Herbie or Durso?

[wildman926]

Originally Posted by tegee

Ok...so the picture is getting clearer. So with the Herbie you have two drain pipes of equal size with the main drain install with a ball/gate valve. The main drain is "fully" submerged and the secondary drain is "right at" the top of pool and/or water high at normal operating level.

Some of the benefits are: backup protection in case one of the drain fails and less noise from draining? Does this sound correct? Also, does it really quiet down the tank that much? As mentioned, I have run three tanks now over the past 8 years in the hobby and all had or have Durso standpipes. I really never noticed any major noise issues. maybe because I am so used o it I guess.

Does anyone have some nice install pics to share on an internal or external overflow box? I just had my tank drilled from the bottom with only two holes, so if I do decide to go Herbie I will simply have to run the return on the outside rear of the tank and use one of those fancy elbows to get the water back in, etc.

Many thx for the replies so far.....and great info

It is dead silent. I have my 80g in my bedroom. I only hear the air intake of the protien skimmer (going to fix that soon).

All you have to do is on the second drain in the overflow box, add a spacer or pvc female slip connector on top. If you need more height, just ad pvc on the top of the slip connector. Easy as pie.

[das75]

Originally Posted by wildman926

The only problem with this setup is, that the secondary drain is not =/> the full siphon. It needs to be the same diameter or greater than the full siphon. With it wide open, and the main drain with full siphon clogs, it needs to handle the complete overflow. It needs to be wide open, to make that god aweful noise that we are trying to get rid of in the first place, to alert you that the main overflow has failed.

Running screens around the drains helps to avoid the failure, like in my pic above.

Indicator that your flowing through the secondary is also the splashing noise in the sump is you leave the drain above the sumps normal water lvl

[sushibug]

Originally Posted by wildman926

Yes, I do run an ATO. If you notice in the last picture of my post above, there is an Eshopps float valve. That is for my ATO. The container is next to the stand.

You have to ensure that you do not have a pump that over runs the siphon of the first drain. I am maxed at this with my Eheim 1262, 3/4" return line, 5' of head. It restarts everytime. When the pump is stopped, the second drain will also be used until the siphon effect takes place. Works like a charm.

An ATO should be the very next thing someone sets up after their wet/dry or fuge, sump, etc. There are too many advantages in having them, both in operation, water chemistry, and affects to the animals in the tanks (i.e. stable water).

Here is my container to the left of these dated pics. It is an Eclipse 6 tank only, on a self made wooden stand, and a 1/4" John Guest valve plumbed into the side (gotta use super glue gel, then silicone to seal).

I don't understand... you are saying you use an ATO to reach equillibrium with the herbie HOB overflow or you have one just to top off evaporation?

[TheFishMan65]

By using the ATO to top of for evaporation the Herbie says in equilibrium. With out it the system would probably start to pump less water the level would lower and a vortex would form in the over flow. Which would slow the flow to the pump and a siphon would reform, and repeat

[wildman926]

Originally Posted by sushibug

i don't understand... You are saying you use an ato to reach equillibrium with the herbie hob overflow or you have one just to top off evaporation?

both

Originally Posted by thefishman65

by using the ato to top of for evaporation the herbie says in equilibrium.

yes