Need Ideas on narrowing overflow box teeth

[Sokretys]

So my gold bar cleaner goby found his way into the overflow box the other day. I had to attach a piece of pvc to a small net to get him out. A success but a huge pain.

And so, I want to essentially cut each 1/4" by 1" slot in half vertically. Kind of like this:

There is essentially a strip of silicone along the inside bottom edge of the teeth that i could stick something in. Sewing pins would be ideal if they weren't you know...metal. haha Does anyone have an idea of what i might be able to use like the pin in the picture but that is plastic? I saw that there are plastic sewing needles for children but i fear they are too thick in diameter and will hinder the flow through the teeth?

I may end up cutting a round disc like the ones that come with bio pellet reactors and fit it around the loc line. But ill deal with that later i think.

Some 1/32" rods of nylon would be sweet but i don't think they exist? any suggestions?

 

[Sokretys]

I guess i could just put a pin on either side of the loc line as well. I just typed love line by accident. Maybe that's what it should be called...LoveLine

 

[Sokretys]

I found some 0.5mm carbon fiber rods at RC Buyers Warehouse in Nashua, NH for $5.50. And that's for about 6 feet of it. Any idea if carbon fiber is inert in salt water?

 

[JohnK]

How about plugging all the teeth so that all the flow goes over the top in a thin skim?

 

[Sokretys]

That might work but the top of the overflow box is only 1/4" from the top of the tank. In which case i would likely have an overflow when i put my arm in. And I'm planning on making a full size screen top that will sit on top of the overflow box and sit flush with the top of the tank. Right now with the teeth the way they are the water level is 5/8" from the rim.

 

[RMc]

What about using a comb? Or the teeth from a comb. Pretty sure they can be had for $1 or so.

 

[Sokretys]

NICE! haha i really like that idea. I'll pop into the drug store and see what looks good

 

[s_kelley]

use some of that screen mesh that people use to make covers for their tank

 

[willray]

Use some of the screen type gutter guard.I've used it with great success in many areas.Openings big enough so they won't clog up but small enough to keep fish and snails out.If you need some LMK I have a bunch.