Open top tank fish

[Jesterrace]

Have you ever seen those trampolines with side guard rails? I think that if you made tall guard rails for the tank you could bounce the jumpers back into the tank if you tilt the rails slightly towards the center of the tank it should make it hard for fish to escape out of the top and would also allow your mangroves to grow unimpeded.

Also, Tangs don't jump so much.

A tank in a 4 foot tank that's only a foot high? That's really cramped for one, even a Tomini. That and the Tomini runs about $40-$50. He could put a handful of damsels in there for the same price (or less) of one Tomini.

@the OP the Chromis would work if you only kept one (they pick eachother off over time), the Mandarin would be a good choice if you are willing to wait for the pod population to build up, it would be very difficult for a Mandarin to get up enough speed to jump out of a tank. The puffer isn't a good idea if you plan on corals at all.

 

[Cthulukelele]

A tank in a 4 foot tank that's only a foot high? That's really cramped for one, even a Tomini. That and the Tomini runs about $40-$50. He could put a handful of damsels in there for the same price (or less) of one Tomini.

@the OP the Chromis would work if you only kept one (they pick eachother off over time), the Mandarin would be a good choice if you are willing to wait for the pod population to build up, it would be very difficult for a Mandarin to get up enough speed to jump out of a tank. The puffer isn't a good idea if you plan on corals at all.

I may put in some plague corals line xenia, kenya tree, gsp, and discosomas, but not much in coral.

 

[Jesterrace]

Still possibly a risk for your cat though if it jumps on the puffer.

 

[Waynerock]

Hi all!

I am planning a low maintenance macroalgae mangrove tank I discussed awhile back. It will be in a deep blue undrilled tank that is 45 gallons 4 feet long 1 foot deep.

Since it is going to be a mangrove tank, it will need to be uncovered.

My question to the R2R community: what are some great aquarium fish that are not super likely to jump and non poisonous so my cat doesn't die if they do?

I am not planning to make it a reef (but if I do it'll just be softies I don't mind something occasionally munching).

Definitely not a firefish! Glad they are only 9.00 at LFS cause they are my Daughters fish and if she knew that the ones she picked out last summer have been long gone she would cry. On the flip side my cats coat is super shiny and they both enjoy the tank now[emoji849]. If these guys pretend to be birds too I am gonna have to have the talk with her.

 

[Captain Quint]

................what are some great aquarium fish that are not super likely to jump ...........................

Sorry, my friend. There is no such fish that will 100% not jump. I learned the hard way with a first bred (at the time $750 Ora Platinum) the very first evening.

 

[Captain Quint]

What if you use a mesh top and cut openings for the plants?

+1

 

[Greybeard]

Sorry, my friend. There is no such fish that will 100% not jump. I learned the hard way with a first bred (at the time $750 Ora Platinum) the very first evening.

Oh, there are a few... A friend has a long horned cowfish... I doubt very much that it could ever build up enough speed to clear the water surface. Boxfish, Pipefish, Seahorses, Anglerfish... Can't imagine any of these swimming fast enough to make it out of the tank.

In any case, clowns are not among those that can't, or won't jump. I lost a caramel ocellarus that way, it's not uncommon.

Still, there are fish that you DO NOT want to put in a topless tank... firefish, wrasses, anthius, eels... you can be nearly certain these will find their way to the floor. There are a few, just a very few, that probably CAN'T get out of the tank... mostly those I mentioned above. Then, there are a whole bunch that are questionable.

It's not just the fish themselves, but the conditions... I don't keep any aggressive fishes, and I feed very well. As such, even the few I have that might jump are less likely to do so. I'm fairly certain that my grandson scared the clown that jumped... he'd been banging around the tank that evening. Hard to blame a four year old... but yes, nervous fish are more likely to jump!

 

[Captain Quint]

Oh, there are a few..........................!

I do find this extremely interesting fellow Gray Bearded brother.

