Need help with herbie

[KoleTang]

I recently re-did my filtration setup. I went from an under the stand sump to a sump in my basement.

I have a 1" main drain, a 1" emergency drain, and a 1" return set up in herbie method.

When I had the under-the-stand sump set up I could turn off my return pump, clean the tank, then turn the pump back on and the water level would go back to normal.

With the new setup. Whenever I turn off the return, let the water drain, then turn it back on. The drain is somehow moving less water than the return; causing the water level to go completely out of wack and the emergency drain has to kick in. I don't understand how turning the stupid thing off can do this since nothing has changed.

So every time I shut off the pump for maintenance, I have to re-tune the gate valve. Which is no good if I am not around when the power goes out.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

LMK if you need more info on the setup.

-Lucas

 

[KSzegi]

Is there something stopping the main drain from hitting full siphon? Did you change the depth of the drain in the sump at all?

 

[KoleTang]

I am not seeing any water bubbles in the pipe (it's clear vinyl in some parts so I can see through).

The return pulls water from a bulkhead with a strainer about 2" from the bottom of the sump. There are no baffles so the water level does change a lot in the sump. Could that be the problem?

 

[gfox]

I don't have a herbie drain but what I have read is you need the drain about 1 inch below the water level in the sump.

 

[TJ's Reef]

You are getting air in the drain, as gfox stated above having your drain end also submerged will help. Mine will do this occasionally and have to burp it by opening up a full turn for just a second then back to original position.

Cheers, Todd