Herbie overflow double checking myself

[drewtx1]

Tank has been set up since approximately October last year. This is the first time I've used a herbie overflow. Water level is always inconsistent, using too much ATO. So I researched and found for herbie style you are suppose to have the overflow water level where it's trickling into the emergency drain. Assuming all I've read is correct, as I said I'm double checking myself. This is as slow of a trickle as I can get. Does this look ok? Thanks

 

[C_AWOL]

That's fine amount of drainage but I would recommend making a U out of pvc for your actual main drain to prevent air being sucked in (will help with consistency)

In addition if you're not already using a gate valve instead of a ball valve, that will also help a lot

 

[fishyjoes]

I couldn't get the video to play, but the picture looks like both drain pipes are at the same level.

You need one pipe higher than the other.

The lower one should be a full siphon all the time (which you adjust with a valve), which takes most of the flow and the water level will be above the top of that pipe by a few inches.
The higher pipe just gets a trickle (because it's nearly impossible to tune the rate on the first pipe to exactly match the return pump output rate).

There are probably many good guides available, but the one here has a picture to show what I mean
https://gmacreef.com/herbie-overflow-reef-tank-plumbing-method-basics/

 

[drewtx1]

That's fine amount of drainage but I would recommend making a U out of pvc for your actual main drain to prevent air being sucked in (will help with consistency)

In addition if you're not already using a gate valve instead of a ball valve, that will also help a lot

Yeah I have a gate valve installed. I thought about make a U on the main drain.

 

[drewtx1]

I couldn't get the video to play, but the picture looks like both drain pipes are at the same level.

You need one pipe higher than the other.

The lower one should be a full siphon all the time (which you adjust with a valve), which takes most of the flow and the water level will be above the top of that pipe by a few inches.
The higher pipe just gets a trickle (because it's nearly impossible to tune the rate on the first pipe to exactly match the return pump output rate).

There are probably many good guides available, but the one here has a picture to show what I mean
https://gmacreef.com/herbie-overflow-reef-tank-plumbing-method-basics/

That's just an optical illusion in the picture. The emergency drain is high up. The main drain is at the bottom of the overflow box.