Herbie overflow drains

[eskymick]

For all the many years I’ve kept aquariums, I’m about to hard-plumb my first tank. The tank has an external overflow designed for a “herbie” drain.

Looking at the tank from the rear there are, of course, two holes in the overflow box ready to accept bulkheads. We’ll call them “left” and “right”. The installation diagram shows that the siphon drain installed in “left” and the e-drain installed in “right”. Does it really matter which bulkhead drop is used for the siphon or e-drain? Using "right" for the siphon would make my plumbing a whole lot easier for me (more space for the gate valve and fewer elbows).

Unfortunately, plumbing and water movement is not my forte.

 

[kendavjac]

it shouldn't matter

 

[WWIII]

If the drains are both the same size and you are plumbing from there down, it won't matter at all. The only reason they may designate which is full siphon is a size difference, or if it already has a valve on the plumbing, or if the main siphon goes into a single filter sock sump.

 

[ca1ore]

Right, if same size ….. doesn't matter. If one is bigger, use that as your open channel/emergency.

 

[eskymick]

Thanks all. Both drains are the same diameter, so I'll go with the configuration that's most efficient.

Oh, and is it ideal for BOTH drain lines to terminate below the water line of the sump ... or just the siphon drain?

 

[Coronus]

What size tank is this and what size drain?

 

[Even Further]

On my herbie, both lines are 1" submerged under the water line in the sump. Works just fine. Mine is a 3/4" siphon and 1" emergency.

 

[Coronus]

On my herbie, both lines are 1" submerged under the water line in the sump. Works just fine. Mine is a 3/4" siphon and 1" emergency.

What size tank is it on?

 

[Even Further]

Its a 38 gallon. My plumbing is over-sized. I can close my siphon line 100% off, and my 1" emergency handles the return pump flow.

 

[Coronus]

Thanks. This is a 243 gallon so the size is what is throwing me off. I am trying to understand if it will work for this size tank.

 

[Lukas75]

Both bellow the water. Unless you have a full Bean Animal your "emergency" drain is likely to have some water going down it most of the time, just not the bulk so low noise. And agreed if they are the same size no worries on which one is the primary go with what's easiest from there. That having been said, a picture is worth a thousand words