Herbie Overflow - Starting over

Coralgurl · #1 01-29-2014, 11:19 PM

I need to redo my overflows - we did our herbie set up incorrectly and finally after 2 years of waterfalls, need to fix this up. I have 2 corner overflows with one drain each. On my emergency drain, we have the pipe slightly higher than the water line by like 1/8". I've read it should be slightly lower to assist restarting the siphon. In this overflow I have a little non intentional refugium going as the water really doesn't move unless my main drain fills - usually due to filter socks. Of course its lower than the top of the tank so no risk of flooding. Should I adjust the height of this drain?

I currently do not have a pipe in the main drain (reason for endless waterfalls no matter how I adjust, it resets to the same level), and I know this should be 6" lower than the emergency - no concerns there. I do have a gate valve on this drain.

And finally, plumbing - I have never secured my plumbing under the tank and I need to do this as well. I have what I need, just have to complete. Is it best to have the pumps on or off to secure? I assume off to reduce the water weight in the lines and then let the strapping carry the weight.

Thanks

mark · #2 01-30-2014, 12:11 AM

I've got 2 overflows as well. My emergency is just at tank level but threaded a 90 1/4od fitting pointed downward into the stand pipe with a little tubing to get some flow in chamber. Know water not stagnate as pulled out fat fish after MIA for weeks

On main went years without standpipe but since added one and it ends maybe 10" below surface. Only put in to reduce flow back to sump if power fails.

Gate valve directly above sump and it controls the level in the main chamber and easy to adjust from just going over lip to point were main starting to draw air. Keep high though so no waterfall noise.

Strapped all my lines before added water.

Coralgurl · #3 01-30-2014, 03:55 PM

Thanks Mark. I think I will drop the height of the pipe in the emergency drain slightly to keep water moving. Can you post a pic of your emergency drain? I can't picture how you've set this up but it sounds like a good plan. I'm ok with the algae build up as well as it keeps it out of my display and I don't have any issues with the tank, there are a couple snail shells in there but sure they are dead.

No issues with the amount of water from the overflow into the sump, I can let it completely drain, as well as let it back flow from my returns and still have capacity in the sump. My issue is the noise more than anything.

gregzz4 · #4 01-31-2014, 01:50 AM

My emerg is at a level I'm comfortable with so it can't spill over the top. No other reason for the height and I run my box level about an inch below it

My main is taped and threaded hand tight into the bulkhead. It started out quite tall as I was trying to eliminate it all draining during pump off
I chopped a bit off at a time until it was low enough to be quiet and believe it's sitting somewhere around 4" tall ?, which puts it about 17" below the very top of the tank ... ? maybe ?

If you need to know send me a PM and I'll throw a tape in there this weekend

Oh, little tip
Try to have your emerg sloping constantly downhill. Then you don't need to worry about stagnant water
I don't run a trickle through my emerg on purpose as some do and it's fine

mark · #5 02-01-2014, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coralgurl

Thanks Mark. I think I will drop the height of the pipe in the emergency drain slightly to keep water moving. Can you post a pic of your emergency drain? I can't picture how you've set this up but it sounds like a good plan.

emergency just at tank level

fitting w/tubing for circulation, coupler sits on top of standpipe, small stub as was easy way to adjust total standpipe height when first setting up emergency

Coralgurl · #6 02-01-2014, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregzz4

My emerg is at a level I'm comfortable with so it can't spill over the top. No other reason for the height and I run my box level about an inch below it

My main is taped and threaded hand tight into the bulkhead. It started out quite tall as I was trying to eliminate it all draining during pump off
I chopped a bit off at a time until it was low enough to be quiet and believe it's sitting somewhere around 4" tall ?, which puts it about 17" below the very top of the tank ... ? maybe ?

If you need to know send me a PM and I'll throw a tape in there this weekend

Oh, little tip
Try to have your emerg sloping constantly downhill. Then you don't need to worry about stagnant water
I don't run a trickle through my emerg on purpose as some do and it's fine

Thanks Greg, the stagnant water is what is sitting in the overflow, occassionally the main drain fills up if I forget about the filter sock but not enough to clean it out. The emerg line into the sump is sloped so water does drain.

I'll probably start it around 17" and see how that works. We ended up buying 20' of PVC so got lots to work with...

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark

emergency just at tank level

fitting w/tubing for circulation, coupler sits on top of standpipe, small stub as was easy way to adjust total standpipe height when first setting up emergency

That makes sense, thanks for posting the pics. Will hopefully get to this over the weekend.

gregzz4 · #7 02-01-2014, 02:56 AM

I'm procrastinating a WC, so here ya go

BTW, I just finished washing my tape measure ...... Just for you Sheena

My main is currently 11-1/4" and my box water level is 16"
My emerg is 17" and I have another 3" + to tank spilling over
I also have a float valve to cut the return pump power before it reaches the top of the box
The fitting on my emerg is of no consequence; it just ended up there from spare parts to make the standpipe

BTW, it took days for my box to quiet itself down as it needed a bacterial film to help the water flow 'stick' to the edges of the over part and such

Whatever you do, give it time between changes/adjustments
Good luck and I hope you get a quiet box out of all your work

Here's some crappy pics for ya that I took blindly as the light surround is in the way for viewing what the camera sees;

Main barely visible

Emerg

Emerg and box height ... maybe a wasted pic post but someone may be helped by it

Coralgurl · #8 02-02-2014, 01:55 AM

Got the new standpipe in today, cut it at 17". Had to adjust the gate valve and return flow a bit, but it's much quieter. I'll give it a few days to settle before making further adjustments. The water level is about 2" higher than the pipe and I can still hear the water but it's much better.

Now to see if I can find a way to quiet the radion fans.

gregzz4 · #9 02-08-2014, 06:33 PM

So any new news ?

Coralgurl · #10 02-09-2014, 06:01 PM

It's still noisy, but not as bad. Something is going on in my tank as my skimmer went nuts after I turned it back on last night after I fed my fish and still hasn't settled. Having the skimmer off affected the flow, so made some adjustments as there wasn't much I could do, we had company that just left this morning.

Even with the higher water level, it sounds like a leaky faucet. I am home for the day so will be able to tinker.