Covering the tube to my sump

[pjsmetana]

Still setting up the 150gal, and I'd like to cover the PVC tube that goes from the top, down through the middle of the tank, and to the sump. Its an eye sore. I don't know what I can use to cover it. I don't really care what is used, as long as its safe for fish, is not just more PVC, and is strong enough that my Oscar wont break it off.

What do you guys suggest? Would pictures of the tanks tube make this easier?

 

[Pharaoh]

Pictures would definitely help. But you might just need an internal overflow box.

 

[pjsmetana]

The White PVC tube on the left there (facing the back of the tank) is the internal overflow. I just want to cover it so it don't look so ugly. Don't blame me for how ugly it looks, lol... I got it like this. $300 for tank, light, pump, sump, and stand... I just finished building a new stand yesterday as the one that came with it was trash. Yeay Craigslist!

 

[cichlid2006]

you could remove it and silicone a 4" square piece of glass (same thickness as the base) to cover the hole.
i dont think you arent going to be able to disguise a tube going up to the top of the tank that is sitting quite near the centre of the glass.

remove it and use overflow box or boxes for your sump is my opinion.

 

[nfored]

Spend the cash and get clear PVC.

Edit: then clean it each day.

Edit 2: heck you can even toss some plants in there to grow around it so that its less noticeable.

 

[pjsmetana]

I was thinking of finding a larger black tube to put over it, but I really like that Idea of banding some plants around it. I don't like fake plants, but I like them a lot more than the big white tube. I think I may just do that.

 

[Big Dog]

Why don't you just get some plugs to cover the holes and paint them the same as the back ground.

 

[I<3fish]

Or, you could build a fake tree root out of Styrofoam, and color it with paint that looks like a tree root. OR, you could cover it in Styrofoam and make it look like a rock/pillar.

 

[pjsmetana]

Or, you could build a fake tree root out of Styrofoam, and color it with paint that looks like a tree root. OR, you could cover it in Styrofoam and make it look like a rock/pillar.

how the heck do I do that?

 

[squint]

You could get a clear acrylic tube. It's a lot cheaper than a colored acrylic tube or clear PVC.

Or you could switch to a pressure filter and just put an intake strainer on the bottom, perhaps with a low profile bulkhead.

Or you could put an intake strainer on the bottom as above, run a section of horizontal pipe to the back and then a long upside-down U the same height as the current overflow tube. That could function as the overflow and be out of sight and it'd be better at getting debris off the bottom, one of the problems of conventional overflows.