So many carpet surfing stories .... we need a thread on "covering your tank"

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

I have glass tops which greatly cut down on evaporation which is great. It stops most of the jumps but some really determined ones will either find small gaps or hit the glass really, really hard and brain themselves. Arg

[daplatapus]

I found some netting at home depot and used their DIY screen rail with corners to make mine. Like paddyob said though, it sucks trying to get around equipment and cords over the sides of the tank. I had some 3/4 acrylic from a job I once did and actually made a 8" frame with it that sits on my tank and my light fixture sits on it. I originally did that to raise my light but once I saw it on there I scrapped my DIY screen I had and haven't lost a fish yet either.

[monocus]

i built a vented canopy that matches my stand with pillars to hide my returns

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

Why aren't more of us covering our tanks properly when we know full well that our critters are going to attempt to go for the moon sometime ?

I just avoid fish that jump. Using eggcrate or a screen would ruin the look of a rimless tank. You have to find the balance between what keeps your fish safe and healthy and what looks good in your living room. If I had an in-wall tank or closed canopy I would certainly use some kind of screen so I could keep other kinds of fish.

Screens don't guaranty anything either, seen fish jump through them and get stuck on top, if they had not been a screen the fish would have been fine. Closed canopies are also no guaranty, seen fish jump and get suck on bracing or even the trim of the tank.