use eggcrate to keep jumpers in the tank for what it's worth

king1522 · 04/17/2006, 09:07 PM

Thanks loyalty. Eggcrate does work. I currently have eggcrate over my quarantine tank. Will the eggcrate diffuse the light from my MH signficantly??
Don

affan · 04/17/2006, 09:28 PM

Eggcrate will work while not significantly defusing your Metal Halides. I had eggrate on my 200g and I didn't notice any difference. Although I did remove it for aesthetic reasons. You could always remove it if you feel as though it's significantly impacting your MH's output. Plexiglass is another option. These fish usually jump when they're stressed. Provide optimum quality water and you lessen the prospect of them carpet surfing. Diamond Watchman, Firefish and the likes, in my opinion, would not be very prudent choices.

xdusty6920 · 04/17/2006, 09:30 PM

that would be my concern. i think the eggcrate itself would block alot of light from entering the tank. id just have a canopy high enough so they cant jump out and then leave the top of the canopy open so heat doesnt build up.

reefD · 04/17/2006, 09:38 PM

as stated above i have kept jawfish in my reef and they always jump at night. but currently i have a small nano with just very docile gobies and my top leaves a big area opened up. in any case he hasnt jumped. i also have a tank at work that we keep all jawfish and the dang thing has no top! no jawfish ever jump out of it either. like stated above it is stress that makes them jump. if water parameters are good then other livestock is the culpret. i have even seen shrimp freak out a jawfish. once they are driven from shelter they are vulnerable. and if any other fish just act slightly territorial they will freak and jump.
seriously it is amazing to me how no jawfish ever jump from this tank at work(lfs) but again they are the only fish in this tank other than some hermits and crabs. in anycase if they are starled they may jump but if the tank is species friendly i wouldnt worry about covering all holes. just a normal top will suffice. if the tank you want to add them too has multiple species of free ,open water swiming fish they will not do good. even with a sealed top they will be periodically freaked out and even months later may die. the issue is when the top is secured and they are still being freaked out, they hide and they do not feed.

king1522 · 04/18/2006, 06:12 PM

Thanks for all the answers. As I said before, maybe I am overthinking this thing. I have recently moved and in the process of getting set up again. In the past, I have kept my water quality pretty good. (at least I believe that!). Maybe I should be just careful about what I add. Anyone have any suggestions for a 40 cube? My goal is not to overstock it with fish. Just enough to give it some character.
Thanks
Don

04/17/2006, 08:43 PM	#1
king1522 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Duncanville, Texas Posts: 643	Carpet diving - need advice please I am in the process of assembling a 40 gal. cube I plan mostly for hard corals. I would like to see if I can be successful in keeping mostly sps. However, I would like to keep a few reef friendly interesting small fish. I like the gobie family. Of course almost any fish will go carpet diving on you! My thoughts are this. I have a combination hanging canopy with a 250 mh and actinics I will hang over the tank. I have elected not to have a top (actually, I disassembled the original trying some experiments) because of heating problems. Although, I plan to hook up a chiller. I need your advice and thoughts about keeping the fish from jumping out of the tank. I frankly don't have a clue as how to approach this problem. Or, am I really overthinking the problem! Thanks for you advice and comments Don

04/17/2006, 09:01 PM	#2
loyalty Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,742	i've seen people use eggcrate to keep jumpers in the tank for what it's worth __________________ your friendly neighborhood casual reefer Current Tank Info: 58 Oceanic mostly zoo tank under some T5s

04/17/2006, 09:07 PM	#3
king1522 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Duncanville, Texas Posts: 643	Thanks loyalty. Eggcrate does work. I currently have eggcrate over my quarantine tank. Will the eggcrate diffuse the light from my MH signficantly?? Don __________________ Don Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The more you roll off, the faster it goes. Current Tank Info: 30 gallon Finnex M in progress.

04/17/2006, 09:38 PM	#6
reefD Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Schenectady,New York Posts: 4,968	as stated above i have kept jawfish in my reef and they always jump at night. but currently i have a small nano with just very docile gobies and my top leaves a big area opened up. in any case he hasnt jumped. i also have a tank at work that we keep all jawfish and the dang thing has no top! no jawfish ever jump out of it either. like stated above it is stress that makes them jump. if water parameters are good then other livestock is the culpret. i have even seen shrimp freak out a jawfish. once they are driven from shelter they are vulnerable. and if any other fish just act slightly territorial they will freak and jump. seriously it is amazing to me how no jawfish ever jump from this tank at work(lfs) but again they are the only fish in this tank other than some hermits and crabs. in anycase if they are starled they may jump but if the tank is species friendly i wouldnt worry about covering all holes. just a normal top will suffice. if the tank you want to add them too has multiple species of free ,open water swiming fish they will not do good. even with a sealed top they will be periodically freaked out and even months later may die. the issue is when the top is secured and they are still being freaked out, they hide and they do not feed. __________________ DAVID Current Tank Info: it has four sides and a bottom...oh yeah and it has water in it. lol

04/18/2006, 06:12 PM	#7
king1522 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Duncanville, Texas Posts: 643	Thanks for all the answers. As I said before, maybe I am overthinking this thing. I have recently moved and in the process of getting set up again. In the past, I have kept my water quality pretty good. (at least I believe that!). Maybe I should be just careful about what I add. Anyone have any suggestions for a 40 cube? My goal is not to overstock it with fish. Just enough to give it some character. Thanks Don __________________ Don Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The more you roll off, the faster it goes. Current Tank Info: 30 gallon Finnex M in progress.

04/17/2006, 09:28 PM	#4
affan Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: From NYC, currently serving time in Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 1,125	Eggcrate will work while not significantly defusing your Metal Halides. I had eggrate on my 200g and I didn't notice any difference. Although I did remove it for aesthetic reasons. You could always remove it if you feel as though it's significantly impacting your MH's output. Plexiglass is another option. These fish usually jump when they're stressed. Provide optimum quality water and you lessen the prospect of them carpet surfing. Diamond Watchman, Firefish and the likes, in my opinion, would not be very prudent choices.

04/17/2006, 09:30 PM	#5
xdusty6920 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 2,261	that would be my concern. i think the eggcrate itself would block alot of light from entering the tank. id just have a canopy high enough so they cant jump out and then leave the top of the canopy open so heat doesnt build up.