Yeah, mesh screens definitely help, but honestly, they're kind of a pain to keep clear of debris. I've seen folks set them up and then forget about them—next thing you know, leaves and gunk pile up, water flow slows down, and you're back to square one. The dunks are decent enough, but personally, I've had better luck with just making sure the tanks stay sealed tight. Mosquitoes can't breed if they can't get in there in the first place.
Also, about those solar pumps—you're right about cloudy days being a bummer. If reliability matters (and it usually does), I'd recommend looking into a small battery backup or even a manual override option. It might seem like overkill at first, but trust me, you'll thank yourself the first time your system keeps running smoothly through a cloudy stretch or power outage...
I've been thinking about sealing my tanks too, but I'm wondering—doesn't that make it tricky to check water levels or clean inside occasionally? I'm pretty new at all this (first-time homeowner here), and I tried the mesh screen thing already. Honestly, it was a hassle with all the leaves and pine needles in my yard. Maybe a battery backup for the pump is worth looking into... cloudy days here are no joke.
I get why sealing seems appealing, but honestly, I prefer keeping mine accessible. Had a sealed one before and it was a pain whenever I needed to check levels or clean out gunk. Maybe try a finer mesh or angled screen setup instead?
Yeah, sealed setups can be a hassle. I tried finer mesh myself—cheap and easy fix. Still gotta clean occasionally, but way less gunk buildup overall. Worth a shot before investing in anything pricier.
Yeah, finer mesh definitely helps keep the bigger debris out—good call there. Have you noticed any difference in water flow rate since switching to a finer mesh? I've heard some folks mention it slows things down a bit. Still, sounds like a solid compromise if it means less frequent cleaning. Honestly, anything that cuts down on maintenance headaches is worth trying first before shelling out for pricier gear...
