Water Top Off

J

jstdv8

Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///forum/thread/380828/water-top-off/40#post_3317364

Between the ATO talk and the flood talk I got lost...I have no idea what the above situation is talking about. I have to watch for snails, algae buildup and bubbles? A toothy overflow box?
Anyway I have an ATO that works with no metal at all, Fail safe to not even burn up a pump and I trust Shawn, Corey, AL and Monsinour to figure out all the hard stuff so my tank won't flood. meowzer knows the equipment (maybe because she tried them all..LOL) So I give up trying to explain what I THOUGHT I unsderstood, before I start a panic attack...LOL

Flower,
If I'm not mistaken your tank is of the drilled variety not the overflow with the schnazzy box that we were talking about a few months ago for you.
When you have an overflow that goes between the two boxes (one inside and one outside) you have to watch the U-tube that connects them to make sure nothing is plugging it or restricting flow.
Like algea, Turbo snails and bubbles.
The inside box has teeth on it so that fish cannot get into your overflow box without actually jumping out and somehow landing in the box.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
She does not have a drilled tank.....
when she gets the overflow and equipment in house.....these things will be a lot easier to explain....sight is always better
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jstdv8 http:///forum/thread/380828/water-top-off/60#post_3317443
Flower,
If I'm not mistaken your tank is of the drilled variety not the overflow with the schnazzy box that we were talking about a few months ago for you.
When you have an overflow that goes between the two boxes (one inside and one outside) you have to watch the U-tube that connects them to make sure nothing is plugging it or restricting flow.
Like algea, Turbo snails and bubbles.
The inside box has teeth on it so that fish cannot get into your overflow box without actually jumping out and somehow landing in the box.
Actually, she is about to have an external overflow. She's getting a CPR though, which doesn't have the tube but instead a U shaped chamber. I don't believe they have teeth but rather a flat edge that the water spills over from inside of the tank. And if I'm not mistaken have an optional screen that you can use to keep critters out of it.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/380828/water-top-off/60#post_3317451
Actually, she is about to have an external overflow. She's getting a CPR though, which doesn't have the tube but instead a U shaped chamber. I don't believe they have teeth but rather a flat edge that the water spills over from inside of the tank. And if I'm not mistaken have an optional screen that you can use to keep critters out of it.
They do have a sponge though...don't they????
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/380828/water-top-off/60#post_3317454
They do have a sponge though...don't they????
Yeah, but I wouldn't use it. I'd keep the strainer but lose the sponge. It's better to let some of that chuncky stuff make it down to the fuge and skimmer. The sponge will collect it all, and some of that could be feeding the fuge. One less thing to clean. They also get dirty fast so you have to clean them quite often to make sure it doesn't slow down the overflow.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/380828/water-top-off/60#post_3317456
Yeah, but I wouldn't use it. I'd keep the strainer but lose the sponge. It's better to let some of that chuncky stuff make it down to the fuge and skimmer. The sponge will collect it all, and some of that could be feeding the fuge. One less thing to clean. They also get dirty fast so you have to clean them quite often to make sure it doesn't slow down the overflow.
TRUE....I have 2 sponges on my overflow....I use them both though.....so you are sayng NOT TO use them
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/380828/water-top-off/60#post_3317458
TRUE....I have 2 sponges on my overflow....I use them both though.....so you are sayng NOT TO use them

I'm just saying that I wouldn't, personally. I'd rather let some of that uneaten food make it's way down to the fuge. Why waste it when you have things down there that need to eat? JMO
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
This is the idea with the turf scrubber too. no socks, no sponges, let the water cycle, that's all food for little critters and corals.
Of course if you are using a skimmer that might n ot be for the best since they work to suck up that food and process it before it becomes ammonia, trates, phos.
Why did I think Flower had a drilled tank? I rememebr now she had a canister filter.
If you have the one with the elongated U tube then you don't have to worry much about losing siphon to bubbles or snails since you will have plenty of room for more water to get through.
I've heard some stories about the pumps on those not restarting after a power outage and the Return pump proceeds to overflow the DT. So I went the traditional route and a turbo got stuck in my tube becuase I wasn't watching the teeth and my DT overflowed. Whats the lesser of two evils? LOL
 
monsinour

monsinour

Active Member
I use the sponge in my CPR and I still get stuff down below. When I had the filter sock on, i had somehow trapped a bristleworm in the filter sock. That worm was about 3" long and made it past the plastic mesh screen in the tank section of the over flow, up and over the u tube chamber, through the sponge, past the screen on the bulk head and down the drain hose. If that bugger can make it that far, little bits o food can too. All I find in my sponge up there is pieces of the substrate and algae. I clean my sponge about every other week and I do not notice a slow down on my drain at all.
I will say that since I have eliminated the filter sock, I have more floaty bits in the DT. While I dont like the looks of that, I know its food for critters and its good to have them in there. I too have egg crate and it keeps the snails from going into hwere the return pump is. well, it keeps the larger snails from going there. I had a few little ones make that fantastic ride. That has to be the coolest water slide to ever go on.
 
desertdawg

desertdawg

Member
For Flower, here's how I made the connection to the water dispenser... It's not hooked up to the sump at the moment.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top