does anyone put anything in their overflows?

[timdam]

just asking. cuz besides the two pipes in the overflow and maybe a sponge, it seems like a lot of wasted space. shoot, seems like u could even throw a few corals in there.

[Chris27]

Heater - provided you keep the water level high enough to ensure it's always submerged.

[travis32]

My overflow is 5" X 3" so, not a lot of wasted space. ;)

As to corals/ One could, but, if they grow big or over take, they could plug the siphon or hinder the siphon capabilities. Plus more chance for other critters to take the plung through the siphon. I had a large (Cerinth?) snail get into my siphon on my overfow. Plugged it up and stopped the siphon. my ATO worked great and allowed my return pump to overfill my DT. An experience I never want to go through again. No livestock was injured in the process. I could have been electricuted.

I think putting stuff in the overflow would be very bad....

[timdam]

they should make overflows smaller though. JMO. they take up half the tank sometimes.

[reggiepe]

I had thought of the same thing...but was more thinking to the tune of a Deep Sand bed. I have a reef ready 75g AGA tank and the overflow has a good bit of wasted space. I was thinking of possibly filling that up about halfway and see what may happen.

[timdam]

or even add rubble or live rock?

[reggiepe]

I would think the rubble would act as a mechanical filter and catch all of the detritus coming into the overflow. I am thinking it would give the reverse of what we would try to achieve with a DSB.

[timdam]

cheato?

[timdam]

a mantis shrimp?

[reggiepe]

both of those seem like valid candidates.

[Tilmo2180]

Putting LR in there sounds to me like it would accomplish the same thing as putting the bioballs back in my sump. Just collect junk and be hard to clean. I leave mine empty, but its a pretty small area too.

[Nor_Cal_Guy]

HOB overflow or real deal?

I keep my built in overflow clear. If I have a small animal that's causing problems I throw them in there for easy removal when taking to lfs.

[EasyEd77]

I had thought of the same thing...but was more thinking to the tune of a Deep Sand bed. I have a reef ready 75g AGA tank and the overflow has a good bit of wasted space. I was thinking of possibly filling that up about halfway and see what may happen.

I wouldn't do that if I were you. I have the same tank and what if you need to remove the return or drain pipe. It wouldn't be very easy to do with 6 inches of sand on the bottom of it.

[timdam]

that's another good point. let's say you keep your overflow CLEAR, and u put stuff in it for display-wise. wouldn't that be kinda cool?

not saying i plan on putting anything in my overflow. just curious if anyone else has thought about it or actually done it.

[75gsalt]

I think that the deep sand idea would end up in the sump.

[trb]

One idea would be to use it as a mini refugium of sorts. The flow is not a lot, but I did try it with some chaeto and had all kinds of bits of it break off and get sent to my sump. I've thought about trying it again with the chaeto in a nylon bag or something that I could use to easily contain it and pull it out when needed. Don't know how much it would help though.

[jchase1970]

i had some cheato in mine, its a center overflow, just so i could watch it grow, but it didnt grow very well.