Turning dual corner overflows into single bean animal, suggestions?

[PedroYoung]

looking for some input on how you would take a dual corner overflow (marineland 180G) and make it function as a bean animal. I understand the basics (1 up, 3 down), but would you have the primary drain in the opposite corner? I don't intend for huge sump turnover. Anyone done this?

 

[J&O'sdad]

I researched this years ago and decided on doing a double herbie instead. Then plumbed the returns over the back of the tank.

 

[PedroYoung]

I researched this years ago and decided on doing a double herbie instead. Then plumbed the returns over the back of the tank.

What was the reason?

 

[Mandelstam]

I researched this years ago and decided on doing a double herbie instead. Then plumbed the returns over the back of the tank.

This would be my way too.

 

[J&O'sdad]

I wanted both overflows to work evenly and the bean animal runs the majority of the water through 1 drain.

 

[PedroYoung]

I wanted both overflows to work evenly and the bean animal runs the majority of the water through 1 drain.

Yeah, that's kind of my thinking, just not sure about running the returns over the back.

 

[J&O'sdad]

Drill the back of the tank tjen. Super easy and very clean look.

 

[WWIII]

I use siphon and emergency (trickle) in one overflow and in the other I have full siphon and a single return. Keep the pipes seperate with gate valve on both siphons. Has worked perfect for me on my 200dd the past couple years.

 

[theMeat]

Have done this a few times
If you put full siphon and secondary drain in one overflow. And return with emergency drain in the other overflow, the limiting factor will be the weir on the 2 drain side maybe not being able to handle the gph. Might have to modify weir.

If you put full siphon in one overflow, and secondary in the other overflow, the weir shouldn’t be an issue, but adjusting the valve to get steady / even going down the secondary is much more finicky.

With that said it’s totally doable, and would probably go with first option

Another option is to drill a smaller hole for 3/4 bulkhead in one or both overflows for return. Which will give you dual herbie, with redundancy

 

[MorganAtlanta]

You can drill the back to add an emergency so you have all 3 drains in one overflow.

 

[PedroYoung]

I wanted both overflows to work evenly and the bean animal runs the majority of the water through 1 drain.

I've been thinking more about this and I am really starting to lean towards your original suggestion. I have read that it can be finicky to tune the dual overflows because the full siphons can move so much water that the valves on the primary drains are cranked way down. What's your experience?
Also, thanks for the suggestion in the first place

 

[J&O'sdad]

I don't have that tank anymore but ot wasn't an issue at all. You get to adjust each overflow independently.

 

[PedroYoung]

I don't have that tank anymore but ot wasn't an issue at all. You get to adjust each overflow independently.

Thanks

 

[PedroYoung]

I don't have that tank anymore but ot wasn't an issue at all. You get to adjust each overflow independently.

Do you happen to remember if you used 3/4" or 1" PVC for the main drain? My tank has dual 1" bulkheads in each overflow, but I know a lot of pre-drilled tanks have a 3/4" for the return. Sorry to keep bugging you. I'm going to post a separate thread asking for input.

 

[KJAG]

Have done this a few times
If you put full siphon and secondary drain in one overflow. And return with emergency drain in the other overflow, the limiting factor will be the weir on the 2 drain side maybe not being able to handle the gph. Might have to modify weir.

If you put full siphon in one overflow, and secondary in the other overflow, the weir shouldn’t be an issue, but adjusting the valve to get steady / even going down the secondary is much more finicky.

With that said it’s totally doable, and would probably go with first option

Another option is to drill a smaller hole for 3/4 bulkhead in one or both overflows for return. Which will give you dual herbie, with redundancy

The weir most certainly would be able to handle the gph. The emergency drain operates completely dry until called upon and has no effect on the full siphon and open channel. The “limiting factor” would be that surface skimming would suffer greatly with two separate small boxes as opposed to a coast to coast.

 

[KJAG]

Do you happen to remember if you used 3/4" or 1" PVC for the main drain? My tank has dual 1" bulkheads in each overflow, but I know a lot of pre-drilled tanks have a 3/4" for the return. Sorry to keep bugging you. I'm going to post a separate thread asking for input.

Per Bean’s instructions, you should run no less than 1” pipe on this system.
But since the returns aren’t really a part of the system, you could, but it would be less than ideal.
Higher pressure= Lower flow.
Lower pressure= Higher flow.

 

[PedroYoung]

Per Bean’s instructions, you should run no less than 1” pipe on this system.
But since the returns aren’t really a part of the system, you could, but it would be less than ideal.
Higher pressure= Lower flow.
Lower pressure= Higher flow.

At this point I'm considering running a dual Herbie (one in each overflow) with returns out of the box (over the back) so I'm asking about running dual drains. Thinking 2 1" drains is a heck of a lot of flow at full siphon. Just posted another thread to explore this. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Radman73]

In my case, I ripped out both overflows, capped the holes, and drilled the back for a "ghost" overflow and run the returns over the back. I get a BA drain and a large amount of space back in the corners of my 220.

 

[PedroYoung]

In my case, I ripped out both overflows, capped the holes, and drilled the back for a "ghost" overflow and run the returns over the back. I get a BA drain and a large amount of space back in the corners of my 220.

Don't think I'm feeling that ambitious. You want to come up to Alabama and take care of it for me?

 

[Radman73]

Don't think I'm feeling that ambitious. You want to come up to Alabama and take care of it for me?

As long as you've confirmed the back glass isn't tempered, it's pretty easy. Key with drilling is to be patient, keep the drill bit wet/cool, and take it extremely slow. I was extremely nervous but it went smoothly. I drilled the back of my 60 cube once upon a time as well without issue. Do you have a LFS nearby? They may be willing to drill it for a small fee. Transporting a 180 isn't ever fun though.