Overflow

adresher · 05-13-2007, 01:37 PM

In the past I have found fish and shrimp in my overflow. I have a 90g reef tank with the overflow in the center of the tank on the back wall.

QUESTION:

Could I cut a small hole....say in the middle of the overflow which would allow fish to leave the overflow if they jumped over the top and got stuck and it would allow a place for small fish or shrimp to hide if they felt threatened.

Water normally enters throught the top of the overflow and I would not want to ruin the overflow and how it works.

Woodstock · 05-13-2007, 01:45 PM

You do NOT want to cut a hole in the middle. That would ruin the way the overflow works and could flood your sump/house when the return pump turned off. Instead, attach flexible gutter gaurd to the overflow using zip ties.

adresher · 05-13-2007, 01:56 PM

There is not a pump in the overflow it is just a way for thewater to get down to my wet/dry filter underneath the tank. Not sure if I understand since there are slit openings in the middle of the overflow.

I am not saying you are wrong..I just have alot to learn and may not understand.

Frankie · 05-13-2007, 02:04 PM

Woodstock is right that you can't drill a hole lower then the teeth on an overflow. The teeth determine the water line on the aquarium. If you drill a hole in it, the water line will now be there. Do you have stand pipes in the overflow?
If you put the mesh over it as she described it will solve all your troubles and help darken the overflow. Preventing algae growth in the overflow.

adresher · 05-13-2007, 02:10 PM

Yes I do have stand-pipes in the overflow. As I said I have alot to learn..thank you

Frankie · 05-13-2007, 02:14 PM

Your doing well then when your willing to learn. I learn something new in this hobby everyday. Posting your idea's and questions is the best way to learn. I made a ton of mistakes when i first got into this hobby of reef keeping and wished i did what you are doing now. Just keep asking. It helps the wallet for sure!

adresher · 05-13-2007, 02:27 PM

Yes, I think that would have been a costly mistake

Scouter Steve · 05-13-2007, 02:44 PM

If you were to look straight down at the edge of the overflow wall you would see that it is actually two walls close together. That is done to draw some water from lower in the tank but it all goes into the back by going over the top.

05-13-2007, 01:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
adresher Midas Blenny Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 115 View Gallery Karma Komment	Overflow In the past I have found fish and shrimp in my overflow. I have a 90g reef tank with the overflow in the center of the tank on the back wall. QUESTION: Could I cut a small hole....say in the middle of the overflow which would allow fish to leave the overflow if they jumped over the top and got stuck and it would allow a place for small fish or shrimp to hide if they felt threatened. Water normally enters throught the top of the overflow and I would not want to ruin the overflow and how it works.

05-13-2007, 01:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,586 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Overflow You do NOT want to cut a hole in the middle. That would ruin the way the overflow works and could flood your sump/house when the return pump turned off. Instead, attach flexible gutter gaurd to the overflow using zip ties. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

05-13-2007, 01:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
adresher Midas Blenny Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 115 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Overflow There is not a pump in the overflow it is just a way for thewater to get down to my wet/dry filter underneath the tank. Not sure if I understand since there are slit openings in the middle of the overflow. I am not saying you are wrong..I just have alot to learn and may not understand.

05-13-2007, 02:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 8,470 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Overflow Woodstock is right that you can't drill a hole lower then the teeth on an overflow. The teeth determine the water line on the aquarium. If you drill a hole in it, the water line will now be there. Do you have stand pipes in the overflow? If you put the mesh over it as she described it will solve all your troubles and help darken the overflow. Preventing algae growth in the overflow. __________________ If we ignore the environment maybe it will just go away....

05-13-2007, 02:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
adresher Midas Blenny Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 115 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Overflow Yes I do have stand-pipes in the overflow. As I said I have alot to learn..thank you

05-13-2007, 02:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 8,470 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Overflow Your doing well then when your willing to learn. I learn something new in this hobby everyday. Posting your idea's and questions is the best way to learn. I made a ton of mistakes when i first got into this hobby of reef keeping and wished i did what you are doing now. Just keep asking. It helps the wallet for sure! __________________ If we ignore the environment maybe it will just go away....

05-13-2007, 02:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
adresher Midas Blenny Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 115 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Overflow Yes, I think that would have been a costly mistake

05-13-2007, 02:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
Scouter Steve Neon dottyback Join Date: May 2006 Location: Somers Wisconsin (Kenosha County) Posts: 683 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Overflow If you were to look straight down at the edge of the overflow wall you would see that it is actually two walls close together. That is done to draw some water from lower in the tank but it all goes into the back by going over the top.

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