Herbie Drain Size on My New Tank

[joeyprice]

My new tank (48x20x20 - 100g) came pre-drilled with stand pipe plumbing included. The overflow is drilled x 3, which I am assuming is 2 drains and one return - Herbie style. The thing is, it came with stand pipes for all 3 - 2 x 2" and 1 x 1". These pipes seem huge to me for a 100g tank. Wouldn't I have to close the valves on the siphons down to the point where I'd be asking for trouble? Wouldn't reducing it be inviting the same problems? Any suggestions on how to plumb this thing?

Joey

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Plumb it all with 1".
Do the easiest way right from the overflow box.
I run my 250 with 1" from 2 overflows.

 

[nereefpat]

You've got some decisions to make. To me, your options are:

1. Use durso or similar on the two 2" pipes, and the return on the 1" pipe. The two 2" gravity drains will handle flow more quietly than you might think.

2. Do a Herbie with one of the 2" as a syphon, and one of the 2" as an emergency. You will want to reduce the syphon to 1" below the bulkhead, because a 2" gate valve will be huge, expensive, and REALLY difficult to adjust. The 1" will still be the return.

3. Do a Bean with the 1" as a syphon, one of the 2" as a trickle that can turn into a syphon, and one of the 2" as an emergency, with a return running over the back.