In-tank overflow help

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K

Kcameron

Candiru
MFK Member
Mar 17, 2009
659
1
48
Connecticut
hey everyone, I'm having some trouble with my DIY pvc overflows. I have drain covers over the openings to trap large debris from going to my sump. The only problem is: they get clogged with plant matter over time and then I need to clear them before no water gets to the pump and it runs dry. Is there a thread on here for making a DIY box to keep plants away from the pipes, but lets detritus get into the sump? I also want to keep fire eels and they find it easy to lift up the drain covers and get inside. Thanks all.

ps, almost all the plants in the tank are gone now, except the dwarf lilies. I want it to be well planted

tank.jpg
 
This is how I made a guard for my tank so that my food didn't go down the overflow before the fish had a chance to eat it. It might work for floating plants also. The second video the Pvc caps have larger openings for larger debris to go down and the filter material catches it. The way the guard works is that it doesn't suck from the top surface it brings water in the bottom of the guard and then down the overflow pipe. I made a fixture to hold the pvc cap and ran it through my saw to make the screen.

This is the guard for the overflow

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This is the food guard and or possibly for floating plants guard.

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Don't know if it would work for what you want but I don't have floating plants in my tank to tell you if it does..... :)

I'm not a planted tank specialist. From reading though a lot of guys/girls run canister filters for planted tanks.
 
Plenty of Options can be found right at your Local Hardware store.
pvc_drainage_pipe_fitting_balcony_floor_drain.jpg
1284543831003_hz-myalibaba-temp13_4085.jpg

I used 2" PVC, and at Home Depot they are labeled as 2" PVC Drain Inserts.

Mike

pvc_drainage_pipe_fitting_balcony_floor_drain.jpg

1284543831003_hz-myalibaba-temp13_4085.jpg
 
Mavrick813 said:
Plenty of Options can be found right at your Local Hardware store.
I used 2" PVC, and at Home Depot they are labeled as 2" PVC Drain Inserts.

Mike
Click to expand...

Yup that also Mike..... Sounds like his plants are not growing well and starting to fall apart going down his overflow/clogging the screen. I tried plants in my sump and they all rotted and fell to pieces. But that was before I did a little reading on planted tanks. I have bio balls with drip tray and a lot of oxygen flowing through my sump. So I can't tell ya how to keep plants alive in an aquarium my education on it is very limited.

But Golden Pothos love fish water. They are growing great in my sump. They are not an underwater plant though.
 
Mavrick813 said:
Well you and I both know that I got my design form you and Tweeked it to suit my Needs. But Your still the DIY Overflow King IMHO. :headbang2

Mike
Click to expand...

lolol...Thanks... But I'm not a DIY overflow guy with a planted fish tank...I gots plastic plants... :)
 
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