Herbie overflow/sump design

[briwill99]

So I am planning a reef on a 65 gallon that I've had for awhile. Decided to go with Herbie overflow. I understand with Herbie it is best to run both drain pipes completely vertical. Since I have center overflow in display tank that would put said drain pipes smack in the middle of the sump. Wondering if I could have the first chamber of sump in the center with skimmer. Water would flow into chamber on the right which holds return pump. Return pipe would tee with one pipe to display tank and other pipe with valve going to third chamber on far left (refugium). Water from third chamber would flow back to first chamber.
Is there a reason this design would not be wise?

 

[bhbell]

Really, I think that as long as your bubble traps will work it will be ok. If the fuge will have chaeto you may need to get creative with the water feed to get it to tumble for best growth, but that should be easy enough with a little trial and error.

Sent from my VK815 using Tapatalk

 

[Capiross1]

Herbie will work if the pipes are not vertical, you just can't have to many bends you could use some flex PVC for you main and run your emergency anywhere in the sump


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[briwill99]

Thanks for the input. Is there a reason I would want to run it horizontally to start the first chamber on one side or the other instead of the center as described above?

 

[Capiross1]

Herbie overflow/sump design

Thanks for the input. Is there a reason I would want to run it horizontally to start the first chamber on one side or the other instead of the center as described above?

No, the other way is usually better because it gives the bubbles a little more time to surface but if your not running a crazy amount of flow thru your sump you'll be fine


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bhbell]

IMO it depends. If you're doing an in sump skimmer, chaeto, whatever. If using chaeto it does best when it tumbles. If not, the bottom dies off. Water flowing over the bubble trap weir creates a flow that will usually do that. In your case you may want to use a spray bar or slotted pipe to feed the fuge section to move the chaeto. If just doing live rock/rubble for pod production and bio filter then not necessary. Bottom line is it depends on the specifics of your system and what
you want it to do.

 

[Potatohead]

Put a baffle lengthwise along the back part where the overflow drains to, then you can have the water flow into the left side of the sump very easily and work it over to the right side. You'll give up a couple inches in width, but no big deal.

 

[briwill99]

IMO it depends. If you're doing an in sump skimmer, chaeto, whatever. If using chaeto it does best when it tumbles. If not, the bottom dies off. Water flowing over the bubble trap weir creates a flow that will usually do that. In your case you may want to use a spray bar or slotted pipe to feed the fuge section to move the chaeto. If just doing live rock/rubble for pod production and bio filter then not necessary. Bottom line is it depends on the specifics of your system and what
you want it to do.

Yes, I am going to use a skimmer in the first section and chaeto in the fuge. Thanks for the input on tumbling chaeto, it gives me something to think about.

 

[briwill99]

Put a baffle lengthwise along the back part where the overflow drains to, then you can have the water flow into the left side of the sump very easily and work it over to the right side. You'll give up a couple inches in width, but no big deal.

Never would have thought of that. That is thinking outside the box. I will take that into consideration.

 

[bhbell]

Using Potatoheads back baffle sounds like a good idea. Otherwise pods wind up in the skimmer.