Short on time. Should I still try to plumb for Herbie style?

[Aquavaj]

Tank has 3 holes drilled but was using a durso style with the 3rd hole capped off. I would like to go Herbie style so that I have an emergency drain but I have live rock, sand and livestock that needs go back in asap too. I have limited knowledge of plumbing so I don't know if I have the time to research, gather the parts and mess around with getting that drain style working correctly.

I have an Apex that I can use to monitor water levels in the DT and sump too.

 

[Crooked Reef]

Even if you stick with everything you have for the durso, an emergency drain is a great idea. You can plumb an emergency drain pretty simple by just uncapping the third hole and adding a bulkhead with a straight standpipe and flex hose into the sump. You can make this tall enough that it extends over the top of the tank if you don’t trust quick work on it just so it’s there and not capped off at the hole as it will be easier to work with that way. Get the rock and livestock back into the tank and get it running like it was.

After this is done you can take your time to research the Herbie and upgrade by just replacing the Durso and cutting the emergency drain to the correct height. This would only necessitate shutting the sump return off for a few minutes and draining the overflow into the sump or siphoning the water out of it and replacing it after the pipes are replaced.

 

[mcgyvr]

3 holes? why not bean?

Rushing is a mistake..

 

[Aquavaj]

1 is the return that comes up through the overflow.

 

[Aquavaj]

Even if you stick with everything you have for the durso, an emergency drain is a great idea. You can plumb an emergency drain pretty simple by just uncapping the third hole and adding a bulkhead with a straight standpipe and flex hose into the sump. You can make this tall enough that it extends over the top of the tank if you don't trust quick work on it just so it's there and not capped off at the hole as it will be easier to work with that way. Get the rock and livestock back into the tank and get it running like it was.

After this is done you can take your time to research the Herbie and upgrade by just replacing the Durso and cutting the emergency drain to the correct height. This would only necessitate shutting the sump return off for a few minutes and draining the overflow into the sump or siphoning the water out of it and replacing it after the pipes are replaced.

The overflow has slits on the bottom too. If the tank is up and I remove the durso or the emergency standpipe wouldn't it drain the whole tank since water can seep through the bottom slits? I'm guessing I'll have to put some kind of shutoff valve after the bulkheads in order to work on the standpipes.

 

[Rover88]

Those bottom slits usually go to an inner wall, rise up, then spill over it. There should be a 'plate' that can be removed to see it.

Pictures?

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Rushing is a mistake..

This^^^

That said, thousands of tanks were run successfully with "just" a durso back in the day before multi-pipe systems became popular. It works fine, especially if you're able to keep the flow rate reasonable.

 

[Crooked Reef]

Those bottom slits usually go to an inner wall, rise up, then spill over it. There should be a 'plate' that can be removed to see it.

Pictures?

^ This. You can always do a water test to verify. Put a few gallons of water in the main part of the tank and I would be willing to bet it won't go into the overflow from the bottom slits.

 

[Aquavaj]

I do recall not seeing any seepage once it was drained but I figured the remaining water was just too little to flow pass the sand and into the slits. I will check it tonight.

Can I use a little silicone at the standpipe and bulkhead connections to make it water tight but not permanent?

 

[Rover88]

I do recall not seeing any seepage once it was drained but I figured the remaining water was just too little to flow pass the sand and into the slits. I will check it tonight.

Can I use a little silicone at the standpipe and bulkhead connections to make it water tight but not permanent?

You shouldn't see any seepage. It wouldn't make much sense to build them with slits right through.


You should never need to apply any form of sealant to a bulkhead. If they are not sealing on their own you have not installed it correctly. Google a few guides (BRS reef supply youtube has some good ones) and give it a go. It took me a couple of tries to get it right my first time, but its a learning thing. I had never done any plumbing in my life and I did it by myself with nothing but youtube and trial and error.