Overflow as fuge

evilelvis · 02/11/2007, 11:44 AM

I have a big area in the overflow, plenty of room to stuff all the big balls of chaeto I have now and mount a light. I am going to experiment and see how well that acts as a simple chaeto "as filter floss"/fuge without sand. Anyone else try it again? I am sure this is old news and my tank will explode if I try it.

sprayin70 · 02/11/2007, 11:50 AM

I have no idea but I think it is a great question!

Trilithon3 · 02/11/2007, 11:50 AM

Just wear a helmet and goggles and you'll be fine!

cmomo0128 · 02/11/2007, 01:28 PM

This will work as long as the chaeto doesnt clog the drain. I prefer to have nothing growing in the overflow because I dont want to risk a flood.

helloreef · 02/11/2007, 01:59 PM

sounds like a good idea if you could find some way to prevent flood.

helloreef

alan214 · 02/11/2007, 02:02 PM

I totally agree with cmomo0128. You don't want Chaeto in your overflow!

helloreef · 02/11/2007, 02:17 PM

on second thought, I say dont do it. there really is no way to prevent clogging.

helloreef123

starmanres · 02/11/2007, 02:43 PM

I agree that ANYTHING in the overflow is a risk of many gallons of saltwater on the floor. And the law according to Murphy ensures that it will happen when you are away from the house for at least 7.3 hours...

Robert

Saddler · 02/11/2007, 02:50 PM

I'm plumbing my 110 ocean-vu acrylic. The return side of the overflow is drilled direct into the bottom. The current bulkhead there is smooth w/ no threading. There are a few slots that are cut between the return and the tank which stop about 4" off the bottom. Then there are 2 holes near the top. I'm assuming that I need to plumb the bulkhead of the return up to split the return through the 2 holes at the top, but I'm not sure how. Do I need to use PVC, or can I plumb this with 3/4" tubing? Also, are these slots at the bottom of the return chamber usual? I'm thinking that if I have the return plumbed to just below the waterline, then I could fill the rest of the return area with a very deep sand bed and use the whole thing as a mini-refugium with the slots allowing the pods to crawl between the fuge area and the main tank's sand bed. If my T5s give it enough light I guess I could also grow some macro in there.

RedEyeElf · 02/11/2007, 02:58 PM

my wrasse swims through the slots on my over flows

good and bad, he eats pods, but mainly just the flat worms that live in my overflow/fuge

benray4fun · 02/11/2007, 03:18 PM

i have a fuge in my over flow with some live rock and sand, it works good. No cheato though, or any macro, bad idea, it's just too small..."but every bit helps...lol"

02/11/2007, 11:44 AM	#1
evilelvis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Frederick, MD Posts: 71	Overflow as fuge I have a big area in the overflow, plenty of room to stuff all the big balls of chaeto I have now and mount a light. I am going to experiment and see how well that acts as a simple chaeto "as filter floss"/fuge without sand. Anyone else try it again? I am sure this is old news and my tank will explode if I try it. __________________ 40g cube reef

02/11/2007, 02:02 PM	#6
alan214 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Colony, TX Posts: 1,258	I totally agree with cmomo0128. You don't want Chaeto in your overflow! __________________ I live really close to the airport. The other day I was walking across the living room and the stewardess told me to take my seat. Current Tank Info: 73G FOWLR

02/11/2007, 02:43 PM	#8
starmanres Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Posts: 587	I agree that ANYTHING in the overflow is a risk of many gallons of saltwater on the floor. And the law according to Murphy ensures that it will happen when you are away from the house for at least 7.3 hours... Robert __________________ "I know funny... I'm a clownfish!" Current Tank Info: 120 g RR Acrylic tank

02/11/2007, 11:50 AM	#2
sprayin70 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: GA Posts: 49	I have no idea but I think it is a great question!

02/11/2007, 11:50 AM	#3
Trilithon3 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Around Here Somewhere Posts: 104	Just wear a helmet and goggles and you'll be fine!

02/11/2007, 01:28 PM	#4
cmomo0128 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Odessa, TX. Posts: 107	This will work as long as the chaeto doesnt clog the drain. I prefer to have nothing growing in the overflow because I dont want to risk a flood.

02/11/2007, 01:59 PM	#5
helloreef Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ft. Worth Tx. Posts: 51	sounds like a good idea if you could find some way to prevent flood. helloreef

02/11/2007, 02:17 PM	#7
helloreef Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ft. Worth Tx. Posts: 51	on second thought, I say dont do it. there really is no way to prevent clogging. helloreef123

02/11/2007, 02:50 PM	#9
Saddler Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 776	I'm plumbing my 110 ocean-vu acrylic. The return side of the overflow is drilled direct into the bottom. The current bulkhead there is smooth w/ no threading. There are a few slots that are cut between the return and the tank which stop about 4" off the bottom. Then there are 2 holes near the top. I'm assuming that I need to plumb the bulkhead of the return up to split the return through the 2 holes at the top, but I'm not sure how. Do I need to use PVC, or can I plumb this with 3/4" tubing? Also, are these slots at the bottom of the return chamber usual? I'm thinking that if I have the return plumbed to just below the waterline, then I could fill the rest of the return area with a very deep sand bed and use the whole thing as a mini-refugium with the slots allowing the pods to crawl between the fuge area and the main tank's sand bed. If my T5s give it enough light I guess I could also grow some macro in there.

02/11/2007, 02:58 PM	#10
RedEyeElf Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 462	my wrasse swims through the slots on my over flows good and bad, he eats pods, but mainly just the flat worms that live in my overflow/fuge

02/11/2007, 03:18 PM	#11
benray4fun Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hartford, CONNECTICUT Posts: 1,147	i have a fuge in my over flow with some live rock and sand, it works good. No cheato though, or any macro, bad idea, it's just too small..."but every bit helps...lol"