Herbie Overflow

[Gtinnel]

In all of my years in the hobby I’ve only had tanks that used durso standpipes or just a open drain pipe on some old school hob overflows many years ago.
I just setup a new to me Red Sea Max S-400 and it uses a herbie style drain setup. I adjusted the valve on the main drain so that it stays at a full siphon, but I find myself having to re-adjust it frequently, and also it’s fairly loud.
While fiddling with the valve again today I was able to get it quiet by keeping the valve closed enough that a small amount of water is going down the emergency drain.

I assume if it’s quiet then there shouldn’t be any issue in running with a trickle going down the emergency drain? Also, its not normal to have any water going down the emergency drain is it?

 

[JGT]

A small trickle down the emergency drain is fine. More than this and it will be loud. I presume the valve is a gate valve not a ball valve?

 

[Gtinnel]

A small trickle down the emergency drain is fine. More than this and it will be loud. I presume the valve is a gate valve not a ball valve?

It’s the factory Red Sea diaphragm valve. I’m sure it’s not as easily adjustable as a gate valve but it’s better than a ball valve.

 

[JGT]

OK, not familiar with the RS valve but a ball valve is not precise enough to get the flow just right. A gate valve is. Sometimes, a quarter turn is enough to make the difference.

 

[Gtinnel]

OK, not familiar with the RS valve but a ball valve is not precise enough to get the flow just right. A gate valve is. Sometimes, a quarter turn is enough to make the difference.

I considered switching it to a gate valve but decided against it.

 

[JGT]

Sounds like the RS valve is similar so it should be OK.

 

[Gtinnel]

Sounds like the RS valve is similar so it should be OK.

Instead of blocking the flow with a gate it just shoves a rubber diaphragm in to restrict the flow. It’s essentially this

I’d prefer a gate valve but not enough to bother switching it out. I figured since it was the valve designed for the tank it should be fine.

 

[JGT]

Ah OK. That looks fine and sounds like you’ve got it dialed in. You may need to adjust once you add your wave makers as that can mess with the height of the water going into the overflows.

 

[Gtinnel]

Ah OK. That looks fine and sounds like you’ve got it dialed in. You may need to adjust once you add your wave makers as that can mess with the height of the water going into the overflows.

The tank has two pumps built into the overflow chamber for flow. They don’t cycle on/off to change flow, but this tank is mostly going to be fowlr so I’m not too concerned with varied flow.
I was just curious about having a small amount of water going down the emergency. It was always my understanding that on a herbie drain that the main drain handles the entire flow (which it still basically does, it’s literally a trickle down the emergency). I’d actually like to reduce the flow through the sump but I am currently using an ac pump and don’t want to use an in line valve.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

The tank has two pumps built into the overflow chamber for flow. They don’t cycle on/off to change flow, but this tank is mostly going to be fowlr so I’m not too concerned with varied flow.
I was just curious about having a small amount of water going down the emergency. It was always my understanding that on a herbie drain that the main drain handles the entire flow (which it still basically does, it’s literally a trickle down the emergency). I’d actually like to reduce the flow through the sump but I am currently using an ac pump and don’t want to use an in line valve.

From what I understand, the proper way to run a Herbie is to have a small trickle going into the emergency drain. That's how I run mine.

 

[sfin52]

From what I understand, the proper way to run a Herbie is to have a small trickle going into the emergency drain. That's how I run mine.

You are absolutely correct

 

[Gtinnel]

Awesome. I guess what I thought I knew about herbie drains wasn’t completely correct.
Overall I’m just glad that it is safe to use the way I have it now. The noise was starting to bother me and I’m not overly picky about having a loud tank.

 

[Sean Clark]

Not sure why this has not been sensored yet...

Instead of blocking the flow with a gate it just shoves a rubber diaphragm in to restrict the flow. It’s essentially this

I’d prefer a gate valve but not enough to bother switching it out. I figured since it was the valve designed for the tank it should be fine.

As graphic as I have ever seen...