Overflow "crud"

[Shooter7]

Ok, this is my first ever tank with overflows so wasn't exactly sure of what to expect. A pretty fair amount of light gets into them and I'm noting that I'm getting alot of algae growing in there. On one side it completely covers the top area of the overflow. So, my questions are, is it ok for it to be like this? Should I clean it out somehow (not sure exactly how I'm going to do that)? Should I try to have something over them to keep the light out? thanks

 

[Turf]

One thing I did to at least keep the tube from becoming all nasty was wrap a small piece of black trash bag around it and zip tie it on both ends. That is assuming of course that you have a hang on back overflow with a clear syphon tube.

If you have one built into the tank like mine is now I have a cover that goes over the top with keeps the light out and also reduces some noise.

 

[Shooter7]

No, this is a reef ready tank with dual built in overflows. I have dursos in both of them. This algae is growing around the top of both of these.

 

[DrBDC]

I have the same thing going on. I cut a temporary cardboard cover to sheild the light but watch out. As the algae dies off it will come loose in clumps and possible cause an overflow. It was the next day and I was walking by, glanced over and it was just starting to crest the top. I grabbed the plug out of the main pump and only had to clean the glass. Whew! When I shoved a rod through the drain (the rod from window blinds that you turn to open and close them) and I had a ton of hair algae and bubble algae floating in the sump.

 

[Dizzy1831]

i also had the same problem. i waited a while and it went away itself. had it the first month after started the rr

 

[mpcart]

I cut a piece of acrylic, painted it black, and put it on top of the overflow - now my overflow is algae free.

-Mike

 

[Slide_Ice]

I just put a turbo snail in there and every few week switch him to the other side. It looks very clean and now there are some hitchikers in there so I put the turbo back in the fuge. I have not put a cover on it because I like to check the water level every time I look at the tank.

 

[Shooter7]

The turbo keeps his big butt out of the drain line?

 

[Bushong87]

i got tons of stuff growing in my overflow, i just thought it was normal, but i know there are tons of bad things growing in there, i guess i need to cap mine for a while

 

[Shooter7]

I was just concerned that stuff like pieces of food, fish poo, and whatever all else would be going in there and getting caught up in the algae instead of draining to the sump and going through the skimmer, then laying in that algae and and slowly building up.

 

[Dert42]

i'm glad i read this, i have the build in overflow thing too.
i will make a point to block the light from it before i get running

 

[Slide_Ice]

I have some screens over all my drains. So the turbo cleans the screen for me. along with the rest of the over flow.

I just grab it when it is at the top and through it in the other one.

FWIW
Todd