removing overflow teeth

JKDMan · 03/01/2008, 03:25 PM

i have a aga tank and the teeth(slots) in the top of the overflows are allways gettin clogged up with hair alge , my friend cut his out of the overflow, he said hes happy with it.
anyone done this ,are u happy with it...did it effect the noise the overflow makes, was draining improved a lot.

thx

TKByrnes · 03/01/2008, 03:29 PM

I think you should try to find the cause of the hair algae first. I dont really see what it would hurt to cut them out. Only thing I could think is that snails could get in the overflow.

JKDMan · 03/01/2008, 03:32 PM

ya im working on figuring out why the hair and brown alge is popping up

slant77 · 03/01/2008, 04:27 PM

I only would be worried about fish. Then snails just go over the top anyway.

Agu · 03/01/2008, 05:03 PM

The algae grows there because that's where you have light and nutrients. Removing the teeth from the overflow only addresses the symptoms, algae will just grow somewhere else.

Think of removing the algae growth as a way to export those nutrients. At least it makes cleaning the overflow less painful

.

JKDMan · 03/01/2008, 05:23 PM

well the problem is that the teeth get clogd affecting the flow thru the drains thats y i considred cutting them out. the alge is a isuue unto its self. i know what your saying tho ..get rid of the alge and get rid of the problem ,but even when i had no alge probs ,there was still some in the overflow teeth

Blown 346 · 03/01/2008, 05:27 PM

I have this problem as well, just like said above, the light is right there as well as high nutrients. I just clean mine out once every two weeks or so. There is really no getting around it.

aquaman67 · 03/01/2008, 05:29 PM

You could just use a drill it and make some larger holes where the water line is. Maybe 1/2 or so. That way you still have some type of fish guard and it shouldn't clog as much.

If it doesn't work you can always go all the way and take the teeth out later...

Whisperer · 03/01/2008, 05:32 PM

Have the same problem, never thought about removing the teeth of the overflow. I just use a hard bristle toothbrush every couple of weeks, the sock down below catches all the algae.

flyyyguy · 03/01/2008, 05:52 PM

a toothless overflow actually skims the surface better than the teeth anyway. More linear overflow surface area resulting in a thinner and there fore dirtier layer of water to be sent to the skimmer.

to fix the snail/critter issue just add a piece of acrylic above it horizontally so you are left with one long horizontal "tooth: the same width as the many vertical teeth you had before. if this is still an issue with any of yoru critters you can add eggcrate right behind it This doenst address your nutrient issue that is cauing your algae in the first place, but every little thing we do to allow our skimmers to get more crap out helps and indirectly will helpo that issue as well. but the teeth surely arent the cause but i think you alredy know that

James77 · 03/01/2008, 05:56 PM

I snipped out the teeth in mine and glad I did. Surface skimming is far better, as is drainage. I cut all the teeth except for the last one on each side and one in the middle. I use these to fasten gutter guard to to keep snails out. Noise did not change much, if at all.

flyyyguy · 03/01/2008, 06:00 PM

if you have any issues with noise, round the back edge off and it will eliminate them

Blown 346 · 03/01/2008, 08:37 PM

Yuu will still get algae growing on the lip of the overflow regardless of having teeth or not.

03/01/2008, 03:25 PM	#1
JKDMan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 187	removing overflow teeth i have a aga tank and the teeth(slots) in the top of the overflows are allways gettin clogged up with hair alge , my friend cut his out of the overflow, he said hes happy with it. anyone done this ,are u happy with it...did it effect the noise the overflow makes, was draining improved a lot. thx

03/01/2008, 03:29 PM	#2
TKByrnes Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fairfield, PA Posts: 1,331	I think you should try to find the cause of the hair algae first. I dont really see what it would hurt to cut them out. Only thing I could think is that snails could get in the overflow. __________________ Baby it was on sale half price I PROMISE!!!! Current Tank Info: 90 gal mixed reef-55 gal sump-mag 9.5 return pump-10 gal frag tank 15 gal refugium. 2x 150 watt HQI outer orbit 4x pc actinic

03/01/2008, 05:03 PM	#5
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	The algae grows there because that's where you have light and nutrients. Removing the teeth from the overflow only addresses the symptoms, algae will just grow somewhere else. Think of removing the algae growth as a way to export those nutrients. At least it makes cleaning the overflow less painful . __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

03/01/2008, 05:32 PM	#9
Whisperer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Gorda, FL Posts: 4,020	Have the same problem, never thought about removing the teeth of the overflow. I just use a hard bristle toothbrush every couple of weeks, the sock down below catches all the algae. __________________ The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. --------- No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one. Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 30G sump, 10G QT tank

03/01/2008, 05:52 PM	#10
flyyyguy King of the white corals Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,239	a toothless overflow actually skims the surface better than the teeth anyway. More linear overflow surface area resulting in a thinner and there fore dirtier layer of water to be sent to the skimmer. to fix the snail/critter issue just add a piece of acrylic above it horizontally so you are left with one long horizontal "tooth: the same width as the many vertical teeth you had before. if this is still an issue with any of yoru critters you can add eggcrate right behind it This doenst address your nutrient issue that is cauing your algae in the first place, but every little thing we do to allow our skimmers to get more crap out helps and indirectly will helpo that issue as well. but the teeth surely arent the cause but i think you alredy know that __________________ I like holding hands, snuggling, and long walks on the beach

03/01/2008, 03:32 PM	#3
JKDMan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 187	ya im working on figuring out why the hair and brown alge is popping up

03/01/2008, 04:27 PM	#4
slant77 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 611	I only would be worried about fish. Then snails just go over the top anyway.

03/01/2008, 05:23 PM	#6
JKDMan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 187	well the problem is that the teeth get clogd affecting the flow thru the drains thats y i considred cutting them out. the alge is a isuue unto its self. i know what your saying tho ..get rid of the alge and get rid of the problem ,but even when i had no alge probs ,there was still some in the overflow teeth

03/01/2008, 05:27 PM	#7
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	I have this problem as well, just like said above, the light is right there as well as high nutrients. I just clean mine out once every two weeks or so. There is really no getting around it.

03/01/2008, 05:29 PM	#8
aquaman67 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 7,629	You could just use a drill it and make some larger holes where the water line is. Maybe 1/2 or so. That way you still have some type of fish guard and it shouldn't clog as much. If it doesn't work you can always go all the way and take the teeth out later...

03/01/2008, 05:56 PM	#11
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	I snipped out the teeth in mine and glad I did. Surface skimming is far better, as is drainage. I cut all the teeth except for the last one on each side and one in the middle. I use these to fasten gutter guard to to keep snails out. Noise did not change much, if at all. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

03/01/2008, 06:00 PM	#12
flyyyguy King of the white corals Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,239	if you have any issues with noise, round the back edge off and it will eliminate them __________________ I like holding hands, snuggling, and long walks on the beach

03/01/2008, 08:37 PM	#13
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	Yuu will still get algae growing on the lip of the overflow regardless of having teeth or not.