Herbie overflow question

[Paulbearer]

I went threw and looked the whole 70 pages of forum post on reefcentral about this setup. I didn't want to post these questions because they use their sumps different than freshwater.

My biggest concern is that I see is the ato (automatic top off) being used in almost all sumps there. I realize this needed more in salt due to skimmers and such needing the constant height in the sump.

With this being said, on my 350 I'm ordering in the next weeks I want to get it drilled right in the first place. It will have dual overflows and I'm thinking of 2 x 2" drains and 1" return in each overflow box. 2" for drain, 2" for safety and 1" return. I will have a 135 gallon sump with no baffles with drains to filter socks and submerged media and 2 x 2400 or 2900 laguna pumps.

The concern I have is without the ato will the water in the overflow chambers very to much for the system to work? My understanding is that when the return chamber looses water (in sump), this in turn effects water in the chambers (such as evaporation). Does anyone use this method in your tanks and don't use ato? Pro's and con's?

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[pdandy]

I use a herbie overflow and do not use ato. The only chamber that the water level changes in due to evaporation Is the return chamber of my sump. I run a 1200 gph pump through one 1" return. The entire flow of this pump is easily handled by one 1" overflow which is tuned with a gate valve.


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[Paulbearer]

I use a herbie overflow and do not use ato. The only chamber that the water level changes in due to evaporation Is the return chamber of my sump. I run a 1200 gph pump through one 1" return. The entire flow of this pump is easily handled by one 1" overflow which is tuned with a gate valve.


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I was thinking that maybe in my 135 sump the water wouldn't move much as say a 30 gallon sump would and that might help.

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[guano]

I will have a 135 gallon sump with no baffles with drains to filter socks and submerged media and 2 x 2400 or 2900 laguna pumps.

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My setup is pretty much the same for, just smaller scale(125gal with two herbie overflows, 55gal sump & a laguna max flo 2000) No baffles at all.

The concern I have is without the ato will the water in the overflow chambers very to much for the system to work? My understanding is that when the return chamber looses water (in sump), this in turn effects water in the chambers (such as evaporation). Does anyone use this method in your tanks and don't use ato? Pro's and con's?

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On my Herbie setup, I do not have a ATO. There is about 6 1/2 inch separation between the top of my emergency drain and the main drain. When the water evaporates I see very little difference (if any) in height in the overflow chamber. The only change I really see is the sump water level is lower (no baffles, my whole sump is the return chamber). As long as I adjusted my gate valve on the main drains where its in full siphon and the water level in the the overflow chamber is at the top of the emergency drains, I don't think evaporation is going to cause any issues, especially if you do WC every week. I very rarely have to adjust my gate valves. The only pros I see with the ATO is that it keeps the sump water level constant and adds some fresh water to the system.

 

[Paulbearer]

This makes me feel a little better....because I really want to use it for no noise.

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[guano]

When you get the valves tuned right, the herbie is dead silent. The only noise I hear is the hum of my pumps and the occasional splashing of water from my returns. 100% happy with it.

 

[Jc1119]

I have no ATo on mine either. Dual 1 1/2" drains in each overflow tee'd to a 2" gate and dual drains in my 75 gallon sump. 1" returns. i have about 3" of distance between my mains and my emergency and hardly ever see a change in my overflow levels even as water evaporates from the sump. i can go about 2 weeks before I need to make an adjustment at the gate due to evaporation, but that never really happens...

worst case scenario is your mains would start to pull in some air as your overflow levels would drop. Other than some added noise, no ill effects

 

[Jc1119]

When you get the valves tuned right, the herbie is dead silent. The only noise I hear is the hum of my pumps and the occasional splashing of water from my returns. 100% happy with it.

My experience exactly. People are amazed by how quiet the system is. My fridge makes more noise than my tank lol

 

[Paulbearer]

Thanks for all the feedback...ill go with it

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