mega overflow, to cover or not

[Elfili]

Last night, I couldnt help notice looking into the mega oveflow of my 72 bow and realized just how much algae has grown in there. Though there's no significant algae growth visible in the rest of the tank (tangs are doing their job), it seems like its all growing inside there. Only reason I bothered to look is because i can see some of the algae hairs flowing inwards in the slits.
I went over the tank and took a flashlight to it. Looks like it's become somewhat of a pod refuge.

Now I'm a bit torn as to whether or not I should just cover it to control the growth or leave it. Is it at all beneficial to the tank? (aside from the potential flood from backing up the overflow) Either way, I'll probably end up razoring some of the algae on the inner slits to keep flow through, and on the actual drain holes on the extension pipes. I guess the two T-5 actinic supplements that I have above the rear section of the tank is allowing for all this growth.

Suggestions? Thanks in advance.

 

[inline6]

I have it covered with glass only because I run a fuge and also I don't want any jumpers to jump in there. No algae to report but then again my actinics are towards the front of my tank.

 

[ming]

I covered it to prevent jumpers and to prevent algae from possibly clogging the drain pipe

 

[fritz]

I left mine open for the refugium that it offers. I had one fish jump in but he jumped back out after two days in "solitary". The Megaflow takes up a lot of space, about 5 gallons or so. For the free refugium that it offers I would keep it. Just make sure to check for clogs now and again as you would anything else.

 

[reefman]

i cover it to prevent snails from crawling in which they love. lighting dont hit inside, so no algea growth.
having algea espcially hairy algea may evenually slow or clog the drains. this may cause water overflow.

 

[fritz]

Oh buggers, if you're using the AGA megaflow pipes they have holes in the sides and a HUGE strainer. You couldn't clog that if you wanted to. Seriously. I every now and again used to scrape off all the algae on the inside just because and it came off in thick pieces. I never had a problem. It's mostly straight pipe and algae is slick and non binding. It can also bend I think the likelihood of algae mats coming off and clogging your drain is slim none.

 

[Elfili]

thanks, all!

 

[meschaefer]

Oh buggers, if you're using the AGA megaflow pipes they have holes in the sides and a HUGE strainer. You couldn't clog that if you wanted to. Seriously. I every now and again used to scrape off all the algae on the inside just because and it came off in thick pieces. I never had a problem. It's mostly straight pipe and algae is slick and non binding. It can also bend I think the likelihood of algae mats coming off and clogging your drain is slim none.

Ditto