Herbie Sump Question

[YEGReef]

Purchased a used 225 Gallon from a seller and they were using the Herbie Overflow method, which I want to continue using, just had a few questions.
Disclosure: I am using it for freshwater but Saltwater hobbyists I find have more experience with larger tanks and sumps.

The Water enters section 1 and eventually makes its way to section 4, where the pump will be. Leaving section 5 and 6 empty and sealed off from the rest of the setup.

1) What section should I place the emergency drain pipe?
Section 6 actually opens up to section 2 on the top, was it may be used as an emergency section in case the sump ever overflowed so should I keep it empty? Section 5 eventually overflows into section 1, maybe that's a good place for the emergency?

2) Do you think I have the main drain pipe at a good height in the overflow box, but the emergency should be a bit higher?

3) My PVC cuts were not 100% straight, but still a tight snug into the couplings, would that be fine once I glue it all together?

4) How do you compensate for evaporation, don't you want the water level for the emergency drain to just be entering the pipe just a little and don't you want the sump level to stay at a particle line as well. Are you refilling water every other day or so?

I have attached photos, thank you and sorry for the long post!

 

[Hemmdog]

Purchased a used 225 Gallon from a seller and they were using the Herbie Overflow method, which I want to continue using, just had a few questions.
Disclosure: I am using it for freshwater but Saltwater hobbyists I find have more experience with larger tanks and sumps.

The Water enters section 1 and eventually makes its way to section 4, where the pump will be. Leaving section 5 and 6 empty and sealed off from the rest of the setup.

1) What section should I place the emergency drain pipe?
Section 6 actually opens up to section 2 on the top, was it may be used as an emergency section in case the sump ever overflowed so should I keep it empty? Section 5 eventually overflows into section 1, maybe that's a good place for the emergency?

2) Do you think I have the main drain pipe at a good height in the overflow box, but the emergency should be a bit higher?

3) My PVC cuts were not 100% straight, but still a tight snug into the couplings, would that be fine once I glue it all together?

4) How do you compensate for evaporation, don't you want the water level for the emergency drain to just be entering the pipe just a little and don't you want the sump level to stay at a particle line as well. Are you refilling water every other day or so?

I have attached photos, thank you and sorry for the long post!

Your primary drain goes in section 5, your emergency goes anywhere in section 2.

Section 6 is for RODI top off, an ATO pump goes in there and dumps water into section 2 for evaporation to keep your water level in your case.

 

[YEGReef]

Your primary drain goes in section 5, your emergency goes anywhere in section 2.

Section 6 is for RODI top off, an ATO pump goes in there and dumps water into section 2 for evaporation to keep your water level in your case.

That makes so much more sense because it also came with JBJ A.T.O Water Level Controller, but no pump.
In regards to putting the primary drain in section 5, just had a couple of questions:
1) Would that mean no filtration in that particle section, just leave it empty and let it overflow into section 2 where there will be media of some sort?
2) If I put the drain in that section, in order for the water to get that high, that would mean the pipe would be submerged about 11" into the water, would that not be an issue?

Side question, I've attached a picture of the white return pipes, what would have been the use for the 2nd pipes (the ones with the writing face the camera) just wanted to pick your brain cause you obviously know what you're talking about! I ended up cutting it short and putting a cap on it since I decided I probably didn't need it.

Greatly appreciate the information, very very helpful!

 

[Hemmdog]

That makes so much more sense because it also came with JBJ A.T.O Water Level Controller, but no pump.
In regards to putting the primary drain in section 5, just had a couple of questions:
1) Would that mean no filtration in that particle section, just leave it empty and let it overflow into section 2 where there will be media of some sort?
2) If I put the drain in that section, in order for the water to get that high, that would mean the pipe would be submerged about 11" into the water, would that not be an issue?

Side question, I've attached a picture of the white return pipes, what would have been the use for the 2nd pipes (the ones with the writing face the camera) just wanted to pick your brain cause you obviously know what you're talking about! I ended up cutting it short and putting a cap on it since I decided I probably didn't need it.

Greatly appreciate the information, very very helpful!

Anytime! I’m not sure about that return plumbing, I’d need more pictures of the back. But with that sump water goes in 5 with your main drain, submerged about 8 inches, this chamber traps bubbles, it’s really nice to have on a sump, then flows over to chamber 1 which a filter sock can optionally be placed in the holder(circular big hole), that removes particles from the water and you replace it once a week, sometimes more often. Then in chamber 2 you put your heaters and media, then return pump in 4.

 

[Marco S]

Since I'm actually working on my sump at the moment, I took some pics for visual reference.

Here is the sump with the chambers reflecting how you numbered yours:

BTW...The ATO is not actually being used since I have a much bigger one, but I just haven't figured out what to do with it yet.

Here is the labeled plumbing:

I have both the emergency and main drain going into my first chamber so it gets filtered either way before hitting the Skimmer and UV Sterilizer to avoid any large particles getting into either.

Hope that helps and good luck with your setup!

 

[YEGReef]

@Hemmdog @Marco S Thank you both for the help, the pictures really helped put everything into perspective and made the sump setup actually make sense, that's a really cool setup you got going.