I like to get those filter bags with the micron size that catches almost everything but the water - they clog fast, but I dont put them on the overflow, I stick it in the sump, and put the end of the syphon hose into it and suck up all the turkey bastered crap form the rocks and all the algae I scrape. The only down side is, Im kind of OCD (obsessive compulsive) about getting every little piece thats floating so I do this for too long....but I also spend hours picking every single last piece of lint off of my carpet....arrrggghh