lastlight's 225

Delphinus · #1 10-22-2009, 04:33 PM

I use gutter guard over the eggcrate on my overflows to keep small fish out of the overflows. Bigger fish it's not a worry. I find my FW tank some fish at first are small enough to still fit through, but it's better than nothing.

Problem with adding stuff water flows through (eggcrate, gutter guard or anything for that matter) is that it becomes a place algae can grow where grazers can't get at it. In my 110g cube I have to pour boiling water over the overflow eggcrate once every 2-3 months or so just to keep them clear.

Parker has a good point, something I sort of learned the hard way with my first eel - sometimes it's better to let them get into the overflow instead of somewhere else. I had had my eel tank locked down so that there was no way he could get into the overflow - so instead he ended up getting out of the tank some other way. Had he just gone into the overflow or sump, it would have been .. possibly less fatal for him.

So there could be something to the idea of just putting strainers on the pipes and "just deal with it" when a fish inevitably finds his way in there. FWIW, that is my plan for my 280g - just eggcrate for the overflow, and strainers for the standpipes, and a net nearby.

lastlight · #2 10-22-2009, 04:37 PM

Here's the only decent shot of the overflow cutout. It's all glass so no drilling.

I'm really liking that idea. My water goes over so smoothly and quietly that I'd hate to disturb that. I think I'll screen the pipes somehow good call guys.

Anyone know if a bulkhead strainer could fit over 1.5" or do I need to prime and glue it?

Delphinus · #3 10-22-2009, 04:44 PM

You can get strainers for 1.5" for sure. The ones I have (got them from BRS, great supply of that sort of thing there) are threaded. Slip would be nicer just so it's easier to get off to clean once in a while. (Don't glue the strainer on.) With threaded sometimes it gets kind of hard to turn to get off.

lastlight · #4 10-22-2009, 05:40 PM

Strange I couldn't find them to purchase on their site. I had looked when I originally got my plumbing from them. My pipes are sch 80 so I hope they'll still slip inside. If not I'll have to rig something but it's way easier than fishing line hehe.

Delphinus · #5 10-22-2009, 05:58 PM

Hmmm yeah now I can't find them either. Maybe I didn't get them there after all. J&L has them for sure: http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/s...t_ID=pl-bhst15

Surely Red Coral has them as well, since they're usually pretty good with obscure plumbing bits like that.

lastlight · #6 10-22-2009, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Surely Red Coral has them as well

Yeah but chances are I'd run into Doug and he always gets so braggy about his tank. If I get desperate perhaps I'll try that thanks Tony.

mseepman · #7 10-23-2009, 12:02 AM

You could think about adding one of these to your overflow.

http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/am...flow+Comb.html

Not sure of the details on them but at such a cheap price, you might be able to DIY something with one that will work for you.

fishytime · #8 10-30-2009, 11:02 PM

I would offer you a solution, but Im to busy bragging about my tank

Delphinus · #9 10-30-2009, 11:39 PM

Doug your keyboard is broken! It missed an apostrophe and an o there.

lastlight · #10 10-30-2009, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishytime

I would offer you a solution, but Im to busy bragging about my tank

Dammit Doug Tony and I are coming down there and tattooing the differences betwen 'to' and 'too' onto your forehead! Wait tho...then you couldn't read it? Maybe we'll just wrestle?

And you finally found that comment? Hahah. Jokes BYE!