Overflow keeps sucking fish in. Grrr

[cichlid2006]

i have re-read your initial post and eggcrate in the 1.5" hole should work fine without causing any major issues with regards to blockages.
it should be big enough to stop blockages but small enough to stop even small fish.

 

[beex215]

im thinking the larger overflows even blocked by some methods would still suck the fish into death. they wont get drained to the bottom but the constant suction would kill them with such high flow rates.

my african cichlid got sucked in and almost flooded the tank.

 

[knifegill]

My bass was at risk for this, and so were my plants. So I made a surface-only filter out of that craft store plastic mesh to stop the plants, and drilled holes in a juice bottle to cover the U-tube. You could probably expand on the mesh to get it to wrap around the bottom and completely stop fish, but the bottle full of holes is enough to keep fish that find their way into the overflow box from taking the journey into the sump. Just watch if closely for any clogging.

 

[Deepsouth]

Just put panty hose over the intake tube. You can also put an old onion bag over it with a rubber band.

 

[blowfishRus]

i had this problem with my 1.5 inch over flow pipe. sucked my 4in long electric yellow down one time.

i tried netted cloth and a few other things but it always slowed down flow to much for me. then i went to wal mart and saw some stainless steel dish drain covers. i found some in a roll so it was easier to work with. it has large enough holes so not to disrupt flow but small enough so no fish can get sucked down. secured it with a rubber band. problem solved. cost a little over a dollar for supplies.

 

[lukester825]

i had this problem with my 1.5 inch over flow pipe. sucked my 4in long electric yellow down one time.

i tried netted cloth and a few other things but it always slowed down flow to much for me. then i went to wal mart and saw some stainless steel dish drain covers. i found some in a roll so it was easier to work with. it has large enough holes so not to disrupt flow but small enough so no fish can get sucked down. secured it with a rubber band. problem solved. cost a little over a dollar for supplies.

this is what i do, except with an aluminum screen

 

[fox3]

We have megaflow weirs on our sumped tanks and what happens is the fry get sucked in the bottom slots and then go over and into the weir where they taunt me for the few months it takes for them to complete the journey down the durso's. I actually throw crumbles in there for them.

I used to try and remove them but it turns out to be a PITA so I leave em now to their fate. Most of the time they get out of the sock and into the sump if the sock level gets high. But I always inspect the socks before a thourough cleaning and on occasion find a live one. I have at least 1/2 dozen Zebra fry in one tanks' weir now.