Overflow Plumbing question for dual Overflows

[Ann Enomy]

I'm getting my 210 with dual overflows this week and have already decided I'm using the 2, 1"bulkheads in each for drains and going over the back for the returns. My question is should I run 2 herbies or should i do a modified Beananimal where I have 2 full syphons (1 in each weir) and have the open channel in one weir and the emergency in another. I run dual DC return pumps as well if that information matters. Thanks

 

[mfinn]

I would be tempted to try the bean animal system.
But I would stay with the traditional 3 drain pipes.

I have both styles on 2 different tanks.
I have to adjust ( slightly) my herbie, maybe once a month or every other month.
My bean animal style drain on my 240 was set up 13 years ago and after the first couple months of playing with it and adjusting for flow, I haven't touched it in 12+ years.

 

[Ann Enomy]

I would be tempted to try the bean animal system.
But I would stay with the traditional 3 drain pipes.

I have both styles on 2 different tanks.
I have to adjust ( slightly) my herbie, maybe once a month or every other month.
My bean animal style drain on my 240 was set up 13 years ago and after the first couple months of playing with it and adjusting for flow, I haven't touched it in 12+ years.

Thanks for the reply, my only thought about sticking with 3 pipes is the open drain has very little flow and none to the emergency drain. If I did a true 3 drain system it would take almost all the flow through 1 weir and i don't think there is enough surface area on one overflow to take the GPH I'm after.

 

[exnisstech]

Ive only had one tank with 3 drains. All others have 2, main drain and e drain. I did have a 180g running 2 hob overflows with single drains. They worked very well but were noisy. I can get a two drain system almost silent and the 3 drain as well.

 

[mfinn]

@UncommonSense

 

[UncommonSense]

I’d stick with dual Herbie drains here… BeanAnimal configuration can technically work with dual overflow boxes, but it’s a bit finicky!

Basically, you’re only working with the water within each of the overflow boxes, which are both at equal height… unless you have a huge sump return chamber to allow the entire display tank’s water line to change appreciably without running the return pump dry, the emergency drain in a BeanAnimal configuration isn’t functional! (Both overflow boxes fill at an equal rate, only one box is draining quickly… the other just sits full of water!)


(I converted each of my LFS’s 180g dual overflow tanks to dual Herbie drains [from dual Durso] over a year ago… they’ve been dead reliable, even when neglected!)