Do you protect your overflow grill?

[argiBK]

I’m curious if anyone here places any protective or preventive measures on their overflow grills.

I have a CADE peninsula, and while the tank is well designed, the overflow grill seems to be a weak point as it’s fairly narrow at around 10”.

The biggest offenders are my Turbo Snails and my Sea Hare where usually once a week, my ATO will go off repeatedly due to them blocking a part of the grill, raising the display tank’s water line. I always move them back to the rockwork. Thankfully, there’s been no spillage onto the floor, but I cannot be at home all the time to catch this when it happens.

I’m wondering if there are any pre-filters or covers I could install in front of the grill to protect the flow-rate and have some peace of mind.

Thanks!

 

[Fenral]

LIFEGARD AQUATICS AQUAMESH​

Comes in a couple of very coarse sizes - but I coveted my entire overflow weir to keep
The modest size snails and my pepperment shrimp out.

 

[argiBK]

LIFEGARD AQUATICS AQUAMESH​

Comes in a couple of very coarse sizes - but I coveted my entire overflow weir to keep
The modest size snails and my pepperment shrimp out.

I had forgotten about AquaMesh, thanks!

Also wondering if there are any solutions that are a bit more… elegant. Any 3D printers out there who make a slotted pre-filter that can partially wrap around the internal overflow?

 

[Fenral]

I had forgotten about AquaMesh, thanks!

Also wondering if there are any solutions that are a bit more… elegant. Any 3D printers out there who make a slotted pre-filter that can partially wrap around the internal overflow?

Well, now you've gone all high-tech and new-fangled. ;) May I guide you to an old-school idea—go to a good-sized library. Most of them have 3D printers now, so you can book time and make exactly what you want.

 

[Jamie814]

I’m curious if anyone here places any protective or preventive measures on their overflow grills.

If you put something over the overflow teeth you will restrict it further causing the water in the display to rise more. Without making the slots bigger, the only solution would be to increase the surface area of the overflow teeth so when a snail or debris block part of it, it will have less impact on the drain flow.