Using Herbie drain...want to tee off for water changes..good or bad idea?

[Canuck007]

So as the title says, I'm interested to know if teeing of the main drain line (2nd line is there as emergency) so that I can divert the water to 5 gallon containers (instead of to the sump) for doing water changes is a good idea or not? Right now i stick a pump in the display to pull out 15-20 gallons of water, a bit of pain but doable.

It seems like a few places suggest not to do it as it may interfere with the siphon but just curious if anyone has done it and does it work?

Or how do you guys get the water out for changes? I don't have access to a basement or fish room etc.

thanks!

 

[mcgyvr]

Once you start taking water out the overflow will drain and it wont work...try again
I highly doubt your overflow has more than a gallon or so before its done...
Unless you mean a continuous where you are pumping water in while taking it out

 

[Canuck007]

Thanks for your replies. About 20 gallons drains from the tank to the sump. So if I divert it, I should be able to catch a fair amount of it. My slits on the overflow box go down about 2.5 inches so alot drains down to the sump once return pump stops. It's 150 tank with a 60 gallon sump.

 

[mcgyvr]

Thanks for your replies. About 20 gallons drains from the tank to the sump. So if I divert it, I should be able to catch a fair amount of it. My slits on the overflow box go down about 2.5 inches so alot drains down to the sump once return pump stops. It's 150 tank with a 60 gallon sump.

So yes if you can drain that much then go for it

 

[hkgar]

If you are doing 15-20 gallon water changes, have you considered getting a controller (Apex is mine) and doing automatic water changes? I change 4 gallons/day with an auto system.

 

[homer1475]

If you are doing 15-20 gallon water changes, have you considered getting a controller (Apex is mine) and doing automatic water changes? I change 4 gallons/day with an auto system.

+1
If I had the space, this would be my choice.



As to your original question, if your draining that much from the overflow, then go for it.



I have a spare MJ pump that is in my sump with a hose attached. I simply press a button and that tells my apex to go into a maintenance mode where that pump kicks on and all my equipment shuts off. I just have to lug a 5 gallon bucket to the sink to empty. Then a long hose from my mixing station refills the sump.

 

[hkgar]

To do auto continuous water change, you need to be able to pump the old water to a drain, or storage tank. I like that my sump is in the basement and I had a tee inserted into a stand pipe