Herbie style overflow

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

TBout86

Black Skirt Tetra
MFK Member
May 8, 2021
35
19
13
40
I have the Fiji cube overflow pictured below. Still setting up all the plumbing and almost ready for first fill.
My question is why do I see Herbie styles set up with 1 stand pipe, and 2?
is there a performance difference you get ?
the Fiji cube came with 1 stand pipe, but 2nd picture below plus many others online show 2.


57A6CF45-9459-4BEB-A2A9-6C3813DBE7E5.png90213962-3A80-4AE5-B694-D0062D0E70B2.png
 
The lower drain should be set at a full siphon but just slightly less than the return flow.
Once that’s done the second pipe will take that small trickle of water.
This makes for a quiet overflow.
Bean animal style is the same but with a third drain as an emergency.
 
The lower drain should be set at a full siphon but just slightly less than the return flow.
Once that’s done the second pipe will take that small trickle of water.
This makes for a quiet overflow.
Bean animal style is the same but with a third drain as an emergency.

Thank you
So I know the lower of the two would be my main drain.
does it make a difference if I have a pipe in that hole?
Fiji cube came with one standpipe. Does this mean it does not matter ?
 
The pipe would be optional. You would use the hight of the pipe to control the water flow. No pipe is probably best to give room to adjust the flow to the sump with a valve.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TBout86
The pipe would be optional. You would use the hight of the pipe to control the water flow. No pipe is probably best to give room to adjust the flow to the sump with a valve.

Thank you
 
No leaks! Well, one leak under emergency drain.
Bulkhead just needed to be snuggled up. Also the union below that had a slight drip. Opened it up dried it off and reset it and snugged it up.
no leaks since.
a few things I need help with.

even with emergency drain above water, it trickles due to the pipe not being glued into the overflow bulkhead. Should I glue it?

second thing is I can’t get the water vortex to go away in the main siphon. So all I hear is air coming through the main drain. Any recommendations would be great.

below is what I have
800gph Fiji cube overflow box
Hygger DC pump 1060gpg turned down to 58% at moment
I do have a nice gate valve at main drain for fine tuning .
 
  • Like
Reactions: Backfromthedead
I don't have a cube overflow. I have a full height drain box in the tank. So maybe the size of the cube is leading to the vortex problem.
The main drain needs to be low enough under the water level of the box so air doesn't get into the main drain pipe. 6" is recommended such as in your diagram above. But it also depends on variables such as pipe size, drain box size and flow. I had to exceed the 6" to avoid this problem.
As far as the trickle you can glue the pipe if the trickle bothers you. I run my emergency drain dry to keep it clean. (I flush it out sometimes to make sure it is clean.) Some set a trickle. I don't think it matters. I set the water level to about 1/2 to 1/4" below the overflow. This is the quietest setting but it's not a silent system.
 
Came home on a mission. Cut a new emergency pipe 1/4” longer than what I had. I also opened my gate valve to the max and counted how man hand turns to fully closed. Then re-opened it all the way so I knew once I turned mg pump back as I’m closing the gate valve I know roughly where it’s at.
At that point my primary drain with no standpipe was around 6” to top of Edrain so I just put a strainer in my main drain.
Pump on to 60%, adjusted gate valve and whamo! No air vortex, dead silent drain. Since then I have adjust my pump power to 66% and fiddled with the gate valve more.
could not be happier.
Next I want to make my Edrain so it does not trickle at the bottom without gluing in case I need to take out in future. Has anyone ever tried either a thin layer of plumbers tape or maybe a super thin plumbers putty at bottom of standpipe before you put in bulkhead?
 
plumbers tape is fine for threaded connections.
 
Consistent water level since last night. Quiet as can be.
Sump is done. I’m going to add bags of crushed coral in the filter sock area.
Next to mount power strip and do all the wire management.
Coming together.

A10F8789-56C1-4212-A5DF-F16118D88CC5.jpegD910574F-78E7-4710-84AB-C2B90232531F.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Leonardo_CH
MonsterFishKeepers.com