 

[Cthulukelele]

A tank in a 4 foot tank that's only a foot high? That's really cramped for one, even a Tomini. That and the Tomini runs about $40-$50. He could put a handful of damsels in there for the same price (or less) of one Tomini.

@the OP the Chromis would work if you only kept one (they pick eachother off over time), the Mandarin would be a good choice if you are willing to wait for the pod population to build up, it would be very difficult for a Mandarin to get up enough speed to jump out of a tank. The puffer isn't a good idea if you plan on corals at all.

Do you have some less aggressive damsels you recommend?

+1

Where would you get the material to make a screen top for an oddly shaped tank? 48" x 18"

 

[marlinmon]

Do you have some less aggressive damsels you recommend?

Where would you get the material to make a screen top for an oddly shaped tank? 48" x 18"

They come in "less aggressive"? lol

 

[Cthulukelele]

They come in "less aggressive"? lol

Lol that was my understanding as well, but jester seems to be a big fan, and because of that I am assuming he's at least had a few that weren't homicidal maniacs

 

[Captain Quint]

Do you have some less aggressive damsels you recommend?

Where would you get the material to make a screen top for an oddly shaped tank? 48" x 18"

I used two of the 24-inch screen kits from BRS for a 48-inch tank. (less warp than using longer frames)

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/diy-aquarium-screen-top-kits-for-rimmed-tanks-1-4-netting.html

 

[marlinmon]

Lol that was my understanding as well, but jester seems to be a big fan, and because of that I am assuming he's at least had a few that weren't homicidal maniacs

Haha I've never had damsels, but my general understanding is they would attack one another until there is only one left.

 

[Cthulukelele]

Haha I've never had damsels, but my general understanding is they would attack one another until there is only one left.

I really just want a weird fish tank on this one. I am now leaning towards screen top. Maybe something like this:
Green mandarin
Radial filefish
Red rooster waspfish
Smallest lionfish species available
Dragonface pipefish
Valentini puffer
Maybe a couple damsels or a blue green chromis
A few other goofy looking not very reef safe fish

 

[Cthulukelele]

I used two of the 24-inch screen kits from BRS for a 48-inch tank. (less warp than using longer frames)

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/diy-aquarium-screen-top-kits-for-rimmed-tanks-1-4-netting.html

I guess I was worried about being able to make a 2' x 18" top instead of a 2' x 2' lid section. Is that possible with the DIY kit?

 

[Captain Quint]

I guess I was worried about being able to make a 2' x 18" top instead of a 2' x 2' lid section. Is that possible with the DIY kit?

Very easy to do. You'll use a hacksaw to cut down the 24-inch square to 24X18inch on each section is all.

BUT, if a keeper tank you might want to give a shout @cromag27 to see what he can do custom for you.

 

[nereefpat]

Super easy.

Materials needed:
Screen
Window Screen kit

Tools:
Measuring tape
hack saw
One of those spline rolling tools

 

[Jesterrace]

Actually I am not a fan of Damsels in general, I just think they would fit the bill for this tank given that they aren't known jumpers, are hardy, will help a bit with algae control and are dirt cheap to replace if they do jump out of the tank. If you add a meshtop lid, obviously the circumstances change. Although I would be concerned about the growth of a Mangrove with a mesh top lid (ie growing at weird angles and either being constricted or ripping the mesh top). It's not exactly like they grow in a set pattern.

The Springer's or Blue Sapphire Damsels are considered among the better ones:

https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/2073/blue-sapphire-damselfish?pcatid=2073&c=15+28+2073

 

[mattzang]

Do you have some less aggressive damsels you recommend?

Where would you get the material to make a screen top for an oddly shaped tank? 48" x 18"

the chrysiptera group is generally less aggressive, although you still probably want to avoid some like the fiji blue devil.

i think damsels get a bad rap because tons of lfs recommend you cycle a tank using the domino or striped damsels which are great white sharks in a small package.

that said, they're all probably getting eaten if you have a lionfish in there