180 Gallon Marineland Overflow question

[Fishcrazy06]

I know this is been asked quite a few times but I am curious what everyones opinions are on what to use for the overflow plumbing? Durso? Or HGB? I plan on using the 2 holes in each overflow. One for the return and one for the drain. I don't want to bring the return plumbing up and over the back of the tank as I want the tank as close to the wall as possible. Let me know what you all suggest and why? Also any pictures of your setup would be awesome as well.

Thank you in advance.

 

[BIGD0G]

Subscribing to this thread as I have the same tank that I will be setting up shortly and would like to hear others thoughts on this as well.

 

[tufkab]

I had one. It's a really bad design.

That being said, Go durso. Use a return pump that's on the smaller side of your bare minimum requirements and use powerheads for additional in-tank flow. If you keep the return flow fairly low durso drains can be somewhat quiet.

 

[ca1ore]

I'm about to begin planning the plumbing on a dual overflow Marineland 265. What I'm thinking of doing is setting up one of the overflows in herbie style - a full siphon though one of the bulkheads, and an overflow drain through the other. In the second corner overflow I will use one of the bulkheads as an overflow (to feed my ATS) and then the second as my main pump return. You really just need 2-3 times tank volume turnover through the sump, but you also need to set up your drains so that both corner overflows are active and not stagnating (which might require more flow). In-tank water movement is far better accomplished with power-heads.

 

[BIGD0G]

Is there an advantage to the herbie method vs. the durso drain? I want the drains to be quiet but still allow the water flow needed so as to not cause other problems.

 

[ca1ore]

Well, the herbie runs most of the drain water via a full siphon, which is both completely silent and does not introduce bubbles into your sump. Lots of good descriptions of herbies here on RC.

 

[leveldrummer]

Just run 2 dursos, you can tune them to be very quiet, the ones ive had in the past had more sound from the water falling into the overflow box then from the drain pipe itself.

Dont go crazy with your return pump, get your return pump to match the flow of your skimmer, there is no reason to go any stronger then that. (maybe just a little faster then your skimmer can process)

all other flow should come from powerheads or a closed loop, which should all be rather quiet.

 

[SGT_York]

A joint Herbie will be the quietest with max flow.
first 3/4 bulkhead is your return, first 1" is herbie, second 3/4 is herbie joint, second 1" is emergency dry or durso. Plumb your 1" herbie and 3/4" herbie together under the stand using 1.5" pipe T down to a single gate valve 1.5" second 1" durso/dry runs straight down into sump. You need to tie both herbies together prior to the gate valve to balance the height, you could also use two gates but they are difficult to set as one will likely affect the other. The balanced method is great and can handle more flow than you will have.

Two durso's work fine too but you will need lots of PH's or perhaps just two good ones.

 

[BIGD0G]

Thanks everyone for the replies and info it is all good. Sorry Fishcrazy06 for highjacking your thread but I figure you may have some of the same questions as well.

Originally I was planning to use to pumps each feeding a separate return but with the Herbie methos as desscribed by SGT York only one return pump can be used. If going this route I take it that it is better to use just the one pump and then add powerheads to the tank for added flow. The pumps I have are little giant pumps. I guess I could use one as a spare.

I guess my question now is it better to use the Herbie method with one return pump or durso method with 2 return pumps?

thanks for all the help.

 

[Fishcrazy06]

I am still not sure what method to use. I want the tank as tight as possible to the wall. I want two return lines and not just one. So now I am possibly looking at keeping it the way it is but use a hover gurgle buster

 

[ca1ore]

Originally I was planning to use to pumps each feeding a separate return but with the Herbie methos as desscribed by SGT York only one return pump can be used. If going this route I take it that it is better to use just the one pump and then add powerheads to the tank for added flow. The pumps I have are little giant pumps. I guess I could use one as a spare.

I guess my question now is it better to use the Herbie method with one return pump or durso method with 2 return pumps?

Once you have done a herbie, you will never want to go back to a durso standpipe (even a dual one) - it is so much better, and quieter, and less messy (much less salt buildup in sump). The approach suggested by SGT York makes perfect sense and would be the way I'd go. Keep in mind that as long as you run 2-3 times tank volume through the ump hourly you will be fine. I see no particular benefit to running dual pumps from the sump, far better to reserve one as a spare. use in-tank power-heads for flow - more efficient and more effective.

 

[SGT_York]

You could use a 1" line as your return from both 3/4" pump outlets. Or use the original herbie in each overflow 3/4 return 1" herbie. Downside to this is there will be some sound from water cascading over the overflow, you could raise the herbie water level but will have to do maintenance to keep the strainers clean or you will have an overflow. Either way it will be better than a HOB overflow, maintenance and risk wise. With two 3/4" pumps your durso's will be very loud, if you want enough flow to justify more than one 3/4" pipe. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[offroadr]

I have struggled with durso noise and will be converting. I just cant get them quiet, I have messed with flow, height, and air bleed size.

ca1ore - do you have pics of your herbie setup? Do you have a screen on your input?

 

[Twwety]

Herbie all the way. The ceiling fan above my tank is louder then my over flow. Cut a hole in the wall and run the returns over the top. I did this with the tank tight to the wall and the loc-line threw the provided slots. My last tank had a durso overflow and there's no way I could put up with it again. Not to mention all the salt creep from the splashing in the sump.

 

[offroadr]

Herbie all the way. The ceiling fan above my tank is louder then my over flow. Cut a hole in the wall and run the returns over the top. I did this with the tank tight to the wall and the loc-line threw the provided slots. My last tank had a durso overflow and there's no way I could put up with it again. Not to mention all the salt creep from the splashing in the sump.

Did you have a second as an emergency?

 

[BIGD0G]

Thanks for all the help. I will go the herbie route and only use the one pump then. I think the pump I have will give me about 3.5 times the tank flowing through the sump.

 

[fltekdiver]

A joint Herbie will be the quietest with max flow.
first 3/4 bulkhead is your return, first 1" is herbie, second 3/4 is herbie joint, second 1" is emergency dry or durso. Plumb your 1" herbie and 3/4" herbie together under the stand using 1.5" pipe T down to a single gate valve 1.5" second 1" durso/dry runs straight down into sump. You need to tie both herbies together prior to the gate valve to balance the height, you could also use two gates but they are difficult to set as one will likely affect the other. The balanced method is great and can handle more flow than you will have.

Two durso's work fine too but you will need lots of PH's or perhaps just two good ones.

I have the Herbie on my 120, and want to set it up on my 180 with corner over flows

I had a heck of a time, always adjusting the gate valve on the main Herbie drain, to match my return pump, and Refugium which fed off my return.

Getting the 3 tuned was quit the choir

I'm not following tying in the two herbie's with Tee

Anyone have a sketch of this?

 

[locke_333]

your probably searching to far. here one explanation of the general idea but in application, setup can vary.

left corner herbie -> T <- right corner herbie
(and bellow the T, you have the gate valve- sorry didn't find a symbol to that one )

so closing the gate valve located bellow the T slow the flow of both herbie.

Clearer?

it's how i'm gone do mine as well ( building the stand now )

 

[locke_333]

or even post #1336 http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=17974799

 

[fltekdiver]

Ok, so both sides the drain is below the water, and full siphon?
Then, your using one line for return, and the other for emergency right?

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using Tap Talk