NEW plumbing method for an ULTRA QUIET REEF TANK!!!! LONG !!!!

[RocketSurgeon]

water must run through both overflows, or the water becomes stagnate.

[das75]

don't have a AGA but duel overflow with primary in one chamber, emergency in other and works great.

Was concerned about the stagnant water thing so was going to raise the lip height of the overflow with emergency but never did. What I did do was drill a hole in the side of the emergency drain standpipe so I have a small but continuous movement of water. My sump can easily handle the full volume of the chamber in a power outage but I still drilled it up near the top of the standpipe and have a 1/4"OD tubing running to the bottom. Since hole is near top, that's my siphon break

[geo11]

So if i drill a small hole on the side of the emergency drain I should be ok?

[geo11]

OK, so I've basically tried everything that everyone has suggested in order to quiet this down. But its still not as quiet as I want. So here's where I need help.

I'm gonna do the Herbie method. I've checked the tank and I do have enough space to add returns behind and over into the tank.

Since I've got dual overflows. Is it possible to use one return the way I am now, and just make one drain the siphon, the other drain the emergency, and make the other return an extra emergency drain as well?

Or is it better to make each overflow a siphon and emergency drain and run returns up and over the tank.

Which do I use for the siphon and which to use for the drain, taking into consideration each over flow has 3/4 for the return and 1" for the drain.

[TheFishMan65]

You do not want stagnant water. So I think you need to use one drain (3/4) in each overflow for a drain Ted and then the valve. You can then have one emergency assuming it takes the flow.

[das75]

I'm running a Herbie with duels but see here for a Bean with 2 overflows

[ForestG]

Hello everybody.

I am new here but I have been lurking around on this great forum for quite some time reading and reading and... reading.

After about ten years of planted tanks I am now planning my very first reef tank and, I must admit, my head spins with a million questions.

Is going to be a small tank, only 33 gallons - a cube of 50x50x50cm, on which I want to use Herbie's overflow design

I plan on using:-

- drains drilled into the back wall (with bulkheads)
- no overflow box
- strainers on the drain pipes for increased protection
- an Eheim Compact Plus return pump rated at 250 to 500gph (adjustable flow) in order to achieve a minimum 10x turnover of tank's volume through the sump.

The available rigid PVC pipe sizes here are 0.78", 0.98" and 1.26" OD (sorry but we use metric here - it's OD 20, 25 and 32mm - bigger sizes also available).

However the internal diameter of these pipes is only 0.67", 0.83" respectively 1.07" (sorry again for these dimensions).

Another problem would be that the ball valves (we do not have gate valves) for the 0.78 and 0.98 OD pipe has the same internal diameter of only 0.67" so IMHO not much benefit using 0.98" pipe.

My questions are
- what pipe size should I use for the drain and return
- how far apart the two drain bulkheads should be

Thanks beforehand for your help.

Gabriel

[plakat]

yeah, I've been wanting to ask as well. Is there a formula/guidelines to calculate the pipe size for the drain/emergency/return pipes in herbies setup? I'm running a 500GPH pump for a 50 Gal setup. would really appreciate any help. thanks!

[das75]

for pipe size take a look at BeanAnimal's calculator and figuring for a Herbie you'll be valving back, but just a 1" can give a fairly high flow.

[sheaD]

Does anyone know if it matters if your gate valve is closer to your bulkhead or closer to where the pipe ends and drains into the sump? I have a really good location for my gate valve but it is directly underneath my bulkhead. The gate valve would almost touch it actually. Was just wondering if there were pros/cons vs. the 2 options.

[RocketSurgeon]

Originally Posted by sheaD

Does anyone know if it matters if your gate valve is closer to your bulkhead or closer to where the pipe ends and drains into the sump? I have a really good location for my gate valve but it is directly underneath my bulkhead. The gate valve would almost touch it actually. Was just wondering if there were pros/cons vs. the 2 options.

From my understanding, you want the gate valve closer to the discharge, for ease of siphon start up, and reduce noise level (assuming you're using the gate valve for a siphon line).

