Tank Dividers

[drufly]

Does anyone know of a cheap way of dividing a tank? i have a jewel cichlid that is not getting on with my new firemouths. Is there anything from around the house that i could use, as i really need it tonight. Before the firemouths get torn up.

Thanx dru

 

[RustedKnight]

Got any plastic trays/cases with perferations (holes..basically) ??? Could put the fish in it overnight, upside down in the substrate. Not perfect but, you know.

 

[drufly]

Nothing big enough, thats my prob. I have him in a bag in the tank but there is no circulation in using this method. i hope to take him to the lfs tomorow but its tonight i'm worried about. Maybe cut a few holes in the bag and, try put it in the filter outlet. not ideal i know but i'd rather 1 fish stresses than possibily lose 2 or 3 fm's

 

[RustedKnight]

Nothing big enough, thats my prob. I have him in a bag in the tank but there is no circulation in using this method. i hope to take him to the lfs tomorow but its tonight i'm worried about. Maybe cut a few holes in the bag and, try put it in the filter outlet. not ideal i know but i'd rather 1 fish stresses than possibily lose 2 or 3 fm's

If you puncture the bag isn't there a chance of it collapsing in and suffocating the fish?

Tricky one this.

 

[drufly]

True. Cant even put him in the other tank cos of the minnows. Well stuck now lol.

 

[RustedKnight]

Hmm.. Gonna have a hard think see if I can come up with anything. Give me a minute.

Ok, how big is your jewel cichlid?? May have some form of ingenious idea thanks to my missus.

 

[drufly]

He is roughly 4, 4 half inch long. I was tinking of moving him till the small tank and moving the minnows to the big tank. Would they survive the night? The fm's are nearly 3, 3 half inch from tip till tail.

 

[RustedKnight]

Ok, well I'll post the idea up anyway;

Cut the bottom off a 2litre bottle, net the fish, fish goes in;

Then either, plan A;

Sink the open bottom into the substrate, and leave the lid off so oxygenated water gets in.

or plan B;

Cut up a pair of the missus' tights, or some kind of visibly porous material (maybe the bag, heavily perferated), and elastic band it over the open end.
Viola, fish trap.

 

[Katty]

Do you have a big plastic (new) garbage bag? I'm thinking you could use this as a divider, rather than a bag to put the fish in. You could cut the sides of the garbage bag so you have one (or two) big sheets of plastic, then poke or cut some holes in it that aren't big enough for the fish to swim through but big enough to let water though. Secure on the bottom with rocks or gravel, and on the top with tape. Don't know how you'd keep the sides of the plastic up against the glass though... Maybe lean some decorations against it, not sure.

 

[RustedKnight]

Just read about someone who kept minnows in a community tank with firemouths, theirs got along alright... But, i'd say it's a risk.

 

[drufly]

Ingenious indeed! i will try it an see how he reacts.
Do ya think would the minnows survive the night with the fm's, in case the bottle trap is not suitable?

 

[drufly]

Katty. good idea i had thought of that but as u say the sides would be a prob. Only decor i have is the rock formation that my lobster has just made its home, after 3 weeks digging it out. All the rest of decor is live plants.

 

[RustedKnight]

Ingenious indeed! i will try it an see how he reacts.
Do ya think would the minnows survive the night with the fm's, in case the bottle trap is not suitable?

Well, it's a risk, but a risk that might have to be undertaken.

Try the trap, and if not, wish the minnows luck.

On that note, I need to hit the hay mate, good luck with the fish, and i'll check the thread in the morning.

 

[jpeterson]

Why not get a tub with a lid and drill some holes everywhere in it and place it in the tank at the bottom. This was the water will be circulating around in the box just like it does in the tank!

 

[drufly]

No prob rustedknight. He's in the trap surprisingly not stressing as much as in the bag. thanks all for the ideas and i'll post up tomorrow what happens. Although i hope the lfs will take him off my hands in the morning.