Clip on overflow teeth?
- Thread starter Built347
- Start date
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
Why would you use teeth? They decrease surface skimming which then allows the oils and proteins to collect on the water surface instead of being removed by the skimmer. They do not prevent snails or fish from ending up in the overflow. And they grow algae further diminishing their so called "benefits".
I have yet to find any good points for having teeth on an overflow.
JMO.
I have yet to find any good points for having teeth on an overflow.
JMO.
uncleof6
Active member
A direction, not necessarily the one you are wanting to hear is don't bother with the teeth. The teeth do not keep critters out of the overflow. A flat overflow is more efficient, and quieter, than a toothed overflow. (A longer effective length.) There are other concepts for "keeping critters out of the overflow," however this does not happen to me often enough to justify the aggravation to make something to keep critters out.
EDIT: Well there ya go, two with the same direction.
EDIT: Well there ya go, two with the same direction.
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
There is. It's a sales gimmick they use to charge you more money.
SGT_York
New member
No teeth for sure, it's so much easier to DIY, reduces the fluxuation in the display water height during return pump stops thereby reducing the return champer sump requirement, increases water quality, and just looks nicer.
If you are worried about snails, etc plastic gutterguard is a much better alternative than teeth, and it just lifts out for periodic cleaning.
If you are worried about snails, etc plastic gutterguard is a much better alternative than teeth, and it just lifts out for periodic cleaning.
FraggledRock
New member
people bought a backwards sweater. they sold billions.
meanwhile everyone already had one in their closets. it was a called a sweater.
whoever bought this somehow thought it was a novel idea.
when all they had to do was wear their sweaters backwards....
Built347
New member
Haha.. no teeth it is.. I built this custom tank with a glass overflow and have been racking my brain on how to make teeth.. no teeth is a big weight lifted.. snails and such is fine in the overflow.. in fact I bet they would do a good job keeping it clean... fish is the issue.. I'll figure out something tho.. maybe get some shower door u channel and glue a 2" piece of egg crate to it or something
bundybear1981
New member
I sit a piece of egg crate on top of my overflow to keep the fish from jumping.. When I first got my cardinals they jumped the overflow all the time. The egg crate works a treat. Its not fixed to the tank, just sits on top of the weir rests against the glass of the tank to stop it falling over (my tanks glass is the same thickness <1/2"> as the egg crate however)
This makes it easy to remove to clean it.
If using the shower door u channel you'll need to ensure its plastic. If its metal (even coated metal) its likely to cause issues down the track.
All I did to the egg crate is sanded the bottom & top smooth so it sits flush on the glass.
This makes it easy to remove to clean it.
If using the shower door u channel you'll need to ensure its plastic. If its metal (even coated metal) its likely to cause issues down the track.
All I did to the egg crate is sanded the bottom & top smooth so it sits flush on the glass.
Here is a bottom pic. It also keeps the algae from growing on the inside if you dark it out.
03LightningSVT
New member
Why would you use teeth? Why not?
They decrease surface skimming which then allows the oils and proteins to collect on the water surface instead of being removed by the skimmer. Splitting hairs here, I have never seen an oil slick on the surface of the water of any tank that had an overflow box (of any design) AND had a turnover rate of 5x minimum. With the proper turnover rate, this point is moot, IMHO.
They do not prevent snails or fish from ending up in the overflow. Place a lid on it just like suggested with the "no teeth" design and it will prevent uninvited guests from visiting the overflow.
And they grow algae further diminishing their so called "benefits". The "no teeth" design will grow algae too, as will your rock, glass, sand, etc.
I have yet to find any good points for having teeth on an overflow. Teeth look cool
JMO. Mine too
Gorgok
New member
They are louder at the same flow rate. They raise water level at the same flow rate, either forcing the box to be lower or leaving less room for powerhead/wave/splashing before its on the floor. They get dirty easier, and are much harder to keep clean. Keeping them 'looking cool' means keeping them clean, which means brushing/scraping between them, annoying as hell.
uncleof6
Active member
What you see is not a very good indicator of what is actually going on. No slick, OK, so where is it going? IF it is not removed quickly, much of the organics will get mixed back down into the tank. The result: no oil slick.
Have a read (sidebar) about surface renewal:
http://www.beananimal.com/projects/silent-and-fail-safe-aquarium-overflow-system.aspx
03LightningSVT
New member
What you see is not a very good indicator of what is actually going on. Really? No slick, OK, so where is it going? It goes the same place with or without teeth on the overflow box. IF it is not removed quickly, much of the organics will get mixed back down into the tank. If your devices (skimmer, remote DSB, filter sock, fuge, carbon, gfo, etc) in place after the overflow box do not remove the organics quickly, much of it will just be get sent back to the display via the return pump. The result: no oil slick.
A limiting factor in removing organics is not the overflow box design. An equilibrium will be reached based on the devices you have deployed between the overflow box and return pump.
Thanks for the link, I've visited it before
I agree with 03LightningSVT. If using slits or not, as long as flow is good then no oil slick. If you like look then use them. Maintenance difference is so minimal that its pointless to even compare.
Only real difference is more flow rate without in same space, everything else is same. I use because tank came that way.
Only real difference is more flow rate without in same space, everything else is same. I use because tank came that way.
