Snail in the overflow box...anyone tried it before?

[Porkibear]

I've always got algae growth in my overflow box...basically a thin film of green and coraline algae that grows over time. After a while, I'd have to stop my pump, take out the overflow box and clean the crap out of it to see the clear acrylic again. It's honestly a pain in the butt.

I read on a previous post while searching through RC that people have been covering their clear overflow boxes with some sort of material, or shielding it from the lighting. So I tried that method and placed a piece of foil neatly over the overflow box (not in the water, but on the outside of the tank), and lo and behold, the algae is starting to grow back on the inside of the overflow.

Has anyone tried placing a turbo snail inside the overflow and let it live in there to clean up the algae? I figure, if the snail shell is too big for the plastic U-tube, it would never get "stuck" in the U-tube and obstruct water flow.

Any theories on what may happen? I'm willing to try it unless someone has a REALLY bad scenario that could potentially happen.

 

[iaJim]

I've frequently had to remove snails from my overflow. They live there just fine and clean up whatever they can. No reason they couldn't be there intentionally.

I've had a tomato clown in my overflow for years. He was rescued and I tried him out back in the tank. He was a mean machine, and soon, he found his way back into the overflow, where he remains. Had him for MANY years, at least seven.

 

[slimtim260]

ive put some turbo snails in my overflow box. even tried a conch. if the snail is big enough to get sucked up by the u tube then it will stop water from flowing into sump. i find out the hard way because the water level gets below the pumps and they start sucking air and i get a lot of air bubbles in the water. i wouldnt do it. what if youre at work ot out of the house for a long period of time and the waterflow gets blocked ? pumps wont last long out of water. i bought a toothbrush that i use just for the overflowbox and it works fine accept for the u tube.

 

[Skepperz]

Yeah i don't like having to clean my overflow box either major pain in the butt! might have to invest in an old tooth brush or something ;-)

 

[mg426]

I too have had the turbo snail in the u tube fiasco. that was a pain in the %^$#@$%

 

[bckane]

I put a couple of small snails in my overflow box now and then.....if they get sucked up they just go to the sump