Exotic Marine Systems Overflow sucking down shrimp

[Nicko79]

Hello all,

I recently purchased and installed an Exotic Marine Systems overflow which has long skinny slots for the weir instead of the typical teeth. This dramatically increases skimming capability which is great. HOWEVER, The last couple of days I have had to fish my shrimp out of the filter sock. He keeps getting sucked down the overflow. I am ultimately not sure how to prevent this? Id prefer not to cover the overflow because I do not want it to become clogged. Any ideas would be appreaciated.

Thanks

 

[Radman73]

Hello all,

I recently purchased and installed an Exotic Marine Systems overflow which has long skinny slots for the weir instead of the typical teeth. This dramatically increases skimming capability which is great. HOWEVER, The last couple of days I have had to fish my shrimp out of the filter sock. He keeps getting sucked down the overflow. I am ultimately not sure how to prevent this? Id prefer not to cover the overflow because I do not want it to become clogged. Any ideas would be appreaciated.

Thanks

I have a toothless overflow. Well, had. After losing my orange back fairy wrasse on a second trip down the PVC highway to the sump(2nd trip he got stuck at the flow control valve) and finding my bar gobies down there as well I put egg crate over mine. If I ever do one again, it'll be toothless with a egg crate style lid built into it. I haven't lost a fish to the overflow since. Snails on the other hand...

 

[Jimbo662]

What type of overflow set up do you have? I recently installed an Exotic overflow and do the herbie and put one of these on the main drain.

 

[Nicko79]

What type of overflow set up do you have? I recently installed an Exotic overflow and do the herbie and put one of these on the main drain.

I am using the Bean Animal style. I suppose I could still use something like that if I raise the PVC. Do you find it gets clogged at all with Algae sheets or anything of that nature?

 

[Water Dog]

You can also get flat strainers as well. No need to adjust your pipe heights. Buy a few and rotate them every week if you’re nervous about clogging.

https://www.marinedepot.com/Lifegar...arts-Lifegard_Aquatics-RB31517-FIFTST-vi.html

 

[Jimbo662]

I am using the Bean Animal style. I suppose I could still use something like that if I raise the PVC. Do you find it gets clogged at all with Algae sheets or anything of that nature?

My current tank is going through the uglies right now so I only see that happen when I'm cleaning off the rocks and stirring stuff up. On previous tanks I've never seen issues with algae. If it does look like there's any kind of build up on it you just take a bottle brush or toothbrush and clean it off.

 

[ca1ore]

Putting screens on the drain pipes in the external box will keep the shrimp out of your filter sock, but obviously won't keep it out of the overflow boxes. Other than screening the slots in the skim box, there's really no other way to keep animals out.

 

[Jimbo662]

What kind of shrimp is it? I've always skunk, peppermint and fire shrimp and have never seen any of them leave the rocks for more than a few seconds to grab food at feeding time.

 

[Nicko79]

What kind of shrimp is it? I've always skunk, peppermint and fire shrimp and have never seen any of them leave the rocks for more than a few seconds to grab food at feeding time.

It is a peppermint shrimp. I threw him back in the tank last night for the third time. He was back in the sump again this morning. Im just leaving him in there for now. LOL

 

[Jimbo662]

Maybe he's afraid of heights and keeps making his way to the lowest part of the tank!