hang on overflow ?

apres · 10/24/2006, 07:32 PM

I have had my tank running for 2 years now with no major problems. It is a 55 gal with a hang on overflow. My problem is that in the last 3 months I have had an anemone and just last night my six line wrasse got sucked down the overflow into my sump. Thank goodness in both cases they survived. Is there a way to put something over the overflow to keep this from happening? Thanks for your help.

bertoni · 10/24/2006, 07:58 PM

Many overflow boxes come with a preskimmer sort of box that sits in the tank. Does yours have one? If so, I'm surprised that didn't do the job. You could consider adding one.

imtheonlylp · 10/25/2006, 08:29 AM

either that or the "eggcrate" material from Home Depot, also known as a light diffuser panel

coralnut99 · 10/25/2006, 08:46 AM

I've seen some hangons that don't have teeth cut in the box that sits inside the display. If that's the case, you may want to think about a new hang-on, or try your router skills.

Making an eggcrate cover, will take care of any fish that get close enough, but anemones that venture too close shrivel to next to nothing and can even make their way through teeth cut in the box. Don't know what type of anemone you have, but BTA's tend to find a comfortable spot and stay put.

ek9vboi · 10/25/2006, 08:52 AM

Pictures would help, it could tell us a lot about what overflow you are using and if you should get a new one or not.

2swift · 10/25/2006, 10:03 AM

Find your self some plastic gutter guard from home depot cut it to size problem solved.! My cpr came with it and I have had no problems.

2swift · 10/25/2006, 10:05 AM

Ohh yea It's about 6 bucks or so good luck!

BlueCoast · 10/25/2006, 10:21 AM

FWIW I made a DIY intank overflow box out of one of the little critter cages at the LFS. The ones that you can stick a lizard or bug in, about a liter in size at the most, cost $2. A little surgery with a high speed cutoff wheel for teeth and it works great.

kelley_mc · 10/25/2006, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 2swift
Find your self some plastic gutter guard from home depot cut it to size problem solved.! My cpr came with it and I have had no problems.

This is what I plan on using. I already have it but I have been wondering exactly how do you attach it? I have a Calfo style overflow and I am unsure how to "glue it" on there. Silicone? The overflow is glass.

2swift · 10/25/2006, 01:10 PM

Don't glue it. you will need to clean it.
Just cut out a big enough piece to fold it in a u shap then insert it into the supply side then when you need to clean it pull it, hose it and return. ? Is this over Flo similar to the cpr design?

This is a crude drawing of how mine is but if you have a u tube just add a cut to fit it in.

kelley_mc · 10/25/2006, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 2swift
Don't glue it. you will need to clean it.
Just cut out a big enough piece to fold it in a u shap then insert it into the supply side then when you need to clean it pull it, hose it and return. ? Is this over Flo similar to the cpr design?

Thanks, I will give that a try. Mine is Calfo style, my tank is drilled. apres has a hang-on.

PS. apres - sorry for the hi-jack.

However, I agree with 2swift that the gutter guard will be your best bet on your overflow too.

2swift · 10/25/2006, 01:47 PM

No wonder I could not find an over flow by that name. lol

Divetime · 10/25/2006, 01:55 PM

I had a couple of curious Chromis get sucked into the sump so first I created a lid cover out of a piece of "eggcrate" material from Home Depot to fit over the over-flow box. It looked bulky and my snails kept moving the stupid thing

What I ended up doing is cutting a piece of the eggcrate to fit inside the over-flow and I cut it so that it inner twinned with the teeth on the over-flow. Now I can remove it when needed for cleaning & nothing can get into the box except little nerite snails

2swift · 10/25/2006, 01:57 PM

That would work to.

apres · 10/25/2006, 08:00 PM

Thanks everybody. My overflow does have the pre slimmer box with the teeth, but somehow the fish and bta got through them. This is the hang on overflow that came with my maxi reef wet dry filter. I will have to try the gutter guard or the eggcrate. Hopefully that will do the trick. Thanks again for all the help.

10/24/2006, 07:32 PM	#1
apres Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: south carolina Posts: 15	hang on overflow ? I have had my tank running for 2 years now with no major problems. It is a 55 gal with a hang on overflow. My problem is that in the last 3 months I have had an anemone and just last night my six line wrasse got sucked down the overflow into my sump. Thank goodness in both cases they survived. Is there a way to put something over the overflow to keep this from happening? Thanks for your help.

