• Folks, if you've recently upgraded or renewed your annual club membership but it's still not active, please reach out to the BOD or a moderator. The PayPal system has a slight bug which it doesn't allow it to activate the account on it's own.

Dorso Question

MadReefer

Staff member
NJRC Member
Moderator
This weekend I noticed the DT water was a bit higher than usual because the overflow weir was dirty. I loosened the screw to slide the second curved piece down to clean the weir and dropped the curved piece and cannot reach it. So now my DT is about an inch lower in water, about 5g, than usual and my green toad stool sticks out a bit but the water movement does cover it. Is it worth pulling the dorso out to recover this piece and place as it was initially? If I do this will it cause the bulk heads to be loose?

Appreciate any feedback / suggestions.
 

redfishbluefish

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Mark, do you have a nose picker….sorry, that’s what my kids called it when they were growing up. I’d try using that to fish out the parts from the bottom of the overflow. If you don’t have one, they are pretty inexpensive….and I think some dollar stores might have them in their hardware section. A must have for an aquarium. Just rinse well after use to remove as much saltwater…they are metal.

Nose Picker.jpg

Nose Picker End.jpg
 

MadReefer

Staff member
NJRC Member
Moderator
Mark, do you have a nose picker….sorry, that’s what my kids called it when they were growing up. I’d try using that to fish out the parts from the bottom of the overflow. If you don’t have one, they are pretty inexpensive….and I think some dollar stores might have them in their hardware section. A must have for an aquarium. Just rinse well after use to remove as much saltwater…they are metal.

View attachment 48553

View attachment 48552
Thanks Paul. I believe the problem is the flat curved piece is still vertical against the main overflow and dorso pipes. This piece has a knob I could try and fish with a bent hook providing I can actually see what I am doing.
I made a mistake the knob is on the main piece of overflow so the flat curved piece fell down. I can try this tool and see if I somehow grab it and lift up.
 
Last edited:

redfishbluefish

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Couldn't quickly find it online at a dollar store, but did find it at Temu for under 2 bucks HERE or at Harbor Freight for $4 HERE. When I've ordered from Temu in the past, it took about a week to get here. So that's what they are called....flexible grabber tool.....I like nose picker better.
 

MadReefer

Staff member
NJRC Member
Moderator
I never installed that curved piece
Not sure why I kept it as it was partially broken so no matter how high up kept same flow.
Just checked with ladder and flashlight; the piece appears to be flat against the main overflow between the pipes.
It would be easier to move coral around instead of ripping this apart. So it will stay as is and keep an eye on the toadstool for any impact.
 
Not sure why I kept it as it was partially broken so no matter how high up kept same flow.
Just checked with ladder and flashlight; the piece appears to be flat against the main overflow between the pipes.
It would be easier to move coral around instead of ripping this apart. So it will stay as is and keep an eye on the toadstool for any impact.
Yeah just ditch it
 

horseplay

NJRC Member
You can just remove the stand pipe so you can put your hand in there. wiggle the pipe a little to losen it. I used to do that all the time to clean the weir.

I you question whether the bulkhead will come loose just tighten it the same way you put it on.I actually have a tool just for tightening the bulkheads back then the tool came with the tank.
 

MadReefer

Staff member
NJRC Member
Moderator
I can try to hook the flat piece with a hanger as it has slats/holes. Maybe a task for this weekend.
 
Top