Cleaning the corner overflow

Hi Guys,

I am hoping that someone will have an easy answer for me. One section of the aquarium that I cannot really get to and clean is the overflow corner in my aquarium. I think my tank is an all-glass that has been pre-drilled and has the plastic corner cover covering the plumbing. I have the two pipes and my heater in there now. Correct me of I am wrong, but the water will gush down into the sump if i pull the out. I was thinking that maybe I could cap them off from the bottom, but didn't really want to take off the hoses since they have a good seal. My diamond goby is still getting the fine sand out and I would like to get the layer that is building out. Thanks in advance. If you need a picture of what I am talking about, I can take one or find one on the net.

Regards,
Ivy

 

Hey Ivy, I really don't touch my over flow. If you want to, what...clean out the detritus from the bottom? If so, shut off the return pump so the water level is below the slits in the over flow and then siphon the water out from the over flow making sure the siphon tube is near the bottom, then fill it back up with salted water, like you are doing a water change. Is this what you are looking for?

 

Thanks for the reply. I just can't seem to get anything down in there with the two pipes attached. I have some algae on the glass and the pipes have some brown algae on the glass. I would like to get off. I can sort of get a toothbrush down in there but not all around. Thanks!!!!!

 

take a 1/2 inch rubber hose and slide it down between the pipes to syphon out the sand off the bottom. use a soft hose that is very flexable.
you could also rubberband a wrag around a small wooden dowel (or whatever) to wipe down the pipes