I'm also leaning towards keeping things simple, but a few things I've noticed since setting mine up:
- Mesh filters alone worked fine at first, but after a couple of heavy rains, I did notice some overflow. Nothing disastrous, but definitely annoying.
- Tank size seems to matter quite a bit. Mine's relatively small (around 200 gallons), so it fills quickly in heavy rain. A neighbor with a larger tank doesn't seem to have this issue nearly as often.
- Gutter setup probably plays a role too. My gutters are older and narrower, so they clog easily with leaves and debris, which then leads to quicker mesh blockage.
Thinking about upgrading either my gutters or adding a diverter myself, but haven't decided yet. Has anyone tried those leaf guard systems combined with mesh filters? Wondering if that combo might reduce overflow issues without complicating things too much...
Agree with most of your points, especially about gutter size and tank capacity. A couple things I'd add from experience:
- Leaf guards combined with mesh filters can help, but they're not foolproof. I've seen setups where smaller debris still slips through, eventually causing blockages anyway.
- Diverters are decent, but they can get finicky over time—especially if you don't clean them regularly.
- Honestly, upgrading to wider gutters made the biggest difference for me. Less clogging, fewer overflows, and way less maintenance overall.
Just my two cents...
Good points overall, especially about wider gutters—made a noticeable difference for me too. One thing I'd add is the importance of a proper first-flush system. I initially skipped it, thinking it was overkill, but after seeing how much dirt and sediment builds up in the tank without one... definitely reconsidered. Also, positioning matters more than you'd think; placing tanks in shaded areas helps reduce algae growth significantly. Learned that the hard way.
Totally agree on the first-flush thing—thought it was just marketing hype at first, but man, the gunk that collects without it is nasty. Curious though, anyone tried painting their tanks dark to reduce algae instead of relying on shade? Heard mixed things about that...
"Curious though, anyone tried painting their tanks dark to reduce algae instead of relying on shade? Heard mixed things about that..."
I've heard about the dark paint method too, but honestly, I'm a bit skeptical. Algae growth isn't just about light exposure—temperature and water quality play big roles as well. Dark colors might actually absorb more heat, potentially warming the water inside and creating an environment algae love. I mean, it could help block some sunlight, sure, but you might be trading one problem for another.
Personally, I'd focus more on keeping the water moving and filtered properly. Maybe consider a fine mesh screen or something similar that still allows airflow but blocks direct sunlight without trapping heat? I've seen setups where people built simple covers or screens that worked pretty well without complicating things too much.
Just my two cents...would hate to see someone go through all the hassle of painting their tank only to end up with warmer water and even more algae headaches down the line.