Do you clean your overflows?

sedor · 08/16/2009, 09:53 PM

Just took a peak in my overflow and from what I can see its nasty! Thank god the algae in there doesn't show up in the DT. So that leads to my question about cleaning your overflows. I can't figure out how I would go about getting down in there and cleaning everything out.

MADtanks · 08/16/2009, 09:59 PM

Only thing i do is syphon the ditritus out when do a water change

the algae dont care much about unless its blocking flow....

scapes · 08/17/2009, 07:21 AM

i haven't figured this one out either. i have aptasia growing down there that's driving me insane, but can't reach the stupid stuff

sikpupy · 08/17/2009, 11:11 AM

I have a semi coast to coast so I have no choice, lol.

Maybe a bottle brush with some kind of home made extention?

seapug · 08/17/2009, 11:39 AM

Finally....a reason why my lame old HOB U-Tube overflow is better!

A couple times/year I take the whole thing off and soak it in hot tap water for a few minutes then rinse it out. Good as new.

jayk198030 · 08/17/2009, 12:07 PM

i suck out the crap on the bottom. than i use bottle brushes, long pieces of plastic (square and round stock) i glue, rubber band, or zip-tie razor scrappers to pieces of plastic and try to scrape what i can. Also you can use a toilet bowl brush. scrub up and down, spin it. whatever works.

as far as the HOB overflow as better.. i dont think so. but may have the advantage of good cleaning.

sedor · 08/17/2009, 12:11 PM

Other good thing about an HOB overflow is the real estate you save in the tank. The ease of use and reliability of a drilled tank far outweighs having an HOB though.

IridescentLily · 08/17/2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by seapug
Finally....a reason why my lame old HOB U-Tube overflow is better!

A couple times/year I take the whole thing off and soak it in hot tap water for a few minutes then rinse it out. Good as new.

Since you were awarded Tank of the Month here for the past few months, i suspect you know whereof you speak on the U-tube siphon.

cloak · 08/17/2009, 12:32 PM

I went almost nine years without ever cleaning my HOB overflow. There was all kinds of life in it when I had to take down the tank. As long as the U-tube was flowing at maximum capacity, I never had any problems.

Beaun · 08/17/2009, 12:39 PM

I put some local hermits in the overflow, after about a day it was really clean.

m3fan8ic · 08/17/2009, 02:14 PM

I've never done it and it's been year for me.. maybe I should..

sedor · 08/17/2009, 02:18 PM

If you haven't looked down there yet, I think you'd be surprised at what a tank with no CUC and personal slave cleaning its glass would look like. I was a little worried about mine because I hadn't really gotten a good look down in there before and when I saw it I was somewhat concerned about plugging an overflow some day.

08/16/2009, 09:53 PM	#1
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	Do you clean your overflows? Just took a peak in my overflow and from what I can see its nasty! Thank god the algae in there doesn't show up in the DT. So that leads to my question about cleaning your overflows. I can't figure out how I would go about getting down in there and cleaning everything out. __________________ Ryan

08/16/2009, 09:59 PM	#2
MADtanks Stix Anyone? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: East Coast Posts: 5,392	Only thing i do is syphon the ditritus out when do a water change the algae dont care much about unless its blocking flow.... __________________ M.A.D. 75G(36X24X20 E-Overflow) \| DIY - LED/T5 \| Tunze ATO \| Eheim 1260 \| Reef Keeper.... in progress Current Tank Info: 24X24X20 AIO SPS Dom

08/17/2009, 11:39 AM	#5
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Finally....a reason why my lame old HOB U-Tube overflow is better! A couple times/year I take the whole thing off and soak it in hot tap water for a few minutes then rinse it out. Good as new. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

08/17/2009, 12:07 PM	#6
jayk198030 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tag, your it! Posts: 783	i suck out the crap on the bottom. than i use bottle brushes, long pieces of plastic (square and round stock) i glue, rubber band, or zip-tie razor scrappers to pieces of plastic and try to scrape what i can. Also you can use a toilet bowl brush. scrub up and down, spin it. whatever works. as far as the HOB overflow as better.. i dont think so. but may have the advantage of good cleaning. __________________ I feel like 1.025 and i look like skimmate. I eat crap and throw up! What am I? Current Tank Info: I need help!!

08/17/2009, 12:11 PM	#7
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	Other good thing about an HOB overflow is the real estate you save in the tank. The ease of use and reliability of a drilled tank far outweighs having an HOB though. __________________ Ryan

08/17/2009, 07:21 AM	#3
scapes Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Millbrook, AL Posts: 2,520	i haven't figured this one out either. i have aptasia growing down there that's driving me insane, but can't reach the stupid stuff

08/17/2009, 11:11 AM	#4
sikpupy Moved On Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,431	I have a semi coast to coast so I have no choice, lol. Maybe a bottle brush with some kind of home made extention?

08/17/2009, 12:32 PM	#9
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I went almost nine years without ever cleaning my HOB overflow. There was all kinds of life in it when I had to take down the tank. As long as the U-tube was flowing at maximum capacity, I never had any problems.

08/17/2009, 12:39 PM	#10
Beaun It's pronounced Bone Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Hampton, NY Posts: 1,967	I put some local hermits in the overflow, after about a day it was really clean. __________________ -Tyler "The only legitimate use of a computer is to play games." -Eugene Jarvis Current Tank Info: None

08/17/2009, 02:14 PM	#11
m3fan8ic Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: N.VA Posts: 52	I've never done it and it's been year for me.. maybe I should..

08/17/2009, 02:18 PM	#12
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	If you haven't looked down there yet, I think you'd be surprised at what a tank with no CUC and personal slave cleaning its glass would look like. I was a little worried about mine because I hadn't really gotten a good look down in there before and when I saw it I was somewhat concerned about plugging an overflow some day. __________________ Ryan