Herbie Help

[duncangweller]

Hi All,

I'm having a bit of trouble with my Herbie setup.

This is the third tank in which I have run a Herbie and the only one I have had any problems with.

In the past I have been able to tune the overflow gate valve very easily and it would maintain a constant water level for months or until I flushed the valve.

It's only on my current tank (which has been setup for 6 months now) that I have problems.

It seems that, many times a day the level in my overflow drops or raises. It is starting to get really annoying as I am constantly fiddling with the gate valve trying to get it right. Sometimes even 5/6 times a day.

The other annoying thing is that when the level drops in the overflow it splashes water up the wall and that equals an unhappy lady friend. So you can appreciate my desire to get it sorted.

The main overflow pipe is approximately 5" below the surface with the emergency being a cm below the top of the teeth in the overflow.

I tune the Herbie with a gate valve.

If anyone has any advice in what may be going wrong I would greatly appreciate it.

Much obliged,
Dunc

[HaZRaTTy]

To make this easier could you please post.

Pictures

Return pump GPH

Emergency/Drain PVC size.

---Your overflow box's water level is varying and draining to quickly? or is it going up/down/up/down.

Post those up and might be able to suggest things. where is your Gatevalve located.


Your tuning your gatevalve to let a small amount of water drain through your emergency drain in your overflow box right???

[duncangweller]

Both drains are 1".

Return pump is an eheim 1262 in sump with around 4ft lift over the back of the tank.

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[duncangweller]

The level in the overflow is going up>down>up>down

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[HaZRaTTy]

Looks like your not running any water through your emergency drain.. I don't care what anyone says you should be running a slight trickle through your emergency.. It will keep your overflow box at a constant height.

1'' is more then enough to handle flow.

There should be approx 6'' between your main drain and your emergency.

[HaZRaTTy]

http://gmacreef.com/herbie-overflow-...method-basics/


One of the best articles I have ever read about the use of a Herbie Overflow.

[The Guy]

Originally Posted by HaZRaTTy

Looks like your not running any water through your emergency drain.. I don't care what anyone says you should be running a slight trickle through your emergency.. It will keep your overflow box at a constant height.

1'' is more then enough to handle flow.

There should be approx 6'' between your main drain and your emergency.

+1 to the slight trickle down the over flow, I was having level trouble until I started do this, otherwise it's too hard trying to match your return pump output with the gate valve.

[spit.fire]

are you running an ato?

[KLUW]

Originally Posted by The Guy

+1 to the slight trickle down the over flow, I was having level trouble until I started do this, otherwise it's too hard trying to match your return pump output with the gate valve.

+2. Same here, nice and silent!

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by spit.fire

are you running an ato?

That would be my first guess too , an ato is a must as the water level in the return has to be stable.

I never run my Hebrie with a trickle down the drain.

Filter socks , water levels in the return pump are the usual causes of fluctuations.