10/24/2006, 07:58 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Many overflow boxes come with a preskimmer sort of box that sits in the tank. Does yours have one? If so, I'm surprised that didn't do the job. You could consider adding one. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

10/25/2006, 08:29 AM	#3
imtheonlylp Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Columbus, Ga Posts: 465	either that or the "eggcrate" material from Home Depot, also known as a light diffuser panel __________________ "Tomorrow is the only day that appeals to a lazy man" - Jimmy Lyons Current Tank Info: 75g glass, 20g sump/refugium, QueenTS200, CA2300 return pump, (2) AquaClear4000 powerheads

10/25/2006, 08:46 AM	#4
coralnut99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bushkill, PA Posts: 3,632	I've seen some hangons that don't have teeth cut in the box that sits inside the display. If that's the case, you may want to think about a new hang-on, or try your router skills. Making an eggcrate cover, will take care of any fish that get close enough, but anemones that venture too close shrivel to next to nothing and can even make their way through teeth cut in the box. Don't know what type of anemone you have, but BTA's tend to find a comfortable spot and stay put. __________________ Why can't my wife see this stuff as an investment? Current Tank Info: way too much to list, and still adding more!

10/25/2006, 10:03 AM	#6
2swift Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ruskin,FLA Posts: 876	Find your self some plastic gutter guard from home depot cut it to size problem solved.! My cpr came with it and I have had no problems. __________________ Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Current Tank Info: 150g with twin FX4 canisters-Jebao 90Wave maker-2 AQUASKY Fluval Lights-AquaMaxx TS-2 Sulfur Denitrator

10/25/2006, 08:52 AM	#5
ek9vboi Registered Member. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South FL Posts: 3,027	Pictures would help, it could tell us a lot about what overflow you are using and if you should get a new one or not.

10/25/2006, 10:05 AM	#7
2swift Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ruskin,FLA Posts: 876	Ohh yea It's about 6 bucks or so good luck! __________________ Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Current Tank Info: 150g with twin FX4 canisters-Jebao 90Wave maker-2 AQUASKY Fluval Lights-AquaMaxx TS-2 Sulfur Denitrator

10/25/2006, 10:21 AM	#8
BlueCoast Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: St. Pete (FL) Posts: 982	FWIW I made a DIY intank overflow box out of one of the little critter cages at the LFS. The ones that you can stick a lizard or bug in, about a liter in size at the most, cost $2. A little surgery with a high speed cutoff wheel for teeth and it works great.

10/25/2006, 01:10 PM	#10
2swift Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ruskin,FLA Posts: 876	Don't glue it. you will need to clean it. Just cut out a big enough piece to fold it in a u shap then insert it into the supply side then when you need to clean it pull it, hose it and return. ? Is this over Flo similar to the cpr design? This is a crude drawing of how mine is but if you have a u tube just add a cut to fit it in. __________________ Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Current Tank Info: 150g with twin FX4 canisters-Jebao 90Wave maker-2 AQUASKY Fluval Lights-AquaMaxx TS-2 Sulfur Denitrator Last edited by 2swift; 10/25/2006 at 01:34 PM.

10/25/2006, 01:47 PM	#12
2swift Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ruskin,FLA Posts: 876	No wonder I could not find an over flow by that name. lol __________________ Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Current Tank Info: 150g with twin FX4 canisters-Jebao 90Wave maker-2 AQUASKY Fluval Lights-AquaMaxx TS-2 Sulfur Denitrator

10/25/2006, 01:55 PM	#13
Divetime Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Florida Gulf Coast Posts: 179	I had a couple of curious Chromis get sucked into the sump so first I created a lid cover out of a piece of "eggcrate" material from Home Depot to fit over the over-flow box. It looked bulky and my snails kept moving the stupid thing What I ended up doing is cutting a piece of the eggcrate to fit inside the over-flow and I cut it so that it inner twinned with the teeth on the over-flow. Now I can remove it when needed for cleaning & nothing can get into the box except little nerite snails

10/25/2006, 01:57 PM	#14
2swift Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ruskin,FLA Posts: 876	That would work to. __________________ Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Current Tank Info: 150g with twin FX4 canisters-Jebao 90Wave maker-2 AQUASKY Fluval Lights-AquaMaxx TS-2 Sulfur Denitrator

10/25/2006, 08:00 PM	#15
apres Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: south carolina Posts: 15	Thanks everybody. My overflow does have the pre slimmer box with the teeth, but somehow the fish and bta got through them. This is the hang on overflow that came with my maxi reef wet dry filter. I will have to try the gutter guard or the eggcrate. Hopefully that will do the trick. Thanks again for all the help.