Why the box?

[MorganAtlanta]

So thinking about reworking my design, again...

I'm reconsidering the "box" design for a two sided waterfall. What does the box do for you? Anything besides splash/spray protection? What's the advantage over the simple design with a hanging screen over the sump with lights and splash guards and no box? Does having the box "improve" 3D growth?

The big drawback of the box designs I used in the past was that I needed to pull the whole thing out every few weeks and give it a full cleaning or algae would start filling in over the windows and into the drains. The open, hanging screen doesn't have this issue.

[kotlec]

Box blocks light and prevents algae growing all around.

[MorganAtlanta]

So then if there was a "box" that blocked light, but had no bottom, would that be just as good as a box with a bottom?

[SantaMonica]

Yes, as far as protecting splash goes.

[Floyd R Turbo]

You would still get light out of the bottom of the box

[sklywag]

I get no stray algae growth on my box or in my sump. It's all clear acrylic. I did have a bottom on it but I built it too and just decided to cut it off and now it just falls in to sump. The water that is.