Cover for DIY overflow

[davdev]

What do you guys use to keep animals out of the pipe in your DIY overflow.

I cut a fish net and glued it to the pipe, but it clogs real fast and slows the water flow way down. I can't seem to find anything else that is suitable though. I tried going without any sort of screen, and I had a minnow get sucked into it.

 

[davdev]

Does anyone have any suggestions? I keep getting fish sucked into the overflow, mostly small minnows and such. I also had a snail get in there are really slow down the flow.

I am sure you all have suggestions for what to do to prevent big things from getting sucked in, while allowing small debris to still make it through.

Thanks

 

[jft]

Go to a craft shop and buy Black pla stic mesh screen a sheet is like 70 cents That worked great for me.

 

[Pharaoh]

You can also use the plastic egg crate (light diffuser) from Lowes/Home Depot. Of course, this doesn't help with fry.

 

[davdev]

You can also use the plastic egg crate (light diffuser) from Lowes/Home Depot. Of course, this doesn't help with fry.

I thought about that, and while it will work with the snails and bigger fish, I think the smaller minnows could still get sucked in, not really worried about fry at this point. That is why I tried simply using a net at first, but that got clogged to easily. I am going to see if I can find some mesh that may have somewhat bigger holes.

 

[jcardona1]

What about a PVC intake strainer?

 

[davdev]

What about a PVC intake strainer?

That is exactly what I have been looking for. Home Depot doesn't have them though. I haven't tried Lowes, know any good sites online that may have them?

 

[jcardona1]

That is exactly what I have been looking for. Home Depot doesn't have them though. I haven't tried Lowes, know any good sites online that may have them?

http://www.aquaticeco.com/subcategories/822/Plastic-Strainers/strainer/0

 

[Pharaoh]

www.jehmco.com has them as well. Look under bulkhead fittings.

 

[davdev]

http://www.aquaticeco.com/subcategories/822/Plastic-Strainers/strainer/0

Perfect

One more question. I am not all that familiar with the technical wording of these, so I am not sure which to get. Right now my overflow is just plain old 1" pvc. What is the correct strainer to get? I don't really understand what things like MNPT mean. Also, are the all threaded? I don't have threaded PVC right now, but I guess I could some