Most killikeepers are well aware of the usefulness of clear plastic shoe- and sweater boxes for keeping their fish and raising fry. But the problem remains of those inevitable “jumpers.” George White of Arlington, Virginia, offered the following suggestion. The information originally appeared in the April 1986 issue of Freshwater and Marine Aquarium.
Using an X-acto blade or similar cutting tool, remove the center panel from the shoe- or sweater-box cover, approximately one inch from the edge. Next, drill a hole (using a standard drill bit or a heated nail held in pliers) in one corner of the cover, big enough to thread a piece of airline hose through. Cut a piece of plastic window screening slightly larger than the removed section of lid, then glue in place using silicone aquarium sealant; season at least 24 hours before use.
Now all you need do is fill the container with water, plants, and fish, and add an airstone or foam filter. The fish in these aquaria, with their modified covers, won’t have the chance to suicide into crispy critters on your fishroom floor.
— G.C.K.A. Newsletter, May 1998