Overflow help

[Fdnavy]

I have 2 stockman standpipes in my overflow. I would like to cover the overflow box to keep critters and algae out. How tall should the standpipes be? Right now they stick up a little and I can't properly cover the overflow box. Safe to trim the standpipes down? I don't want the. Too low that my sump floods should my return pump fail. See pictures below. You'll see how the cover sits in the second picture.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Fishy/i-h7bNdG4/0/XL/IMG_2002-XL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Fishy/i-ZVbqk3b/0/XL/IMG_2003-XL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Fishy/i-HMXRP2b/0/L/IMG_2004-L.jpg

[Julius Chen]

Not sure what stockman pipes are. I use beanimal 3 pipes. And I am only 6 mobths into reefing.

If u take a photo showing inside the box that will be helpful. Each of ur pipes should have opening down there for water to enter?

I think you can cut the pipe slightly lower with no ill effect. Should your pump fail, water in display tank always goes down to the bottom of those vertical slots. And water in the overflow box will go down to the lower opening of the two pipes which does not change if u cut the top of the pipes.

By the way, is the pipe to the right your main drain and the left one your backup drain? If so, i think the clear tubing on top of left pipe is meant to bend and go down into the overflow box just above water level. From what I read, in beananimal setup at least, its open end becomes submerged under water in case of blockage at main drain, and that helps quickly establish siphone in backup drain.

[JUNBUG361]

You could cut both pipes till the cover fits. If your return pump fails the DT water will level with the overflow box screen/strainer. The overflow box water will drain to the height of the pipes. If your return pipe(s) are set way below Your water level in your DT, the return pump will be in full siphon. Make sure return pipe (s) are slightly below near level the DT water level.

[Fdnavy]

Thanks I trimmed both about a half inch. The tubing coming out of the top acts as a silencer. This system doesn't have a backup. Two identical standpipes draining I got into the sump.