herbie main drain question

Mrbeachbum2 · 09/03/2010, 09:53 AM

How many inches from the bottom of the glass should the main drain be utilizing the herbie method? Right now I have it about 6-7 inches and the tank is running kind of loud. If I close the gate valve a little bit, the water in the return pump chamber decreases. I tried adding more water but that really didn't help.

Do you cover the emergency flow?

Mavrk · 09/03/2010, 10:17 AM

It should be 1/2 to 3/4 of the height of your overflow box. Do you have any pictures? The gate valve is supposed to be on the drain, not on your return pump. It sounds like you put it on your return pump.

The drain with the gate valve is your main siphon. This should be under water in your sump. The emergency drain has no gate valve and should be above the water line in your sump. The return goes over the back of your tank and is not part of the overflow.

DustinB · 09/03/2010, 10:21 AM

Do you have a picture of your setup? My water level runs an inch above the main drain. My emergency drain is a couple inches above that. I don't have any of the drains covered.

You don't have your drain in an overflow box?

Mavrk · 09/03/2010, 10:25 AM

I would put a strainer cap or perforated pipe on the top of the emergency just to keep snails out.

Mavrk · 09/03/2010, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DustinB

You don't have your drain in an overflow box?

Where did you get that from what they said? Did I miss something?

DustinB · 09/03/2010, 10:30 AM

"6-7 inches from the bottom of the glass" Maybe I'm just picturing a hole in the side of the tank.

Mavrk · 09/03/2010, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DustinB

"6-7 inches from the bottom of the glass" Maybe I'm just picturing a hole in the side of the tank.

Yeah, I think he means the top of the drain pipe is 6-7" from the bottom. Or at least I AssUMed so since this is a Herbie. I think that he should be talking about how close it is to the top of the overflow rather than how tall the pipe is. I believe about 3" below the top is normal.

I guess the gate valve is not on the return since he said restricting the gate valve made the return chamber lower, not rise.

I would use a durso for the emergency pipe.

Mavrk · 09/03/2010, 10:41 AM

Oh... one more question for the OP. Did you seal/glue the drain to the bulkhead? I believe that is necessary to create a 100% siphon.

Mrbeachbum2 · 09/03/2010, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mavrk

Oh... one more question for the OP. Did you seal/glue the drain to the bulkhead? I believe that is necessary to create a 100% siphon.

I did not.

I fixed the problem. I needed to close the gate valve a little more so water in the overflow would stop splashing. Then, I added a little more water to the return chamber. It's fixed now.

Thanks for the quick responses. Greatly appreciated!

DustinB · 09/03/2010, 02:52 PM

One thing to note, over the next day or you will probably have one or both of the following: either the emergency drain will trickle over and make sounds in the sump, or the main drain will suck a little air now and then.

Make sure you only adjust the valve a tiny bit at a time and wait about 20-30 minutes. I do mean a tiny bit. After a day or 2 you should be able to get it dialed in where there is no noise either way. The water level will fluctuate throughout the day, this helps you find the sweet spot between the 2 levels.

Mavrk · 09/03/2010, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrbeachbum2

I did not.

I fixed the problem. I needed to close the gate valve a little more so water in the overflow would stop splashing. Then, I added a little more water to the return chamber. It's fixed now.

Thanks for the quick responses. Greatly appreciated!

So the problem was that the water in the overflow was too low, so there was a waterfall affect? But the drain itself was silent.

Mrbeachbum2 · 09/03/2010, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mavrk

So the problem was that the water in the overflow was too low, so there was a waterfall affect? But the drain itself was silent.

Yes, correct.

Have a silent system when I turn off the skimmer. The reef octopus xtreme 200 is way too loud.

Thanks for all the help!

Mavrk · 09/03/2010, 04:27 PM

Cool, I was thinking of changing to a Herbie, but I don't need a lot of flow to my sump anyway. So I just restricted the return way down until I got no air bubbles. Of course this is when I discovered that my Mag Drive had a piece missing from the cover so it began rattling really loudly. I ordered the 5 dollar piece that will be here next week. If it still isn't quiet enough I may go with a Herbie.

Mrbeachbum2 · 09/03/2010, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mavrk

Cool, I was thinking of changing to a Herbie, but I don't need a lot of flow to my sump anyway. So I just restricted the return way down until I got no air bubbles. Of course this is when I discovered that my Mag Drive had a piece missing from the cover so it began rattling really loudly. I ordered the 5 dollar piece that will be here next week. If it still isn't quiet enough I may go with a Herbie.

I hope that piece works for you. I ended up purchasing an Eheim becaue of noise. The skimmer pump is really annoying. Does your current plumbing have an emergency drain?

I get paranoid easily and have tested out the herbies emergency drains it it's definitely brilliant. All the best.

09/03/2010, 09:53 AM	#1
Mrbeachbum2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,093	herbie main drain question How many inches from the bottom of the glass should the main drain be utilizing the herbie method? Right now I have it about 6-7 inches and the tank is running kind of loud. If I close the gate valve a little bit, the water in the return pump chamber decreases. I tried adding more water but that really didn't help. Do you cover the emergency flow?

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09/03/2010, 10:17 AM	#2
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	It should be 1/2 to 3/4 of the height of your overflow box. Do you have any pictures? The gate valve is supposed to be on the drain, not on your return pump. It sounds like you put it on your return pump. The drain with the gate valve is your main siphon. This should be under water in your sump. The emergency drain has no gate valve and should be above the water line in your sump. The return goes over the back of your tank and is not part of the overflow.

09/03/2010, 10:21 AM	#3
DustinB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,532	Do you have a picture of your setup? My water level runs an inch above the main drain. My emergency drain is a couple inches above that. I don't have any of the drains covered. You don't have your drain in an overflow box?

09/03/2010, 10:25 AM	#4
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	I would put a strainer cap or perforated pipe on the top of the emergency just to keep snails out.

09/03/2010, 10:30 AM	#6
DustinB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,532	"6-7 inches from the bottom of the glass" Maybe I'm just picturing a hole in the side of the tank.

09/03/2010, 10:41 AM	#8
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	Oh... one more question for the OP. Did you seal/glue the drain to the bulkhead? I believe that is necessary to create a 100% siphon.

09/03/2010, 02:52 PM	#10
DustinB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,532	One thing to note, over the next day or you will probably have one or both of the following: either the emergency drain will trickle over and make sounds in the sump, or the main drain will suck a little air now and then. Make sure you only adjust the valve a tiny bit at a time and wait about 20-30 minutes. I do mean a tiny bit. After a day or 2 you should be able to get it dialed in where there is no noise either way. The water level will fluctuate throughout the day, this helps you find the sweet spot between the 2 levels.

09/03/2010, 04:27 PM	#13
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	Cool, I was thinking of changing to a Herbie, but I don't need a lot of flow to my sump anyway. So I just restricted the return way down until I got no air bubbles. Of course this is when I discovered that my Mag Drive had a piece missing from the cover so it began rattling really loudly. I ordered the 5 dollar piece that will be here next week. If it still isn't quiet enough I may go with a Herbie.