220 gallon Build-Help with herbie vs. durso plumbing and to manifold or not

[Neurovet]

Thanks for entertaining this post. Graduated to a new job/town/house a few years ago and finally get to setup my reeftank. My experience is with a 90g LPS/SPS tank that ran for 3 years before the move. The current setup is an in-wall 220 dual overflow tank that drains to an acrylic 4 chamber 4x3x2 sump. External wall is going to be an accent reclaimed wood design. Tank stand is based off rocket engineers guidance (thanks) and saltwater mixing station is setup (thanks to RC posts). Rock is curing so its time to get this thing plumbed.
My previous tank was a single overflow setup as a herbie. The current tank has 2 1" bulkheads in each overflow and comes with durso standpipes. I have a reeflo dart hybrid for a return. I've done my research and read every post I could find regarding durso or herbie for dual overflows as well as gmacreef posts which were very informative. I can run return over the back. I cannot redrill the tank or connct the two overflows.
Here is where I need help...As you can see from the pictures I wanted the sump uncovered for easy access after having struggles with all my equipment under my last stand. There is 10" of vertical drop between the tank and stand.
Questions:
1. My reading suggests a herbie is preferable. I'm not so much concerned about noise, just adequate flow through the tank and bubbles.However, there will be a significant horizontal-ish run from the far overflow (about 8 feet). I was going to use 1" spa flex but does this preclude the use of a herbie because of trouble starting the siphon? I've never run a durso...Is it adequate for this application and are all the negative durso posts just fear mongering? My LFS (which is awesome btw) says it is.
2. I was going to use the return for a manifold for GFO, carbon reactor and eventually biopellets. Recognizing this will require more herbie adjustments, does this make you support durso...or should I scrap the manifold all together. I have considered a manfold specific pump (as an aside you can see the return chamber is already drilled and I am plugging that and drilling on the other side for space constraints). If you were making a manifold, where would you put it?
3. If the return is over the back, the reeflo's outlet is 1.5". I was going to use 1" pvc for the run to the tank and the two headed 3/4" locline that came with the tank...Would you use one run of PVC or T it and have 2 runs with essentially 4 locline heads.
I sincerely appreciate any input and thanks for reading...pics attached.

 

[Indymann99]

1. I would run a Herbie, even if you don't care about the noise. They are a safer drain system. Emergency drain is to run 100% dry during normal operation.

2. I would run dedicated pump for GFO + carbon. You are correct it will affect your Herbie.

3. I do like running the return to loc-line outputs at the surface to agitate the water (create shimmer from LED), promote good gas exchange, and finally it breaks up any surface scum.
HOWEVER keep the return outlets high, your return will back-syphon to level of the outputs. Don't be tempted to use a check valve...

 

[Neurovet]

Thanks for the reply, I appreciate it.
What do you think about the horizontal run of pipe?
For the return do you like one or two 1" pvc each with two locline heads?

 

[pja24]

I have 210 gallon with same return pump. I run herbie with reef ready tank. Both drains run into one drain controlled by gate valve. I went from 1 inch to 1 1/2 on horizontal pipe it has slight angle to it. I also have manifold off return and do not need frequent adjustment. It's quiet as ever.

 

[Neurovet]

Thanks for the input....does 1.5 pvc help on the horizontals?
What are the diameter on your returns and manifold?
Do you have one or two return lines?
F

 

[pja24]

1.5 helps with two 1" drains being connected. Returns in tank are 1" but the pipe in the return is 1.5 reduced to 1" tee threaded into the bulk head. One return line up to top of the tank it starts at 1.5 then at the manifold tee it goes to 1 inch that is split to four gate valves up and over top of tank.

http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j352/pja2424/Mobile Uploads/image_1.jpeg
http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j352/pja2424/image_3.png
http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j352/pja2424/image_2.png
http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j352/pja2424/image_1.png

 

[Neurovet]

OK, thanks for the great advice this far. I started dry plumbing the main herbie drains and gate valves using 45s to minimize the 90 elbows. Now I need your thoughts on the placement of the return pump. As you can see. There are two hole from the previous owners. I have a 2" cepex valve to put between the pump and bulkhead. What would be better...use the current bulkhead and snake the return pipe around the corner or plug the current bulkhead/patch the acrylic and make a new hole. I've put the pump in the optional configurations for reference in the pictures.
Thanks again,
F

 

[Gudwyn]

On my 225, I run a combination herbie/durso. 1" drain under full siphon open end points straight up. And a 1.5" durso. Use a valve to throttle back the 1" so that a small stream always goes down the durso.

The 1" outlet is about 0.5" below the water level in the sump. And the 1.5" outlet is spa flex that hits the sump at about a 30" angle with about 2/3 of the output open to the air.

I found that was the quietest I could get it. Tried many many different methods.

By having a constant stream down the durso, it sets my overflow height to reduce splashing over the weir. The majority of the flow goes full siphon submerged to submerged. And the remaining has a nice angled flow into the sump along the bottom of the pipe.

When I restart the pump, it does one big flush. The durso outlet starts submerged in the sump so it raises water level in the overflow. Then it flushes when the bottom end gets air. After that it's pretty much silent.

 

[ruiny]

I have 1.5 inch herbie style drain going down to a basement sump and about an 6 foot horizontal run. It works fine, but does take a long time to purge all the air out. (big pipe=lots of air) Due to the large drop to the basement I get a ton of flow though the pipe. Way to much actually, so it is valved down a lot. If I did it again I would use smaller pipe. I also have a manifold on the return which I plan on removing. even small adjustment to the skimmer input can cause issues with the siphon.
Love the quiet though.
And it does work fine, just a little finicky

 

[Isaacs55]

To clarify...the Herbie method does not run the emergency drain 100% dry.