[sheaD]

You assume correctly. Gate valve would be used for siphon line. Look like I'll be moving the valve closer to the discharge. Thank you.

[Rhodes19]

Ditto to moving it closer to the discharge. Less noise that way.

[banzai75x]

Can anyone comment if this setup is ok?

I have two holes in my overflow, 1.5" and 1". I plan on using the 1.5" as the main drain. My plumbing would be like this..

Bulkhead - 1.5"
1.5" pipe
T
1.5" -> 1.0" Reducer
Gate Valve
Sump

From the T - 1.5" > 1.0" Reducer
Ball Valve
Flows into refugium which is in the sump but on the other end.

I figure since I have 1.5" drain, I can divert some of that to the fuge. But does it even matter since my return pump is only a Tunze Silence 1073.040? (550GPH - 600gph)

[Rhodes19]

Originally Posted by banzai75x

Can anyone comment if this setup is ok?

I have two holes in my overflow, 1.5" and 1". I plan on using the 1.5" as the main drain. My plumbing would be like this..

Bulkhead - 1.5"
1.5" pipe
T
1.5" -> 1.0" Reducer
Gate Valve
Sump

From the T - 1.5" > 1.0" Reducer
Ball Valve
Flows into refugium which is in the sump but on the other end.

I figure since I have 1.5" drain, I can divert some of that to the fuge. But does it even matter since my return pump is only a Tunze Silence 1073.040? (550GPH - 600gph)

Hi Josh,

I don't have a set up like that but I think it would work. My only recommendation is to keep the pvc 1.5" through the T with the gate valve before the T and then reduce to 1" after the T. I think that will give you the most flexibility in the event that you up grade to a bigger pump. HTH

[TheFishMan65]

You may have trouble balancing it. And if both ends are under water you may create a siphon the drains the fuge. I have heard and not heard of these problems. I think it depends on the water flow into the fuge.

[banzai75x]

Thanks for the comments. I think I'm just going to try and plumb it this way. I have heard about the siphon as well.

I'll report back here as to what happens in a couple weeks once I get this all completed.

[TheFishMan65]

I hope it works I have been curious for a while why it works for some and not for others.

[Tony Romano]

Are sump & fuge on same level? I also think your pump maybe to light for 1.5 pipe. I run a 2700 gph and have trouble with 1.5 being a tad big. Is there room to split out put of your pump? If fuge was a few inches above sump you could go from pump to fuge back to sump and leave your tank return alone. This would be eaiser to adjust flows IMO.

I have 2 returns in my tank and find attempting to balance with silent flow a real bugger. I am assuming a split would be about the same.

Good luck!

[nctinter]

I have 2 holes drilled in my tank both 1 inch. Should I just use 1 inch pvc for both drains? Or 1.5" for emergency and 1" siphon? Or vice versa? Should I use a turned down 90 on either of them? Does it matter?
Thanks

[das75]

Originally Posted by nctinter

I have 2 holes drilled in my tank both 1 inch. Should I just use 1 inch pvc for both drains? Or 1.5" for emergency and 1" siphon? Or vice versa? Should I use a turned down 90 on either of them? Does it matter?
Thanks

1" could be ideal, depends on the flow you're planning.

[nctinter]

I would like to push 1500gph if not more

[Rhodes19]

1" would be good. Also you won't need a 90, just make it straight and have the top lower than the emergency drain.

[nctinter]

oh also the siphon needs to be air tight right? Can I use a threaded gate valve? Also I have both a 1 inch and a 1 1/4 inch gate valve that I can use. Any benefit to going to the 1 1/4 inch ? Or is the 1 inch fine?

[Rhodes19]

Originally Posted by nctinter

oh also the siphon needs to be air tight right? Can I use a threaded gate valve? Also I have both a 1 inch and a 1 1/4 inch gate valve that I can use. Any benefit to going to the 1 1/4 inch ? Or is the 1 inch fine?

Yeah, it needs to be air tight otherwise you get noise. The 1" threaded gate valve will be fine. Makes it easier to remove if you ever have to upgrade. HTH