Overflow question

[hartebreak]

So, as some of you may have seen in the DIY section, I am building a plywood 550ish gallon tank. I will be putting in a 90 gallon sump under the main tank. I think Ive decided to do a Herbie style overflow. I am aiming for 2000GPH for this tank.
Here are a couple questions I have.

#1 I would like to have the bulkheads on the end wall of the tank rather than the bottom. Every example of a Herbie Ive seen has standpipes that exit through the bottom of the tank. Is it do-able with going out a side vs the bottom.

#2 I want to build an overflow box that will go full length on one end (30"). I figure I will have to build one (out of acrylic) as I havent seen one I can buy that would be close enough in size. Now, assuming I can go thru the tank wall vs bottom (see question 1 above) how deep do I need to build the overflow box?

#3 If I build the box, and go out through the end of the tank, like mentioned above, how far below the top of the overflow box would I need to have the bulkheads.

My aim is to make a dependable, yet quiet system for this tank. As of now, the tank has not been drilled, and I havent purchased any plumbing parts as I wanted to get a plan in place before I start buying stuff.

 

[tlindsey]

So, as some of you may have seen in the DIY section, I am building a plywood 550ish gallon tank. I will be putting in a 90 gallon sump under the main tank. I think Ive decided to do a Herbie style overflow. I am aiming for 2000GPH for this tank.
Here are a couple questions I have.

#1 I would like to have the bulkheads on the end wall of the tank rather than the bottom. Every example of a Herbie Ive seen has standpipes that exit through the bottom of the tank. Is it do-able with going out a side vs the bottom.

#2 I want to build an overflow box that will go full length on one end (30"). I figure I will have to build one (out of acrylic) as I havent seen one I can buy that would be close enough in size. Now, assuming I can go thru the tank wall vs bottom (see question 1 above) how deep do I need to build the overflow box?

#3 If I build the box, and go out through the end of the tank, like mentioned above, how far below the top of the overflow box would I need to have the bulkheads.

My aim is to make a dependable, yet quiet system for this tank. As of now, the tank has not been drilled, and I havent purchased any plumbing parts as I wanted to get a plan in place before I start buying stuff.

twentyleagues

 

[BizTodd]

Take all of what I wrote with a grain of salt. I have not done this myself, this is only what I read in my research.

What makes it a Herbie is the 2 drain pipes, not that it goes out the bottom. I would still the holes a little lower than the height of the water, that way you can use an elbow pointing up or at an angle to actually set the height.

As far as the overflow box, DIY Joey has a video where he makes one and talks about sizing the slots in an overflow. The box itself only needs to be deep enough to allow the main drain to be submerged, and the emergency drain to be hidden.

Hope that helps get you started.

Todd

 

[TheWolfman]

I setup a similar overflow to what you are trying to do with a glass tank. You will need to drill the full syphons (If you choose to add more then one) bulkheads as low as you can in the overflow box. The very bottom of the secondary drains bulkhead will set the water level inside the overflow box. I hope this helps, if you have more questions please ask. I had a hard time finding information on this type of application myself.

 

[hartebreak]

I setup a similar overflow to what you are trying to do with a glass tank. You will need to drill the full syphons (If you choose to add more then one) bulkheads as low as you can in the overflow box. The very bottom of the secondary drains bulkhead will set the water level inside the overflow box. I hope this helps, if you have more questions please ask. I had a hard time finding information on this type of application myself.

Do you have a picture of your setup?

 

[TheWolfman]

Do you have a picture of your setup?

Here ya go, I'm running open bulkheads inside the overflow box but you can run a 90 on the secondary drain if you drilled a hole in the top of it. It runs silently.

 

[hartebreak]

So you dont have any elbows inside the overflow box? Just the bulkhead opening? Hows the noise level?

 

[DN328]

From what you are describing you essentially want to run a ghost overflow box on one end of your tank, is this right? You could use bulkheads to attach your external box to your tank and water to overflow into. You will also need to add additional support for the overflow box I would think. Then have 2 bulk heads in your overflow to run the Herbie down to your sump.

I've not done this per se but I do have the end ghost overflow on an acrylic tank. It should be the same concept for your wood tank?

 

[TheWolfman]

So you dont have any elbows inside the overflow box? Just the bulkhead opening? Hows the noise level?

I'm not running anything inside the overflow box, just open bulkheads. Like I said earlier it runs silently. It's a herbie drain and uses the same concept as the beam animal. Just without the second e drain.

 

[hartebreak]

Could I accomplish the same thing if I drilled both bulkheads at the bottom of the overflow box and then ran a 90 with a short stub of pipe vertically to run as the emergency drain? Reason I ask, is I would like both bulkheads coming out of the tank at the same level.