Plumbing Question

[The_Skrimp]

Hey folks
First post here. I'm starting up a tank and have a quick plumbing question for you all.
My tank still doesn't have any water in it... Before filling it, I’m seriously considering adding an emergency overflow to my tank but I’m not exactly sure what I’m doing. My main overflow is a durso standpipe. Essentially, my plumbing looks like this image i grabbed off of a YouTube video.
My tank comes with a third hole drilled into it but as you can see in the photo, it has a much shorter capped pvc pipe to basically just plug the drain. My question is, can I replace that shorter capped pvc pipe with one that is just a bit taller than my durso drain pipe and use it as an emergency drain just in case? Or is there a reason the third pipe has to be lower and capped? If I do use it as an emergency overflow, is it is as simple as just making sure it’s above the water level?

 

[lapin]

My question is, can I replace that shorter capped pvc pipe with one that is just a bit taller than my durso drain pipe and use it as an emergency drain just in case?

Yes

Howdy and welcome

 

[mike550]

@The_Skrimp welcome to R2R! Good luck on your new tank, and you'll find a lot of folks with great experience here willing to help.

 

[The_Skrimp]

Thanks! I'm really excited to be here. I've been lurking for a while learning a lot. Thanks for the advice.
It was one of those things that sounded easy so of course I got nervous.

 

[Ippyroy]

Welcome to R2R! Can you post a pic of your tank? Are there three holes inside of the overflow?

 

[The_Skrimp]

Thanks! There are three holes in the overflow. The one on the left is a durso drain. The center one is my return. The kit I have just came with a short capped PVC pipe to plug the third hole. That's the one I was wondering about if I could just add a longer piece of pvc to make it an emergency drain.

My tank is still empty while I get everything ready to go but I have some rock work going so far. here's a pic. I still have to add sand but I'm waiting till just before I add the water because I have a bag of live sand I don't want to dry out. The egg crate was just to keep the rock from going directly on the glass. Hopefully the sand will hide all of that.

And I also included a pic of my plumbing.

 

[Ippyroy]

I think the shorter one that is capped is actually your main drain. Just remove the cap and put a strainer on it.
You want to use a Herbie style not the durso

Herbie Overflow Plumbing Guide for Quiet Reef Aquariums - gmacreef

The Herbie method can quiet down your aquarium drain and eliminate microbubbles. The guide includes helpful diagrams and explains each component.

gmacreef.com

 

[Lukas75]

Welcome! And as many have said, yes you can. You probably shouldn't add water without doing so actually.

If you add a gate valve to the main durso drain you canthrottle the flow to where you have a full siphon through it and a trickle of water going over your backup drain. This is the "Herbie" overflow and will quiet the tank down significantly.

 

[Auquanut]

Welcome to the group! Good advice already!

Nice scape by the way.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Well, my guess is also it should be a Herbie style not a durso. I ran durso styles for over 12 years, so no issue per say with them except some noise. I now run the Herbie although it is set up for a Animal. Long story.
Anyway, Take the elbow off the durso and that will be your emergency drain. The other one need to be at least 6" shorter than the emergency drain. Get a gate valve for the main drain (full syphon-lowest). This allows you to control the noise and flow through the overflow.
I would also suggest getting rid of the 90s on the drains above the sump. Go with 45s or just hose. Just very restricting in a short distance.

Oh, and Welcome! You will enjoy this hobby if you like spending lots of money, getting really sad, mad, doing diy, worrying every time you vacation, and love the idea of a beautiful healthy ecosystem that may one day inspired to save our dwindling oceans.

 

[The_Skrimp]

Thanks guys. I'm going to read up on the Herbie style drain. That sounds like a better option. I think I might have to replace the valves I have on there right now to do it. The ones I bought are just ordinary ball valves from Home Depot.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Definitely get different valves and a gate for the overflow main drain. No need for one on the emergency drain. I find spending money on quality valves is crucial. I get asahi valves and no others.

 

[Lukas75]

Thanks guys. I'm going to read up on the Herbie style drain. That sounds like a better option. I think I might have to replace the valves I have on there right now to do it. The ones I bought are just ordinary ball valves from Home Depot.

Yeah, these things will lock up on you in short order. Invest in a good gate valve and you won't regret it.