AIO nano overflow modification?

[ironman187]

I've got a JBJ NRL-15, 15G AIO nano tank. The drain design for the rear chamber is terrible. It can barely handle the flow rate of the stock pump at it's lowest setting. And if there is any build up of any kind on the grate, it impedes flow enough to cause the display to fill to the top of the rear chamber divider and submerge my screen top. I'm thinking of removing some material in the grate to open it up so it can handle higher flow. Has anybody done this to an AIO that has a slotted drain instead of a true overflow? I'd obviously need an overflow box of some kind to keep fish from getting sucked in. Is there a commercially available box or an easy way to make one?

 

[RBarth]

InTank aquatics surface skimmers work well.

 

[ironman187]

InTank aquatics surface skimmers work well.

My understanding is that those are designed to raise the water level, I'm trying to do the opposite. I suppose I could glue it in place, but $20 is pretty steep for what it is.

 

[ironman187]

Bump.

 

[ians pico]

Are you saying the return pump filled your display too much? I have the same tank and don’t have this issue. I made a 4 stage media basket that goes into the first chamber and at the top stage against the return grates I have my media foam, next chamber is chaeto and the third chamber is filled just enough to pass over the divider, basically at the same height. Oh and my clowns host my return grates. Haven’t gotten them to the BTA yet…