Rancid water

[JMorris271]

This was brought to my attention today by one of our fine posters as a problem with these systems. Are there any ideas out there on how to keep water in the bottom of a corner overflow from getting rancid?
Any Herbie owners out there?

Thanks

 

[SGT_York]

Just to clarify this is an overflow with no flow through it. a normal herbie/or durso overflow won't go rancid.

 

[thegrun]

I would think that with even a little bit of turbulence as the water falls through the teeth of the overflow the water would circulate enough to prevent it from going bad. I would and do siphon out the overflow box once a month to remove the detritus, but I've never heard on the water getting rancid.

 

[JMorris271]

Just to clarify this is an overflow with no flow through it. a normal herbie/or durso overflow won't go rancid.

Aren't the BA and the Herbie the same with the exception of an Emergency drain pipe in the BA? Both of these have full siphons around 6-8inches off of the bottom. Not trying to be the devils advocate but how is that lower water agitated by mild overflow from 20 or so inches above? Just kind of trying to clarify this thing as I have seen many questions about this besides by me.

 

[JMorris271]

I would think that with even a little bit of turbulence as the water falls through the teeth of the overflow the water would circulate enough to prevent it from going bad. I would and do siphon out the overflow box once a month to remove the detritus, but I've never heard on the water getting rancid.

That is my thought as well but I don't have 95% confidence in this.

 

[JMorris271]

Just to clarify this is an overflow with no flow through it. a normal herbie/or durso overflow won't go rancid.

I was referring to the Bean Animal.

 

[thegrun]

That is my thought as well but I don't have 95% confidence in this.

Well, I've had a lot of tanks over the years and have seen at least 100 fellow reefer's tanks all with Herbie, Bean Animal or Gurgle Buster overflows and none of them have had an issue with stagnant water.

 

[SGT_York]

The significant differences between the two systems are" a herbie is a bottom mounted system, while the BA uses a side mount. A herbie is far easier conceptually but takes up far more space, the BA requires lifting the water through the side wall thus creating an actual siphon, which requires more time before the siphon will "start up".

Neither of which will create any kind of stagnant water and nothing will go rancid. It's when you split the system into different overflows leaving one with just an emergency and the return pipe (thereby no water is flowing through it).

Just a trickly of flow will keep the water clean it's when it sits there with a small film over the top that the oxygen is slowly depleted leading to an anoxic area.

 

[JMorris271]

It's when you split the system into different overflows leaving one with just an emergency and the return pipe (thereby no water is flowing through it).
Just a trickly of flow will keep the water clean it's when it sits there with a small film over the top that the oxygen is slowly depleted leading to an anoxic area.

This is the type of system I want to have have and need to solve the problem. I was thing of placing a mini fountain pump to break up that film and create some mild terbulince and move that water up.

 

[JMorris271]

Well, I've had a lot of tanks over the years and have seen at least 100 fellow reefer’s tanks all with Herbie, Bean Animal or Gurgle Buster overflows and none of them have had an issue with stagnant water.

Honestly, that is very good to know.

 

[Rognin]

I have the same questions/worries.

Here is my OF with the BA system. Tank is a 30" tall, OF at top is 27" and the water is about 24" high from the bottom.

There is water in there but not much movement except the skimmed water. Do I put a powerhead at the bottom or get a piece of pipe on the siphon 90 to go deeper?

 

[S13<3]

as long as theres water going into and out of the overflow, its kinda impossible for the water in ther to get rancid.

 

[JMorris271]

I suppose water could be siphoned out of the bottom and see just what it look, smells and tests to check it out.

 

[thegrun]

The significant differences between the two systems are" a herbie is a bottom mounted system, while the BA uses a side mount. A herbie is far easier conceptually but takes up far more space, the BA requires lifting the water through the side wall thus creating an actual siphon, which requires more time before the siphon will "start up".

Neither of which will create any kind of stagnant water and nothing will go rancid. It's when you split the system into different overflows leaving one with just an emergency and the return pipe (thereby no water is flowing through it).

Just a trickly of flow will keep the water clean it's when it sits there with a small film over the top that the oxygen is slowly depleted leading to an anoxic area.

Okay, I read the original post and see where there would be a problem if you had an overflow without it actually being used except in the rare emergency situation. For the vast majority of us this situation would not occur and so isn't anything to be concerned about.

 

[shermanator]

You've gotten advice elsewhere to go with a dual Herbie and I think that would be best for a dual "reef ready" overflow tank.

But... if you really want to do a BA setup, I would fill the overflow that contains the emergency drain with sand (all the way up to the emergency drain opening) and point a dedicated powerhead at the overflow.

 

[JMorris271]

You've gotten advice elsewhere to go with a dual Herbie and I think that would be best for a dual "reef ready" overflow tank.

But... if you really want to do a BA setup, I would fill the overflow that contains the emergency drain with sand (all the way up to the emergency drain opening) and point a dedicated powerhead at the overflow.

I got very good advice from you as well about the Herbie and do
also recall you posed this same question to me earlier about the stagnate water and should have thought more on it.
I am still mulling this over from all angles I can think of.

 

[Crooked Reef]

Why not just stick a small powerhead facing downward in the overflow if you are concerned? Or in the bottom facing upward? Whether there is a chance of it going stagnant or not won't matter if you do this preventatively. Every week pull some of your water change water out of there as well and fresh saltwater will be added weekly and kept agitated by a powerhead.