Just a reminder...

[peteyboyny]

Just finished cleaning my overflows out. It's something I've been putting off for a while. The algae growth over the past year was really starting to inhibit water flow into the overflows. I guess I didn't realize just how much it was restricting it until the tank water started touching the glass on the center brace (it's an Oceanic 140 DD). I pulled out mats of algae! Even spotted an Aptasia anemone in one of the overflows (probably the only place he's safe from my peppermint shrimp!).
Here's how much algae I pulled out:
http://m1268.photobucket.com/albumv...VNb6G05t/9Uc2bXPFl/8e6azGRPufJwtqtY9qLwADuxQ=
Here's how much more water was flowing through the overflows (passed the fill line by a few inches):
http://m1268.photobucket.com/albumv...VNb6G05t/9Uc2bXPFl/8e6azGRPufJwtqtY9qLwADuxQ=
And now the water line in the DT is a half inch lower (it no longer touches the center brace):
http://m1268.photobucket.com/albumv...VNb6G05t/9Uc2bXPFl/8e6azGRPufJwtqtY9qLwADuxQ=

Just a friendly reminder guys and gals. Checking and cleaning my overflows will now be included in my regular maintenance routine. If I didn't catch this, it could have flooded my house out. Whew! Close one.

 

[KathyC]

An excellent reminder of something we should be paying attention to!

Are you already running GFO in your tank? If not, you want to start and if so, you might want to increase how often you change it/or how much you are using. Without that algae in there sopping up the extra phosphates/nitrates, those levels are now going to be higher in your tank and will start affecting your corals

 

[Silkyslim]

How did you clean out the overflow? With some kind of pipe cleaner?

 

[Jan]

Great reminder! I found mats of alge like that the first time I discovered it was accumulating in the overflow. Strange that it's only always that one overflow. Now I make sure to check it every few days. I also have a large aptasia in that overflow and peppermint shrimp in my DT and sump. LOL!!!...and my tank is an Oceanic 156.

Just finished cleaning my overflows out. It's something I've been putting off for a while. The algae growth over the past year was really starting to inhibit water flow into the overflows. I guess I didn't realize just how much it was restricting it until the tank water started touching the glass on the center brace (it's an Oceanic 140 DD). I pulled out mats of algae! Even spotted an Aptasia anemone in one of the overflows (probably the only place he's safe from my peppermint shrimp!).
Here's how much algae I pulled out:
http://m1268.photobucket.com/albumv...VNb6G05t/9Uc2bXPFl/8e6azGRPufJwtqtY9qLwADuxQ=
Here's how much more water was flowing through the overflows (passed the fill line by a few inches):
http://m1268.photobucket.com/albumv...VNb6G05t/9Uc2bXPFl/8e6azGRPufJwtqtY9qLwADuxQ=
And now the water line in the DT is a half inch lower (it no longer touches the center brace):
http://m1268.photobucket.com/albumv...VNb6G05t/9Uc2bXPFl/8e6azGRPufJwtqtY9qLwADuxQ=

Just a friendly reminder guys and gals. Checking and cleaning my overflows will now be included in my regular maintenance routine. If I didn't catch this, it could have flooded my house out. Whew! Close one.

 

[peteyboyny]

Are you already running GFO in your tank?

Yes. Im running a TLF reactor w/GFO that is changed out every 3-4wks.
When I first noticed the algae growth, I passed on cleaning it (I figured it would add to the bio-filtration). It probably did, I just didn't realize how thick it had grown.

 

[peteyboyny]

How did you clean out the overflow? With some kind of pipe cleaner?

The majority of it I got out by hand. The tight spots I used a bamboo skewer. Cleaned it out enough that my water level dropped 1/2" in my DT.

 

[edd]

i cover my over flow, so no light gets in. i never have any algae in their.

 

[Awibrandy]

HaHa, that was the only place algae would grow in my 155. I cleared it out every few months. Like you, I felt that it acted as an algae scrubber. As long as it grew in the overflows, and not the actual DT I didn't see it as a problem.
Like you I do run GFO in a reactor changed out every 3 to 4 week intervals accompanied by weekly water changes. Oh, and my corals were doing beautifully. You saw this with your own eyes!

Can't wait for the tank to go back to only growing algae in the overflows. Currently I am battling gha within the DT it self.

 

[Jan]

Do you have the custom covers or are you using something else?

i cover my over flow, so no light gets in. i never have any algae in their.

 

[edd]

my son cut me a piece of acrylic and covered it with black vinyl at his work. you can cut a piece and paint the top black.

 

[Jan]

Great idea. I can't cut wood or anything with a power tool to save my life.

my son cut me a piece of acrylic and covered it with black vinyl at his work. you can cut a piece and paint the top black.

 

[KathyC]

You can also purchase black acrylic for this purpose. I've had a piece for over a year that I plan to use to make a template for AGA 120 overflows..maybe this weekend I will get around to it

 

[Will]

I had quite a bit of algae growing in my corner overflo on my 58 Oceanic.I had mixed feelings about it as I kind of thought of it as a refugium soaking up nitrates and phosphates . I cleaned some of it out but didn't check the inside of my 1" 1/4 drain.
Good idea to take a look in there I guess.