water temps up here are not SoFLo hot, and we don't have weeds thus like y'all do. we also don't get girls in thongs up here like SoFLo
. I don't like the clamshell style ramming water into my system. its all a minor point go with what ya want on the strainer in the northeast weeds are not that bad at least around the Cape. I like the round perforated, and proved it rams plenty of water on plane to keep multiple bluefish alive in a 40 gallon Kodiak. the other note is the clamshell I think threads onto the seacock. I prefer the 3 piece seacock setup, with separate strainer on bottom not threaded-4 pieces with strainer. at a later date if needed, any part of the setup can be replaced. make sure you use a piece of Penske or similar, or wood, glass over, and place the flanged seacock on that. make sure you think about transducers and water turbulence. use marine exhaust hose double clamped every connection.
ah square grouper. we had some on the cape but I was like 5 years old. good stories though.