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melev

Covering the overflow box

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Back in 2011, I built a black overflow cover for the 400g to avoid nuisance algae growth in that external compartment. Here are a few pictures.





The Apex probes were inserted through that lid, and the caps of the Durso standpipes poke up through individual openings. It worked quite nicely.





Total shade in the box.




With the replacement tank, the top plastic frame wraps the entire tank including the external overflow. Essentially that's even easier. All the Dursos would have to be measured for, and create a new lid with openings in the right spot. Instead, I decided it was time to clean out the box as it has nearly been a year since the tank was set up, shorten the Dursos so they fit under the lid this time and provide a sleeker view.

Here's a shot of the tank from last November before it was plumbed to provide a clean visual.



I decided to make the lid fit the inner lip and cover the area of the glass crossbrace to shade the teeth of the overflow section as well. The Eheim Chimney I build fits under the black lid, lifting it slightly. The auto feeder stands on top of the lid. There are four holes that are directly over the top of each Durso standpipe, aligned with the holes drilled in each cap. That way they will breathe without obstruction, and do so quietly. Had the cover had no openings, the vacuum sound would resonate under the lid; a small hole was an easy solution and is nearly invisible.

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Comments

  1. gettareef's Avatar
    Your old cover was very nice but this new cover, wow, is so sleek and is the bees knees! Your beautiful system continues to amaze
  2. melev's Avatar
    When Marineland was rebuilding the tank, I asked them to run the black trim all the way around the entire thing instead of the abrupt end where the external overflow box began on the first aquarium. I know it took me a while to get this done, but it's already vastly quieter and the small area of wall to the left of the tank will no longer be subjected to saltcreep and spatter. The paint bubbled a little in that area over the past six months or so. No further damage will happen now that the cover is in place.
  3. evoXmr's Avatar
    The original cover will still be in use soon! I had to modify it a little so that I could still remove it while one of the drain holes is used for my return line. You moved all your probes down below I assume?
  4. melev's Avatar
    Yes, I put the probes in the skimmer section - they need to be pulled and cleaned as they are overgrown with stuff currently.