Sump intake eating water too slowly

[Alpha_and_Gec]

This is just a quick example pulled from the internet, but you want your overflow box to look like this...

Is it typically not built into the tank?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

No, it had always been there. I'm just trying to block it off with a wire mesh so that fish doesn't get in. Originally the holes were completely open, which resulted in the loss of a few fish in the past.

It may have been there "always" since you acquired the tank, but it's not a good design for an overflow box.

 

[Alpha_and_Gec]

Do you even have drain pipes?

It's inside the white walls. Both the intake and the outlet, although the outlet is attached to an omnidirectional nozzle that's attached to the wall.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Is it typically not built into the tank?

Did you look at the picture I attached?

 

[00W]

Is it typically not built into the tank?

Something else had to be there originally that isn't that.

 

[00W]

What happens if you take it out?

 

[Alpha_and_Gec]

It may have been there "always" since you acquired the tank, but it's not a good design for an overflow box.

Well, it's a bit too late to change it now... 3 years too late, in fact. I'm just trying to figure out a way to make sure the fish can't get in(at least, fish above a certain diameter) but water still can at the normal rate.

 

[Alpha_and_Gec]

What happens if you take it out?

I can't... it's attached to both the sump outlet and the tank floor via superglue.

Actually, scratch that, I don't even know how it's attached to the floor, but it's some really good adhesive.

 

[hexcolor reef]

A piece of cheese cloth would work it has large enough holes and allow liquids to flow through pretty easy. Or take a dollar tree plastic mesh basket and cut off the size you need, you can possibly use the basket it self to replace the damaged over flow box

 

[00W]

I can't... it's attached to both the sump outlet and the tank floor via superglue.

Yikes OK now we know what's wrong at least. Original probably broken somehow.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Well, it's a bit too late to change it now... 3 years too late, in fact. I'm just trying to figure out a way to make sure the fish can't get in(at least, fish above a certain diameter) but water still can.

I guess I can't help you then. You're wanting to block the only way water can enter the overflow box. Maybe you can replace it with a proper box or even add a larger one around it...

 

[00W]

Get a net and put it over the hole for now.

 

[Alpha_and_Gec]

A piece of cheese cloth would work it has large enough holes and allow liquids to flow through pretty easy. Or take a dollar tree plastic mesh basket and cut off the size you need

Algae has been shown to grow on fine mesh and clog it, might need something that's less fine.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

This is what it should look like

 

[Alpha_and_Gec]

This is what it should look like

Yes, I saw your previous post. It seems to be a built in feature on many nano tanks and it was very convenient so for many years I just left it there.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

If you take everything out of the tank, you might be able to cut a weir in the top of the box with a Dremel...?

 

[Alpha_and_Gec]

Get a net and put it over the hole for now.

That's what I had been using over the weekend and it clogs up with algae extremely quickly.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Yes, I saw your previous post. It seems to be a built in feature on many nano tanks and it was very convenient so for many years I just left it there.

I have never in my life seen something like that. It's definitely not a feature of many tanks.

 

[Alpha_and_Gec]

If you take everything out of the tank, you might be able to cut a weir in the top of the box with a Dremel...?

I don't have a Dremel, will a kitchen knife or craft knife be suitable?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Well, it's a bit too late to change it now... 3 years too late, in fact. I'm just trying to figure out a way to make sure the fish can't get in(at least, fish above a certain diameter) but water still can at the normal rate.

Buy bigger fish?