Getting hair algae out of overflow slots

[tangman99]

My 90 gallon reef ready gets hair algae growing between the overflow slots that after a while slows the water flow down to the point where the water level gets really high and flows over the top. It is almost impossible to get out of the slots. I usually use a toothbrush but it still can't get it all.
Does anyone else have this problem? How do you clean the slots?

 

[fishieness]

use LOTS of phosban

 

[tangman99]

I'm already using Rowaphos. What I'm trying to find out is how to clean out the overslots easily while I still have the problem.

 

[fishieness]

lol. sorry
are you talking about the slits in the overflows such as the mega-flows?
have you tried just with something thin like a toothpick?

 

[reeffreakgeek]

The only thing I can think of is pipe cleaner brush.

 

[tangman99]

It's the slots in the reef-ready overflow built into the corner of my 90 gallon tank. They just start getting clogged and the water can't flow through them fast enough. It's not the feathery dark green hair algae. It's light green and tough. It's like it grows into the plastic.

 

[tizzo]

Hi Tang...
Your gonna laugh but I will share with you how I do it... My slots are about 3/8 of an inch (skimmer overflow) and I have a 3/8 inch drill bit. While in the drill and spinning I stick it in the slot, rub the sides and the bottum and that usually get all but a little on the outside of the bottum part. For that I remove the bit from the drill and hold it. I don't try to spin the bit but just rubbing it back and forth will remove the algae if your bit edges are sharp.
There are so many unintentional puns here...

:thinking:

 

[reefkprz]

my snails eat it all. inside and out. drop a snail inside your overflow he'll get the stuff you cant. (worst case scenario you fish him out of your sump later)

 

[davidmwj]

I just had the same problem. I had a film on the surface of my tank. I couldn't figure it out and then I saw how much algae had grown in the overflow. I pulled it out using my fingers, toothbrush, and a toothpick as the other guy suggested. Funny thing is, it was stopped up so bad that the water level in my sump raised over an inch after I cleaned that. I was shocked.
I might drop a snail in there as suggested, but I'd hate to lose him.

 

[tangman99]

Originally Posted by Tizzo
Hi Tang...
Your gonna laugh but I will share with you how I do it... My slots are about 3/8 of an inch (skimmer overflow) and I have a 3/8 inch drill bit. While in the drill and spinning I stick it in the slot, rub the sides and the bottum and that usually get all but a little on the outside of the bottum part. For that I remove the bit from the drill and hold it. I don't try to spin the bit but just rubbing it back and forth will remove the algae if your bit edges are sharp.
There are so many unintentional puns here...

:thinking:

You are right! I had to laugh at that, but now that I think if it . . . :thinking:
I usually use a toothbrush and every now and then I'll use an exacto knife to try and cut it out. Pain in the butt though. Thanks for the suggestions. I just added some hermits and some turbos. One of the hermits is up there now eating so maybe he will take care of it.