Using Herbie drain...want to tee off for water changes..good or bad idea?

Canuck007 · 07/04/2018, 09:47 AM

So as the title says, I'm interested to know if teeing of the main drain line (2nd line is there as emergency) so that I can divert the water to 5 gallon containers (instead of to the sump) for doing water changes is a good idea or not? Right now i stick a pump in the display to pull out 15-20 gallons of water, a bit of pain but doable.

It seems like a few places suggest not to do it as it may interfere with the siphon but just curious if anyone has done it and does it work?

Or how do you guys get the water out for changes? I don't have access to a basement or fish room etc.

thanks!

mcgyvr · 07/04/2018, 11:49 AM

Once you start taking water out the overflow will drain and it wont work...try again

I highly doubt your overflow has more than a gallon or so before its done...
Unless you mean a continuous where you are pumping water in while taking it out

Canuck007 · 07/04/2018, 11:56 AM

Thanks for your replies. About 20 gallons drains from the tank to the sump. So if I divert it, I should be able to catch a fair amount of it. My slits on the overflow box go down about 2.5 inches so alot drains down to the sump once return pump stops. It's 150 tank with a 60 gallon sump.

mcgyvr · 07/04/2018, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canuck007

Thanks for your replies. About 20 gallons drains from the tank to the sump. So if I divert it, I should be able to catch a fair amount of it. My slits on the overflow box go down about 2.5 inches so alot drains down to the sump once return pump stops. It's 150 tank with a 60 gallon sump.

So yes if you can drain that much then go for it

hkgar · 07/04/2018, 01:28 PM

If you are doing 15-20 gallon water changes, have you considered getting a controller (Apex is mine) and doing automatic water changes? I change 4 gallons/day with an auto system.

homer1475 · 07/04/2018, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

If you are doing 15-20 gallon water changes, have you considered getting a controller (Apex is mine) and doing automatic water changes? I change 4 gallons/day with an auto system.

+1
If I had the space, this would be my choice.

As to your original question, if your draining that much from the overflow, then go for it.

I have a spare MJ pump that is in my sump with a hose attached. I simply press a button and that tells my apex to go into a maintenance mode where that pump kicks on and all my equipment shuts off. I just have to lug a 5 gallon bucket to the sink to empty. Then a long hose from my mixing station refills the sump.

hkgar · 07/04/2018, 02:38 PM

To do auto continuous water change, you need to be able to pump the old water to a drain, or storage tank. I like that my sump is in the basement and I had a tee inserted into a stand pipe

07/04/2018, 09:47 AM	#1
Canuck007 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 198	Using Herbie drain...want to tee off for water changes..good or bad idea? So as the title says, I'm interested to know if teeing of the main drain line (2nd line is there as emergency) so that I can divert the water to 5 gallon containers (instead of to the sump) for doing water changes is a good idea or not? Right now i stick a pump in the display to pull out 15-20 gallons of water, a bit of pain but doable. It seems like a few places suggest not to do it as it may interfere with the siphon but just curious if anyone has done it and does it work? Or how do you guys get the water out for changes? I don't have access to a basement or fish room etc. thanks!

07/04/2018, 11:49 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Once you start taking water out the overflow will drain and it wont work...try again I highly doubt your overflow has more than a gallon or so before its done... Unless you mean a continuous where you are pumping water in while taking it out __________________ Who me? Last edited by mcgyvr; 07/04/2018 at 11:55 AM.

07/04/2018, 01:28 PM	#5
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	If you are doing 15-20 gallon water changes, have you considered getting a controller (Apex is mine) and doing automatic water changes? I change 4 gallons/day with an auto system. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

07/04/2018, 02:38 PM	#7
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	To do auto continuous water change, you need to be able to pump the old water to a drain, or storage tank. I like that my sump is in the basement and I had a tee inserted into a stand pipe __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

07/04/2018, 11:56 AM	#3
Canuck007 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 198	Thanks for your replies. About 20 gallons drains from the tank to the sump. So if I divert it, I should be able to catch a fair amount of it. My slits on the overflow box go down about 2.5 inches so alot drains down to the sump once return pump stops. It's 150 tank with a 60 gallon sump.