growth in overflow skimmer

llama72 · 09/01/2007, 07:24 AM

Today when I went to feed my fish, i noticed some greenish/brown growth in the overflow skimmer. What should I do? (Put some snails n it?) I will post a photo later.

lvreefer · 09/01/2007, 07:25 AM

Built in algae scrubber

llama72 · 09/02/2007, 07:44 AM

???

llama72 · 09/02/2007, 07:51 AM

[IMG]

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amike5 · 09/02/2007, 08:47 AM

Use a credit card and scape it. It will always grow there unless you cover the top to prevent light from entering your overflow.

llama72 · 09/02/2007, 08:49 AM

what is it?

Wrench · 09/02/2007, 09:07 AM

Could be anything. I let the stuff in my overflow box grow. Every now and then something neat shows up. I've got a ton of pods in there, feather caulerpa and a few sponges. Pretty neat, alsmost like a tiny fuge.

michaeldaly · 09/02/2007, 09:39 AM

I'd just leave it as is, looks more natural.

turnburn · 09/02/2007, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by michaeldaly
I'd just leave it as is, looks more natural.

I agree. I used to clean mine regularly. Now I just leave it alone.

catfisher · 09/02/2007, 12:04 PM

I take a toothbrush to mine every few weeks. I wouldn't worry about the coraline algae.

D.Blaine · 09/02/2007, 01:49 PM

I have to scrub out my overflow on a weekly basis other wise the water level in my tank gets to high I use a razer blade and a tooth brush on the inside of the overflow only. Let the coraline grow on the ouside makes the box blend in with the rest of the tank IMO

K' Family Reef · 09/02/2007, 02:09 PM

if you can see into the overflow
by looking in the side (like mine i have a corner overflow and back is not painted)...

then you might take a flashlite at nite after the tank has been sitting in complete darkness for couple hours...

shine the light into the overflow area
and you might notice the entire area gleeming w/ pods and critters moving around in there... i currently have a ton of eggs of some sort attached to the inside of the overflow area... perhaps mysis eggs i dont know but they are attached to the sides and pipes in the overflow area... literally covering the walls and pipes...

point being that
its a safe haven or refuge from the main predators in the tank and eventually whatever grows in there will make its way back up into your main display as food for the fish and corals!...

imo leave it alone and let nature take its course!

good luck!

09/01/2007, 07:24 AM	#1
llama72 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: hokes bluff, al Posts: 511	growth in overflow skimmer Today when I went to feed my fish, i noticed some greenish/brown growth in the overflow skimmer. What should I do? (Put some snails n it?) I will post a photo later.

09/02/2007, 07:51 AM	#4
llama72 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: hokes bluff, al Posts: 511	[IMG][/IMG]

09/02/2007, 12:04 PM	#10
catfisher Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 527	I take a toothbrush to mine every few weeks. I wouldn't worry about the coraline algae. __________________ Current Tank- 90 Gallon mixed reef, 20 Gallon Sump. Evergrow WiFi Black boxes, JBJ ATO, TLF Reactor w/GFO, Reef Octopus NWB110 Skimmer. Coral- Red Lobo, Orange Blast Acan, Frogspawn, Hammer, War, Ac

09/02/2007, 01:49 PM	#11
D.Blaine Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Jacksonville NC Posts: 104	I have to scrub out my overflow on a weekly basis other wise the water level in my tank gets to high I use a razer blade and a tooth brush on the inside of the overflow only. Let the coraline grow on the ouside makes the box blend in with the rest of the tank IMO __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 75g RR Oceanic, Sump with Cheato, Euro Reef ES5-3 Skimmer, 250w x 2 Icecap, 14k Hamiltons,55w x 2 T-5 Actinics,Flow: Koralia #3 x2, Tunze 6025 x 2, Mag 5 return

09/01/2007, 07:25 AM	#2
lvreefer Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sin City Posts: 1,163	Built in algae scrubber

09/02/2007, 07:44 AM	#3
llama72 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: hokes bluff, al Posts: 511	???

09/02/2007, 08:47 AM	#5
amike5 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Englewood, CO Posts: 724	Use a credit card and scape it. It will always grow there unless you cover the top to prevent light from entering your overflow.

09/02/2007, 08:49 AM	#6
llama72 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: hokes bluff, al Posts: 511	what is it?

09/02/2007, 09:07 AM	#7
Wrench Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,004	Could be anything. I let the stuff in my overflow box grow. Every now and then something neat shows up. I've got a ton of pods in there, feather caulerpa and a few sponges. Pretty neat, alsmost like a tiny fuge.

09/02/2007, 09:39 AM	#8
michaeldaly Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 2,009	I'd just leave it as is, looks more natural.

09/02/2007, 02:09 PM	#12
K' Family Reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,966	if you can see into the overflow by looking in the side (like mine i have a corner overflow and back is not painted)... then you might take a flashlite at nite after the tank has been sitting in complete darkness for couple hours... shine the light into the overflow area and you might notice the entire area gleeming w/ pods and critters moving around in there... i currently have a ton of eggs of some sort attached to the inside of the overflow area... perhaps mysis eggs i dont know but they are attached to the sides and pipes in the overflow area... literally covering the walls and pipes... point being that its a safe haven or refuge from the main predators in the tank and eventually whatever grows in there will make its way back up into your main display as food for the fish and corals!... imo leave it alone and let nature take its course! good luck!