Questions about isolation box

I really had nothing to do today, so I figured with new fish coming next week I'd try to build an "isolation box" to keep new arrivals in for 2-3 days to try to avoid aggression.

This is the progress I made so far, pretty much just drilling holes and siliconing the acrylic. It measures 18x6x6




I've got just a few questions.

1. Can it be fully submerged or should I leave 1-2" above the water line?

2. I gradually used bigger bits and anything after 5/32 would snag or crack it a little. I wanted to get to 1/4. Are these holes going to be too small or with the mesh top will enough water be passing through it?

3. I'm getting two wrasses, can I put a baffle in the middle or would a 9x6x6 box be too small for one of them?

Thanks!

 

No need to separate them, they are both new and will do fine together. I would leave it just above the water line, because those wrasses will go right through that egg crate if it is under water.

Do you have a router at your disposal? I have seen people do 5/32" channels in order to allow adequate flow. Also, head to your local hardware store and pick up an acrylic/plastics drill bit in 1/4" size if that doesn't work. Should be ~6 bucks to get one or a small set. They are sharper tipped and have less pitch than a normal bit.

 

thanks Andrew, it's hard to see but I put some leftover 1/4" mesh from BRS over the egg crate. I shouldn't have got impatient last night and started siliconing it, it's gonna be a PITA to drill now lol

 

How did you glue them together, looks really pro tho.

 

Only the whole bottom and top corners are siliconed at this point. Trust me it will get sloppier when I do the whole corners lol

 

Ah I see the mesh now. You could go either way, submerged or not. If you leave the top open and submerged you will need less holes that if it is partially under the water.

Looks really good though man, good luck!

 

good deal, I think I'll do that then. maybe put it in some flow to make sure waters getting pushed through there. Because I don't think I'll have the time tomorrow to go get special drill bits.

finished the siliconing tonight after work. it's not flawless, but doesn't look half bad for my first time lol.

 

If you leave the lid above the water line, it's a heck of a lot easier to feed the new guys.