Covering your overflow boxes?

[lchaleff]

I was telling someone today how I am finding some of my snails from my CUC in my overflow boxes every morning and they suggested I make a black abs cover/lid.

they said it would eliminate the snails going in and also prevent any algae growth as no light would get in.

Anyone do this?...

Also does it matter if snails enter the overflow box (I have durso pipes with strainers so nothing can get caught/trapped in the pipes itself)?

Thanks

[Playa-1]

I have a netting material covering the overflow box and eggcrate/light diffuser covering the whole tank and the overflow box. That keeps snail, algae sheets and anything else I can think of out of my drain pipe :)

[hanas]

You can definitely do this and will also prevent fish from jumping into the overflow box which has happened to me a couple of times.

Doesnt matter if the snails go into it, they may come back out or just continue to feed in there.

[lchaleff]

What kind of netting material are you using?

[Playa-1]

I'm using some netting material that a bunch of avacados were purchased in ;)

[trinidiver]

the eggcrate works great for mine..............

[SushiGirl]

Pantyhose.

[Palting]

I was telling someone today how I am finding some of my snails from my CUC in my overflow boxes every morning and they suggested I make a black abs cover/lid.

they said it would eliminate the snails going in and also prevent any algae growth as no light would get in.

Anyone do this?...

Also does it matter if snails enter the overflow box (I have durso pipes with strainers so nothing can get caught/trapped in the pipes itself)?

Thanks

These are two good reasons to cover the overflow box: 1) to keep snails and jumpers out, and 2) block the light so no algae can grow in there. Sometimes it can be a pain to remove snails and jumpers once they get into the overflow box. Algae in the overflow pipes inside the overflow box just looks ugly.

I took black plastic clipboards, then cut them to size and shape to perfectly cover the top of the overflow box. No algae, no snails, no jumpers.

[lchaleff]

It definitely seemed like it is a good idea...just ordered some abs black plastic from tap plastics and will make some covers then...thanks for the input...

[cordell]

I took some gutter screen from lowes (can get a forever long roll for a few bucks), cut it and shaped it with a hair dryer to slip right over my overflow box. Keeps out the snails. Those darn nerites pile up in my U-tube (yes, HOB overflow).

I like the idea of the black plastic to help keep the algae from growing in the overflow. I need to lift my screen and let my snails get in there to clean it up a bit.

If you're not using a HOB overflow, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just make sure that if the snails can go down your drain to the sump, you have your pumps in the sump covered so they can't get in the intake. Every now and then, poke around in the sump to collect any snails that took the long ride down and put them back in the DT. That doesn't help the problem of fish going down the overflow, though...

[lchaleff]

I took some gutter screen from lowes (can get a forever long roll for a few bucks), cut it and shaped it with a hair dryer to slip right over my overflow box. Keeps out the snails. Those darn nerites pile up in my U-tube (yes, HOB overflow).

I like the idea of the black plastic to help keep the algae from growing in the overflow. I need to lift my screen and let my snails get in there to clean it up a bit.

If you're not using a HOB overflow, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just make sure that if the snails can go down your drain to the sump, you have your pumps in the sump covered so they can't get in the intake. Every now and then, poke around in the sump to collect any snails that took the long ride down and put them back in the DT. That doesn't help the problem of fish going down the overflow, though...

yea but why not just cover the overflow and do it in such a way to block all light as well...seems like a no brainer to me...:hmm5:

[cordell]

I agree, that's why I mentioned I like the idea of the black plastic :D

Show us how it turns out after you get the plastic, I'm sure others would like to see it too!

[Lorenz725]

Just asking why does it matter if you have algae growing in the overflows? Also if you cover it and then fish tries to jump into the overflow do they get stuck on top? I have had had 3 of my fish go in the overflow I just pull the drain and catch them in the sump. I have thought about covering mine just have not done it yet. Thanks

[lchaleff]

I ordered 1/4" black abs plastic so it will block all light...what I will do is make a template of the overflow box (outside dimensions) and then cut the plastic to that shape/size....I am thinking that I will simply just place it on the box then...only thing that i am thinking is I wonder if snails were to climb up and onto it would it push the cover around...if thats the case what i will do is create a lip on the inside of the lid by cutting some small strips of the plastic and glue them onto the inside lid...this way it will that fits snuggly on top of the overflow box and not have an ability to slide around...


I think if fish are jumping and they end up in the overflow box then having it covered would simply be no different than them jumping and possibly landing on ones light fixture and or outside of the tank.....if a fish lands on the lid of the overflow box then probably they may slither off and fall back into the tank....frankly I dont think covering the lid creates any more or less of a hazard for jumping fish...but for sure it will keep the algae down and snails out....

[Palting]

Just asking why does it matter if you have algae growing in the overflows? Thanks

Algae can really overgrow in the overflow box, since you don't want any of your CUC or herbivore fish in there to eat it. I saw a picture of one that had so much algae it looked like a refugium. First, it looks ugly. Two, if it gets bad enough it can block flow. Three, it's a pain to clean in frequent regular basis.

[luisgo]

I covered my overflow with a plastic from a report cover. Just cut it with sissors and ready! No more fish or snails in the overflow box. The U tube is covered with one of those tubes to organize cables and that avoid algae growing inside the tube. Also have a screen net to avoid fish jumping from the tank. The net was purchased at BRS and the parts at Home Depot.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc142/luisgo/20110706-03177s.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc142/luisgo/luisgo%20album%202/20111218-10797.jpg

[Playa-1]

I prefer netting, screen or eggcrate/diffuser. The reason being that if the teeth of the overflow become partially clogged then the water can rise a bit and still will flow over into the netting and drain off. If you have a solid cover and the teeth become partially clogged then you might be getting your feet wet. I'm thinking nori