Syphon drain open or screened

[drtrash]

wondering if its better to have fish swim in overflow or take a ride into sump? Have outside wier so nothing wider than 1/4" can get thru so not worried of clogging (1") bulkhead with a snail

 

[KrisReef]

Do you have a safety drain(s) in your overflow? If not, then screens are not a good idea.
Screens require monitoring to prevent clogging and overflows. Also, If the fish travel to the sump, are they going to get sucked into a return pump?

 

[drtrash]

No fish take a ride into fuge, have a bean so 3 drains, forgot about no screen no maintanance

 

[ca1ore]

I always have screens on my primary and secondary drains.

 

[drtrash]

I can see if you had a coast to coast straight edge overflow, thought the screen would cause resistance

 

[KJAG]

I don’t run screens on any of my drains. I’d rather a fish go down the pipe into the sump than be pinned to a screen by the force of a primed suction drain. I have a smooth weir/ no teeth on my 5’ long coast to coast, and it’s happened a couple times over the years. I may try to rig up something other than teeth to guard the weir in the future.

 

[drtrash]

I used egg crate strip

 

[KJAG]

I used egg crate strip

I’ve thought about that but I’d be worried about wrasses etc getting through

 

[ca1ore]

I can see if you had a coast to coast straight edge overflow, thought the screen would cause resistance

I suppose it depends on the screen. I make my own out of gutter guard. No way for anything to get 'pinned' to it .

 

[KJAG]

I suppose it depends on the screen. I make my own out of gutter guard. No way for anything to get 'pinned' to it .

Would depend on the size of the fish and pipe I would imagine.

 

[Dburr1014]

I have a screen. I've had a wrasse go in the overflow. I'd be worried that it got stuck IN the pipe.
If the drain cloggs is hear the overflow going, no screen on that one.