snails in the overflow?

[TotalKhaos]

Its a PITA to clean my overflow, I was thinking of dropping a snail or 2 in there to do the job for me. I have a screen on the drain so they wont get sucked down. But the Overflow doesnt get much more than good flow and very little light.

Anyone see a problem with ramming a snail in there?

 

[Justin74]

Anyone see a problem with ramming a snail in there?

Not at all.Well,ramming?Maybe

-Justin

 

[discus010]

I would definitely not put a snail in the overflow otherwise you will end up flooding your house when your snail goes over your screen which covers the drain. Once your snail goes over the screen, the opening of your drain would theoretically be reduced to the point where it cannot handle the incoming water entering your overflow.

 

[Justin74]

Good point, can the width of your drain handle being covered by a snail? Id say your cool with anything 2" or more as long as its not a mexican turbo or something medium to large..

-Justin

 

[TotalKhaos]

well the drain is 1.5 inch, and I was thinking about putting an atrea snail or 2 in there - they are pretty small.

But I didnt really think about them restricting flow should they travel on to the screen. Probably best I just get off my lazy butt and clean the overflow by hand.

thanks.

 

[Reefugee]

Total -

How many overflows do you have? If you get a large enough screen, I don't think a snail or two on the screen will make any significant differences. Marine Depot sells some strainers that are 3.5" to 6" long. I can't image any snails being big enough to cover that.

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_plumbing_parts_fittings_bulkheads_strainers.asp

Minh

 

[Justin74]

Nice sollution Minh

-Justin

 

[TotalKhaos]

Just one corner overflow. THats a really good idea Minh - Thanks.

 

[dots]

Whoa that was trippy, I was thinking of posting the same thing on friday......spooky.

I add three turbos to it before I left for the Bay, I have returned to find a tidy well maintained overflow.

I believe I will do this on occasion when needed and then return them to the main area when they have finished. I was fearful of having one die and forget about it and wonder "where all that ammonia was comming from?"