Algae in overflow teeth

[stingythingy45]

And blocking just behind them.
So what's the secret to keeping this stuff from growing in there?
Is it as simple as covering it with black acrylic?I've had the water rise a few times in the tank so that it was almost overflowing the wall.Had to use a butter knife to free up the overflow teeth.The water level behind the wall stays low.It's just the flow through the teeth that seems to get obstructed.

 

[gobie1313]

I use a triangular piece of acrylic to block out the light, that works for me.

 

[sciknen]

I just use my scraper.. scrape the front and back of the overflow and it clears it right up.

 

[stingythingy45]

I use a triangular piece of acrylic to block out the light, that works for me.

I'm just a little worried about black acrylic under the 250 watt halide pendent.
It's only like 12 inches above the overflow.

I just use my scraper.. scrape the front and back of the overflow and it clears it right up.

Tried that.It's like down between the double overflow wall.I think it's mostly the stuff that grows on top.But it's really stuck on there.

 

[gobie1313]

I have 175 watt 10k lighting, gets warm but not enough to melt the acrylic.
I used to triangular piece of thick cardboard, wrapped in foil. It's not as durable as the acrylic, but it works too.

 

[stingythingy45]

I'll probably make something to block the light.Here's an old picture of where it builds up.

 

[gobie1313]

I have corner over flows without any plumbing coming out. Looks like you need to be a little creative.

 

[stingythingy45]

I have corner over flows without any plumbing coming out. Looks like you need to be a little creative.

Yeah,it's the rear Aqualon overflow for a 90 gallon AGA with the Mega-Flo in there.It has a double wall to draw water from the bottom of the tank as well.
I found a piece of opaque green heat resistant that we use for electrical/heat insulation in our shop.I sawed our a square to try over the top tonight.

 

[stingythingy45]

I think this stuff might have fiberglass in it.
I suppose if there's no dust it should be fine to use.
I guess they call it fenalic(spelling??).

 

[mchartier]

I made black acrylic for mine and have not had any issues and I run the same lights as you. Had it on there for about 4 months now.

 

[JohnK]

This is one of several reasons I hate those double walled overflows....

What's the worry about black acrylic sitting over the box? It would get warm and swell up a bit, but IMO that wouldn't affect anything.

 

[Jennifer]

I think the best thing to do is the acrylic or Phenolic cover.

also I wonder if you could use something like this to clean out inside the walls of the overflow.
http://www.marinedepot.com/Hagen_Fl...er_Pumps_Filters-Hagen-HG10682-FIMTMB-vi.html

 

[stingythingy45]

I made black acrylic for mine and have not had any issues and I run the same lights as you. Had it on there for about 4 months now.

I didn't really have issue until I switched to MH over the last year.

This is one of several reasons I hate those double walled overflows....

What's the worry about black acrylic sitting over the box? It would get warm and swell up a bit, but IMO that wouldn't affect anything.

I just happened to have some opaque green phenolic in the shop,and it's free.

I think the best thing to do is the acrylic or Phenolic cover.

also I wonder if you could use something like this to clean out inside the walls of the overflow.
http://www.marinedepot.com/Hagen_Fl...er_Pumps_Filters-Hagen-HG10682-FIMTMB-vi.html

That double overflow wall is like 18 inches deep.
I think that brush might work near the top.

 

[Jennifer]

I thought it looked long enough, oh well.

Try this one :http://www.marinedepot.com/Eheim_Fl..._Pumps_Filters-Eheim-EH4005570-FIMTMB-vi.html

63" should be long enough.

 

[stingythingy45]

I thought it looked long enough, oh well.

Try this one :http://www.marinedepot.com/Eheim_Fl..._Pumps_Filters-Eheim-EH4005570-FIMTMB-vi.html

63" should be long enough.

Whoa!

What's next Roto-Rooter?

 

[Jennifer]

Whoa!

What's next Roto-Rooter?

Hehe right

[youtube]XfDe2_Tw_ug[/youtube]

 

[coralcor]

i found out the other day that a bottle brush works great for removing algae from plastic parts in my tank. in fact i need to clean my over flow.... but mine is removable... so i dont get any algae in the tank lol

 

[fanaglethebagle]

I just chopped two 1.5" sections of teeth out of both my overflows when I was having this problem. No issues so far.

 

[jmac5058]

I had that algea growing on my overflow for years and I never noticed my waterlevel going up so Iv never cleaned it .I think the waterlevel may rise some like when you add flow to your sump but it soon finds its new level.I think if you never did anything it may have risen a little but would level itself off and never have overflowed, especialy if you have the overflow that takes water from diffrent levels of the water colume.