Herbie with Dual overflows

[calhoun.22]

I am currently running a 60 cube. It came "reef ready" with two holes in the bottom of the tank behind a corner overflow with the return coming in over the back of the tank. I am looking at upgrading (shocking, I know) and have noticed that many of the larger tanks have dual overflows. My preference would be to run a herbie style drain with the syphon and a return in one overflow and the emergency and another return in the other.

I have noticed a lot of people with dual overflows running the syphon and emergency on in one and two returns on the other. Is there a reason for this? From my perspective it would seem like it shouldn't matter which overflow the emergency is in. Is it really any harder to balance the system if I am only running one full syphon? Am I missing something?

 

[gilweb]

The backup drain has to be in the same overflow. It is what makes it silent. The siphon needs to be shorter than the backup drain. Your overflow with the siphon will be extremely loud otherwise. The backup drain is supposed to be about a 1/2 inch from the bottom of the overflow teeth for it to be silent.

 

[gilweb]

Read this. It explains everything.

http://gmacreef.com/herbie-overflow-reef-tank-plumbing-method-basics/

 

[calhoun.22]

Read this. It explains everything.

http://gmacreef.com/herbie-overflow-reef-tank-plumbing-method-basics/

Thanks for the link.

My thought was that the water level in the second overflow, where the e-drain was located, would be at the same level as the water in the first overflow, where the syphon is located.

I guess the problem with that theory is that the water levels would not be the same in the overflows unless the display level was also the same. This would require the e-drain to actually be slightly higher than the level of the overflow weir.

Does that make sence?

 

[fairladyZ]

I run a herbie in a dual overflow. It is not "correct" but it has worked and severed me well for 2 years with out a single issue. I run the main siphon in one overflow and one return. In the other overflow I have the other return and the emergency drain. I keep the waterlevel right at the upper limit of the emergency drain so a slight trickle runs down that drain without producing any noise about 90% of the time. Also every so often i will pull that stand pipe out to kinda flush that overflow out. But make sure your sump can handle it. I also tested to make sure it can handle my complete return if my main siphon were to become blocked.

Other options are to drill a small hole a few inches below the waterline on the return in the emergency overflow so you get some water circulation, just be prepared for your sump to handle the drainage down to that hole. The other option would be a small powerhead in that overflow to keep water circulating. Or to run a full siphon and emergency in EACH overflow and then run your returns up and over the back (which is the correct way to run it on the reef ready dual overflow tanks)

 

[calhoun.22]

I run a herbie in a dual overflow. It is not "correct" but it has worked and severed me well for 2 years with out a single issue. I run the main siphon in one overflow and one return. In the other overflow I have the other return and the emergency drain. I keep the waterlevel right at the upper limit of the emergency drain so a slight trickle runs down that drain without producing any noise about 90% of the time. Also every so often i will pull that stand pipe out to kinda flush that overflow out. But make sure your sump can handle it. I also tested to make sure it can handle my complete return if my main siphon were to become blocked.

Other options are to drill a small hole a few inches below the waterline on the return in the emergency overflow so you get some water circulation, just be prepared for your sump to handle the drainage down to that hole. The other option would be a small powerhead in that overflow to keep water circulating. Or to run a full siphon and emergency in EACH overflow and then run your returns up and over the back (which is the correct way to run it on the reef ready dual overflow tanks)

Hmmm, that is what I would like to do. I am guessing you have the syphon closed down pretty far with the valve. Is the water level in your display higher than the edge of the weir on both over flows?

 

[gilweb]

I run a herbie in a dual overflow. It is not "correct" but it has worked and severed me well for 2 years with out a single issue. I run the main siphon in one overflow and one return. In the other overflow I have the other return and the emergency drain. I keep the waterlevel right at the upper limit of the emergency drain so a slight trickle runs down that drain without producing any noise about 90% of the time. Also every so often i will pull that stand pipe out to kinda flush that overflow out. But make sure your sump can handle it. I also tested to make sure it can handle my complete return if my main siphon were to become blocked.

Other options are to drill a small hole a few inches below the waterline on the return in the emergency overflow so you get some water circulation, just be prepared for your sump to handle the drainage down to that hole. The other option would be a small powerhead in that overflow to keep water circulating. Or to run a full siphon and emergency in EACH overflow and then run your returns up and over the back (which is the correct way to run it on the reef ready dual overflow tanks)

But dosent the water on the side with the siphon fall far and is really loud? The e-drain is supposed to quiet that while being the backup. That is how mine is setup and I cannot even tell I have a tank in my den it is so quiet.

 

[CStrickland]

My thought was that the water level in the second overflow, where the e-drain was located, would be at the same level as the water in the first overflow, where the syphon is located.

Right. They won't equalize unless they're connected. Some people put a bridge pipe between the two overflows to resolve this, but that seems like a lot of work.

 

[fairladyZ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr1NUPF0rnk

here is a video when i first got it setup, sorry it seems so dark. Since then i lowered the coupler on the e-drain down to right at the water level height that my siphon keeps my tank at. SO basically the main siphon pulls the water in. the e-drain is at the same level as the water in the tank and has a small trickle going down.

 

[calhoun.22]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr1NUPF0rnk

here is a video when i first got it setup, sorry it seems so dark. Since then i lowered the coupler on the e-drain down to right at the water level height that my siphon keeps my tank at. SO basically the main siphon pulls the water in. the e-drain is at the same level as the water in the tank and has a small trickle going down.

Yes, this is what I have been wondering about. Rather than have the returns connected to keep them at the same level, you have the water level in the display higher than the bottom of the overflow weir.

I wasn't sure if that would work but the video suggests it does.