3d background on sides? Y or No ATF and Armatus

[OnceLoyal]

So my last Armatus killed themselves via slamming into glass.
Need to make an expensive decision today. Side panels or No? If I just covered the outside it would be mirrored. Look I g to help prevent head banging in the future. Any opinions? I thought maybe to load the side up with plants although, but not sure if that would stop them or not. I would prefer to Leave sides open to be able to view them, but their safety is more important.
So stepping back and looking at all of this..... would this even help prevent head smashing? I just always looked at it like they either see a mirrored image or see through the glass in a spastic turn or sprint forgetting their boundary.

Any opinions today would be appreciated. I would like to finalize my order... this is the only thing keeping me from filling the tank!!!

 

[nzafi]

Never had them, but understanding is that neither really know their boundaries regardless unlike some other fish. Folks focus on not startling them until they get a bit bigger and arent scared easily. However, you will see that this is a very common problem and is very random.

I know for other fish with this issue some folks have placed like foam blocks to pad the sides in hopes it helps.

 

[krichardson]

I have a 3D background but wouldn't want it on the ends personally...for your issue I would consider a row of very tall artificial plants on each end.

 

[OnceLoyal]

Thanks, I am leaning towards the plants.... but have to be tastefully done and I could save $400.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

I keep losing ATF for the same reason and have been thinking along the same lines. So far I thought of faux patches of sea grass to cover up the sides- they are sold in squares, like this one 9" x 9": https://www.ebay.com/i/311464554795?chn=ps&dispItem=1

So the idea is the same as with plants but have a thicket of them and have them immobilized / siliconed / suction-cupped on to the glass.

They have loops and hooks and join to each other. I had 4 squares like these before.

What do you think guys? Keeping in mind I don't care at all about the aesthetics, only functionality.

 

[Lugal]

My tank was 3-sided blackened by black sticker. I also have Wavemaker/ Water Pump/ Oxygen stone which kinda tells my GATF which side ended. So far my only loss was GATF which was killed by another very aggressive GATF and slammed into glass (I think). Hope that helps.

 

[moe214]

I keep losing ATF for the same reason and have been thinking along the same lines. So far I thought of faux patches of sea grass to cover up the sides- they are sold in squares, like this one 9" x 9": https://www.ebay.com/i/311464554795?chn=ps&dispItem=1

So the idea is the same as with plants but have a thicket of them and have them immobilized / siliconed / suction-cupped on to the glass.

They have loops and hooks and join to each other. I had 4 squares like these before.

What do you think guys? Keeping in mind I don't care at all about the aesthetics, only functionality.

View attachment 1305596

I think it could look nice if the sides were blacked. Though I don't think you'd be into that lol

 

[OnceLoyal]

Well if I was to blacken sides then I would just "background" them probably. I would think blackening them would still create a mirror, but of course I could be wrong.

 

[moe214]

I'm saying the grass like plant on a blackened wall. So you don't see the ugly side with all the roots lol

 

[OnceLoyal]

Gotcha. I get it. I have quite some time to worry about it, but I would like to have a plan in place!