Dual Overflows and Herbie

[Scubado63]

I have a 200 gallon tank with dual overflows in corners. I want to run a herbie or bean type setup for quiet. I don't want to have to run my returns over the back. I am thinking of having a 1 incn full syphon, 2- 3/4 emergency and a 1 in return that is separated into 2 drops.... So the one overflow box would be dry which would give more overflow protection. My Sump has the refugium and the skimmer sections are separated by the return. So big question, can the full syphon be split between the 2, where I could first adjust the fuge valve, then adjust the main valve to set max syphon into skimmer section.... if anyone has any other suggestions on how to make it work best I would greatly appreciate any input ...no valves on here yet

 

[CarrieB]

Good resource:

http://gmacreef.com/herbie-dual-overflows/

 

[CarrieB]

I just set mine up with one siphon and one emergency in one overflow and one siphon and one return in the other. One siphon dumps into the skimmer section and the other into the fuge section. So far so good and the plumbing is all straight lines.

 

[Scubado63]

I thought about doing that but, if you are set up that way, will your tank overflow if one of you siphons gets stopped up, don't think one emergency can handle the volume your return would be putting back in the tank, probably would never happen, but my luck says venture on safe side ...what do you have set in that case

.....Also I kind of got the idea from that link, using option 3, but that would work if you sump goes from skimmer to fuge then to return... in my case they are separated, so I need to know if I can feed the fuge and skimmer areas from one syphon

 

[Smotz]

I did the dual siphon and dual emergency with a return up the back - check out my tank thread in my sig. It's really not bad.

 

[CarrieB]

I thought about doing that but, if you are set up that way, will your tank overflow if one of you siphons gets stopped up, don't think one emergency can handle the volume your return would be putting back in the tank

I agree that the emergency has to be able to handle all of the flow if *both* full siphons block at the same time. My return pipe is 3/4" and the emergency drain is 1" so I think mathematically it has to be able to handle the flow.

In more practical terms, it's no more riskier than a Herbie set up with a single overflow, which is what my previous tank had. In fact, less risky because there is an extra siphon carrying some of the load.

Of course, your tank may be different.