Hid death is made even worse by the fact that only now have I come up with a permanent solution which would have prevented this.
Here it is:
1) Egg crate cut to a size sufficient to fit into the tank without snagging.
2) 4-6 1/2" PVC slipXslip couplings [you could use pipe too, but this is easier]
3) 4-6 1/2" PVC pipe sections around 1/2" long
Cut grooves into the coupling in an X shape, such that the eggcrate will slide into them and have enough room to insert the sections of pipe into the coupling, locking the eggcrate into place. You will want to glue this.
Secure the couplings to your lid or center brace however you wish, in order to keep it below the surface of the water without sinking. This part is up to you, and given the vast numbers of lid configurations is not something practical to describe for all cases.
In order to facilitate feeding, you might use 2 sections of this puffer-blocker, in congruent configuration with your lid, such that when you open the lid the eggcrate follows, leaving the other section in place.
Anyway...I hope this idea helps someone else avoid this terrible feeling.
Poor Mappa. I'll post some pictures of him when he was alive when I'm feel up to it....for now, I'm going to go show this 18yo Scotch whose boss.
Ian
