Herbie/Bean drain with dual overflow?

[rtparty]

I am helping a friend of mine setup a new 180g tank. It will have dual corner overflows. He wants the tank to be quiet so I suggested a Herbie or BeanAnimal setup if we can make it work.

I am assuming the tank has 2 holes in each overflow. Not sure on sizes on just yet but should know them soon. So how have you plumbed a siphon style drain with two overflows? Is it even possible?

Thanks!

 

[diablomaster9045]

I am helping a friend of mine setup a new 180g tank. It will have dual corner overflows. He wants the tank to be quiet so I suggested a Herbie or BeanAnimal setup if we can make it work.

I am assuming the tank has 2 holes in each overflow. Not sure on sizes on just yet but should know them soon. So how have you plumbed a siphon style drain with two overflows? Is it even possible?

Thanks!

Herbie works the same in 1 or 2 overflows. You just have more plumbing. Each 2 hole overflow has a full siphon and an overflow. Beananimal requires 3 holes and can't be done on an already reef ready tank's overflow. I would do a dual Herbie for that tank.

 

[Smo]

You could do BeanAnimal too. One each hole for the full syphon tied with a T and then a single gate valve. For one of the overflows install an open channel drain (Durso). For the other overflow, install an emergency drain.

 

[diablomaster9045]

You could do BeanAnimal too. One each hole for the full syphon tied with a T and then a single gate valve. For one of the overflows install an open channel drain (Durso). For the other overflow, install an emergency drain.

You just described Herbie :P

 

[saltyhog]

No, he described a Bean with two full siphons tied together with one valve, one wet (open standpipe) and one dry emergency drain. Herbie doesn't have a dry emergency drain.

 

[rtparty]

I read a really good article explaining why tying them together is an absolute no-no. In short, the pipes will not drain at the same speed and will cause issues getting it dialed in.

The article stated you either treat each overflow totally independent or use one wet and the other dry. You make one dry by raising the weir slightly. That way water doesn't enter and become stagnant. You setup an emergency in the dry and a return as well. In the wet overflow, you run the full siphon and another emergency or return.

I'll see if my buddy is dead set on two returns or if one will do

 

[Smo]

Can you provide a reference to the article? You've really peeked my interest. I am looking at a similar tank for my next build.

 

[LbulletM]

+1 on the not tying in a bean type.

 

[CarrieB]

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

 

[CarrieB]

I have one with a full siphon and return, the other has a full siphon and emergency drain. Works fine for me.

 

[Smo]

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

Excellent article. I picked up an 8' tank with two overflows (one at each end). I am going to experiment with the balance pipe between overflows. My preference would be to have a single gate valve controlling the full syphon drain in each overflow. I am several months away, however. Too many "honey-do's" ahead of this project.

 

[Scubado63]

I have a 200 gallon tank with dual overflows, a 1" and a 3/4" in each side, I also have a return pump that has a switch that if water drops below a set mark it shuts off .... do I need a safety drain if pump shuts off automatically if water level drops to much in return area.... if so, would you have both 3/4 as syphon, then a 1" as a drain and other 1" as return, split to 3/4 inch return pipes is my idea ... ....

 

[Smo]

My 8' tank measures out to about 210 gallons with similar 1" and 3/4" bulkheads in each of the two overflows. The 1" were designed for two Dursos and the 3/4" for a return at each end. I am thinking of connecting the 1" bulkheads beneath the tank with a balance pipe. Then drill a new 1 1/4" bulkhead in each overflow, one for a full syphon and the other for an open channel (Durso). There appears to be just enough room for the additional bulkheads. For a nominal 1,000 gph drain flow, I calculate roughly a 2" difference in water level between each overflow to force approximately 500 gph thru the 1" balance tube. Testing will reveal whether the resulting noise increase will be acceptable or not. I can always shift more of the flow to the open channel by closing off the full syphon to minimize total drain noise.
In the center of the tank near the back wall (out in the open) I am considering drilling a 1 1/2" bulkhead for an emergency drain. I will make this pipe the same color as the background and stack rock work around it so it won't be so obvious--possibly even grow coral on it. This will give me a BeanAnimal drain system using two connected overflows. I considered a float switch at the high water mark in the DT to shut down the return pump to prevent an overflow condition, but they can get stuck with crud over time. Hence the thought of adding the emergency drain as a "fail-safe."
I will use the existing 3/4" bulkheads for return flow but loop back over the top and add a center return nozzle as well (one at each end and a new one in the center). The loop at the top will help balance the flow to the center nozzle. I am still months away for this project so lots of time to consider alternatives.