That kind of drain?

[Ron Reefman]

I have a question for everybody. I building a new tank that is 36” x 30” x 20” and the drains and returns all have to be through the bottom glass. So I’m going to build the overflow box and I’m debating sizes number of bulkheads.

My first thought is to do a full bean animal drain with 1 short open pipe, 1 durso, 1 tall open pipe as an emergency drain. The tank is about 90g and I’m thinking 1000gph would be a good turnover thru the 40g sump/fuge. That would be a 1” open line and with a gate valve to control it. Then a 1” durso would flow some but not too much. The real question is do I do a 1” or a 1.5” emergency drain? And then either a 1” or ¾” return line that will end with a Loc-line ‘Y’ pipe and nozzles. Any comments? Any alternative ideas? I’m always open to suggestions.

 

[shred5]

Bean all the way if it can fit.. Best way to get a silent overflow and have that extra security if one get blocked.
Only draw back is it takes up allot of space..

Herbie would be second and pretty much same as bean with less security. Takes up a little less space than the bean.

I have durso on some tanks and really is the only alternative for when you can have only one drain or limited space but they can still be a little noisy. It also can not handle large flow very well.

I do run all three right now..

 

[dantimdad]

Been using Herbie since before it was called Herbie. Excellent, never had one fail, always dead silent and not complicated to setup. Cheaper too.

 

[Sailingeric]

Been using Herbie since before it was called Herbie. Excellent, never had one fail, always dead silent and not complicated to setup. Cheaper too.

Same here. Dead silent, the only noise from my tank is the skimmer. I would recommend getting a gate valve over a ball valve since they are easier to fine tune

 

[Crabs McJones]

Been using Herbie since before it was called Herbie. Excellent, never had one fail, always dead silent and not complicated to setup. Cheaper too.

+1

 

[Brew12]

I would go for the Bean although the Herbie is great if you don't want the third bulkhead. If you are doing a Bean I would do 1" emergency. If doing a Herbie, I would go with a 1 1/2"

Well.. that is if you really want to go with a 1000gph flow rate through your sump. To me, that is very excessive. I prefer running at 3x to 5x tank volume. I feel that is plenty for heating/filtration and much quieter than higher flow rates.

If you drop your target flow to under 600gph I would go with a 1" emergency drain on both the herbie and the bean.

Only other thing is the one thing I regret with my current tank design. I only had a single return drilled and it was a mistake. I wish I had 2 returns put in.

 

[Foothill Corals]

I agree with Brew 1000 GPH turn over is way excessive. I have always done 3 - 5x DT volume for turn over.

 

[dantimdad]

Same here. Never saw the need for over 3-5x through sump.

 

[Ron Reefman]

So far a lot of good info and I really appreciate it. I've just done a durso or a durso with an emergency drain on my tank. They have always ended up quiet, but it always took some serious tuning of the air inlet hose. So for this build I'm doing the full Herbie.

As for the flow, I think I'll go big and dial it back with gate valves. I may run the direct drain to the refugium, which will then flow to the sump and have the durso just go directly to the sump.

@Brew12, I'm seriously considering your point and may do 2 bulkheads for the returns. Hey, it's an all new custom build, I might as well go for the gusto! Thanks.