Is my lid secure enough?

[Seedy J]

I'm planning to keep a few bichirs in my new 75g tank, and one thing I keep hearing is to make sure that the tank is covered tightly. Do my lids look secure enough? They're just regular Aqueon glass lids with the plastic extensions, and there's also a canopy. Yes, there's a big hole in one of the plastic pieces - I'll be replacing it with one that isn't broken. Aside from that, the tank has an overflow so there aren't any big openings for filters or other gear. There's an airline tube sticking out of the overflow that creates a very small gap. On the other side, there's another small gap where there's a zip tie attached to the canopy to hold up the spray bar.

 

[PYRU]

I think your good with *****irs. Ropefish would be another story

 

[Seedy J]

I think your good with *****irs. Ropefish would be another story

I was considering ropefish too. What would you suggest for them? I think I'm gonna need those little gaps for the airline and the zip tie no matter what. I could either glue some weights to the lids, and/or have some glass cut to fit the entire opening and get rid of the plastic pieces.

 

[PYRU]

I was considering ropefish too. What would you suggest for them? I think I'm gonna need those little gaps for the airline and the zip tie no matter what. I could either glue some weights to the lids, and/or have some glass cut to fit the entire opening and get rid of the plastic pieces.

I've had to pretty much duct tape or similar to keep ropefish in. Those things are the worst escape artists I've ever kept.

 

[Polyaddict86]

Looks good to me

 

[twentyleagues]

If your canopy closes tightly with no openings and it looks like there is mesh over the back openings you should be good for polys. Ropes you are going to want to cover the overflow with something to stop the ropes from going for a ride. I made lids out of a piece of acrylic for my overflows. I made a template out of cardboard, and cut out the acrylic to match, and then made little extensions to sit on the rim of the tank and to go against the inside of the overflow to hold them in place. They are not pretty or look professional but it works and no one even notices. Ive had a rope or two go for a ride and my sump is in the basement. Supprisingly they survived and I found them soon enough to stop them from jumping out of the sump. Id also suggest drilling a hole in the lid if possibe to accommodate the air tube.

 

[Seedy J]

You guys have talked me out of getting a ropefish... sounds like a royal pain .

The plot thickens... LFS just got delhezi bichirs in. They're hard to find around here, so I'll be getting one ASAP. Unfortunately, the 75g in the OP is still cycling. I'll see if the LFS can hold the fish for a week with a deposit, but I may need to bring it home today. My other tanks are not as tightly covered...

Option 1: 40 breeder with silver dollars and tiger severum. I could get rid of the HOB filter and slide the bottom piece of glass all the way back, and put tape over the remaining gaps.



Option 2: 40 breeder with better coverage, but it's home to a lenticulata pike. I guess this one is a no-brainer... the bichir is probably a juvenile and might just end up as a snack for the pike.



There's also the African cichlid tank in the background of the first pic, but that also doesn't seem like a great idea.

Do you think Option 1 would work temporarily?

 

[twentyleagues]

Option 1. Just put tape around filter best you can.
Ropes are great. Just gotta prepare properly before you get them.

 

[jaws7777]

I would still duct tape the lids in the 1st pic. Unless im not seeing it nothing is holding the lids down right ?

You can pick up small pieces of plexiglas from HD and duct tape them around any openings as well

 

[Seedy J]

I duct taped all the openings just to be safe. Took the HOB out too.


They're still little fellas, about 3.5". I got 2 delhezis and a senegalus.