Do you use strainer in siphon pipes?

[BlackTip]

Do you guys use strainer on your siphon pipes?
I bought some, but I didn't install them. I am thinking if a critter gets into the overflow box, it would be almost impossible for me to get it out. I'd prefer it travels to the sump. What do you think?

[RocketEngineer]

I had a snail shell get into my siphon pipe and get stuck at the first turn. It was a pain to get it back out. Since then I've had a wire tire threaded across the opening in the elbow. It goes through two holes in the edge of the elbow and loops back on itself. The wire tie makes sure anything big enough to get stuck in the pipe stays in the box.

[dbl]

I use strainers...don't want to deal with a creature clog. Probably not needed, but I use one on my submerged return pump as well.

[ca1ore]

ALWAYS use strainers on all drains, whether siphon or open channel. Easy enough to remove if you need to flush a fish.

[tidus10]

ALWAYS use strainers on all drains, whether siphon or open channel. Easy enough to remove if you need to flush a fish.

what is a strainer made of?

[sleepydoc]

You can buy strainers. I've seen them at Menards, BRS, & other plumbing supply places. Or you can make them like Rocket engineer. Heck, you can get a piece of nylon netting and tie it over the end.

I placed the elbows for my Bean overflow so they were ~¾" above the bottom of the overflow box. anything small enough to get under them is small enough not to clog the pipe.

[Hitch08]

what is a strainer made of?

This is what I bought: http://www.marinedepot.com/Overflow_Strainer_MPT_MPT_Fitting_Strainers-Plumbing_Parts-FT8533-FIFTSTMP-vi.html

Here's a better picture: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/711-Zt5%2BtlL._SX522_.jpg

[tidus10]

Aaaaaah that makes more sense. I wouldn't have the room to use that.

[Waters40]

I agree...always use strainers in your overflows. I purchased mine from my LFS.

[dbl]

Aaaaaah that makes more sense. I wouldn't have the room to use that.

If you don't have room for that version, and you don't want to make one, this one is a low profile version.

http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag422/dblageman/Misc%20Postings/Strainer_zpskxxfupqq.jpg (http://s1374.photobucket.com/user/dblageman/media/Misc%20Postings/Strainer_zpskxxfupqq.jpg.html)

[BlackTip]

My point is, if I have a strainer installed, the critter will be trapped in the overflow box. It is an internal overflow box. It will be almost impossible for me to rescued from there. If I don't have a strainer in the other hand, the critter may travel through the pipes to the sump.

It is the location of the tank and the overflow box that makes it impossible for me to reach anything in the bottom of it. Catching a fish for example will be impossible.

I created an egg crate cover for the overflow box, but it is far from tight.

[ca1ore]

My point is, if I have a strainer installed, the critter will be trapped in the overflow box. It is an internal overflow box. It will be almost impossible for me to rescued from there. If I don't have a strainer in the other hand, the critter may travel through the pipes to the sump.

Not a problem, just don't glue the strainer - that way you can remove it as you need to. Would a fish would necessarily pass through the gate valve anyhow.

[Gorgok]

I have a 'strainer' of sorts in my external overflow box. Its not tight enough to stop anything that would pass through the gate valve (small snails), but good enough for the big stuff. It sits around all the bulkheads/elbows of all 3 drains, coming out of the water a good inch or two, so one would have to be pretty determined to go over it...

Its also far enough away from the drains that the water passing it is basically standing still, instead of like on a strainer rushing past and sucking things against it.

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww332/Ojomrog/eggcratebox.gif