Water level in overflow?

[Mandrew559]

How much lower should my water level be in the overflow box compared to tank level? Pic attached. Herbie overflow

 

[Mandrew559]

Do i want it right below emergency? Does it matter, besides noise level? Thanks

 

[Lizbeli]

Just above the emergency overflow. Small trickle. But some people like me, run like a millimeter below the emergency to make it completely silent.

 

[Mandrew559]

So just keep choking out the downpipe with the ball valve? That's going to make overflow level right below tank level, doesn't matter?

Just above the emergency overflow. Small trickle. But some people like me, run like a millimeter below the emergency to make it completely silent.

 

[KenO]

I

So just keep choking out the downpipe with the ball valve? That's going to make overflow level right below tank level, doesn't matter?

It depends on the height of your pipes. I don’t use a pipe on my main siphon drain. The emergency Is the highest height and middle drain is about an inch below my normal water level in the tank. I adjust my choke valve which is not a ball valve, I forget the name, but it takes a lot of turns to fully open or close the valve. When I adjust the choke valve I get just a trickle in the middle overflow pipe and no water in the emergency. If something happens then the water will go into the emergency and I will hear it. Hope that helps.

 

[Mandrew559]

Why would my water level in the overflow change? Return pump too strong? My water level increased about an inch in the overflow chamber over night

I

It depends on the height of your pipes. I don’t use a pipe on my main siphon drain. The emergency Is the highest height and middle drain is about an inch below my normal water level in the tank. I adjust my choke valve which is not a ball valve, I forget the name, but it takes a lot of turns to fully open or close the valve. When I adjust the choke valve I get just a trickle in the middle overflow pipe and no water in the emergency. If something happens then the water will go into the emergency and I will hear it. Hope that helps.

 

[WIReefer]

Why would my water level in the overflow change? Return pump too strong? My water level increased about an inch in the overflow chamber over night

You might have the valve restricted just a tad too much.

 

[GlassMunky]

Why would my water level in the overflow change? Return pump too strong? My water level increased about an inch in the overflow chamber over night

It will change if it’s not tuned exactly to the return flow rate. so if your return pumps flow fluctuates at all in either direction it will change the level in the overflow box.

 

[KenO]

Why would my water level in the overflow change? Return pump too strong? My water level increased about an inch in the overflow chamber over night

Your middle overflow pipe might be a little high. Your never going to get the flow perfect. So the middle overflow will have a trickle going through it.

 

[Mandrew559]

How do I dial in the return . I have a reef octopus varios-6 turned down to the first level. Herbie overflow

 

[KenO]

How do I dial in the return . I have a reef octopus varios-6 turned down to the first level. Herbie overflow

Your main needs to have a gate valve like this.

You need to adjust the valve to create a siphon. So a siphon will suck more flow through a pipe vs just draining. Once you have the gate valve dialed in you don’t need to touch it for a long time. With a herbie the 2nd pipe acts like the middle and emergency overflows of a bean animal.

 

[Mandrew559]

I have that valve on the main overflow pipe going into a sock. You saying I should plumb one after the return pump too?

Your main needs to have a gate valve like this.

You need to adjust the valve to create a siphon. So a siphon will suck more flow through a pipe vs just draining. Once you have the gate valve dialed in you don’t need to touch it for a long time. With a herbie the 2nd pipe acts like the middle and emergency overflows of a bean animal.

 

[KenO]

No only on the main drain. You have it going into a sock, is the end of the pipe under water at all times?

 

[Mandrew559]

The main Drain is under water. The emergency pipe is not..

No only on the main drain. You have it going into a sock, is the end of the pipe under water at all times?

 

[KenO]

Then you may need to tweak the gate valve to get the flow dialed in. There should be a little water going down the 2nd pipe in the herbie style.

 

[Bret]

The height of water in your overflow box relative to the water level in the tank generally does not matter. Having the overflow level fairly close to the tank level will be quieter than waterfalling many several inches.

The water level in the overflow box relative to your drain pipes does matter.

This is how I generally set them up (Herbie):

1 Cut your emergency drain pipe to be ~2" below the overflow weir
2 Cut your main drain about ~4-6" shorter than the emergency drain
3 Set your return pump to your desired turnover rate (gate valve on AC pump, controller on DC pump)
4 Use the gate valve on your main drain to adjust (tune) the flow until you get a stable water level just below the emergency drain.
5 If you have a valve on your emergency drain, make sure it is OPEN
6 Turn off your pump and make sure your sump can completely handle the drained volume
7 Remove your emergency drain from the overflow box. Can your sump handle that water too?
8 Replace your emergency drain pipe
9 Completely close your main drain valve
10 Turn your return pump back on
11 Does your emergency drain take over, and can it handle the volume (water level in tank not rising)?
12 Set your main drain valve back to the tuned in point

If all this checks out you will have a very quiet safe system.

 

[Mandrew559]

Solid info. Much appreciated

The height of water in your overflow box relative to the water level in the tank generally does not matter. Having the overflow level fairly close to the tank level will be quieter than waterfalling many several inches.

The water level in the overflow box relative to your drain pipes does matter.

This is how I generally set them up (Herbie):

1 Cut your emergency drain pipe to be ~2" below the overflow weir
2 Cut your main drain about ~4-6" shorter than the emergency drain
3 Set your return pump to your desired turnover rate (gate valve on AC pump, controller on DC pump)
4 Use the gate valve on your main drain to adjust (tune) the flow until you get a stable water level just below the emergency drain.
5 If you have a valve on your emergency drain, make sure it is OPEN
6 Turn off your pump and make sure your sump can completely handle the drained volume
7 Remove your emergency drain from the overflow box. Can your sump handle that water too?
8 Replace your emergency drain pipe
9 Completely close your main drain valve
10 Turn your return pump back on
11 Does your emergency drain take over, and can it handle the volume (water level in tank not rising)?
12 Set your main drain valve back to the tuned in point

If all this checks out you will have a very quiet safe system.

 

[Mandrew559]

If i want to turn my return up faster, that would allow me to open the valve more on the overflow right? Does it matter if my return pvc is completely smashed against the bottom of my sock? Or should I get longer socks to give it a few inches

The height of water in your overflow box relative to the water level in the tank generally does not matter. Having the overflow level fairly close to the tank level will be quieter than waterfalling many several inches.

The water level in the overflow box relative to your drain pipes does matter.

This is how I generally set them up (Herbie):

1 Cut your emergency drain pipe to be ~2" below the overflow weir
2 Cut your main drain about ~4-6" shorter than the emergency drain
3 Set your return pump to your desired turnover rate (gate valve on AC pump, controller on DC pump)
4 Use the gate valve on your main drain to adjust (tune) the flow until you get a stable water level just below the emergency drain.
5 If you have a valve on your emergency drain, make sure it is OPEN
6 Turn off your pump and make sure your sump can completely handle the drained volume
7 Remove your emergency drain from the overflow box. Can your sump handle that water too?
8 Replace your emergency drain pipe
9 Completely close your main drain valve
10 Turn your return pump back on
11 Does your emergency drain take over, and can it handle the volume (water level in tank not rising)?
12 Set your main drain valve back to the tuned in point

If all this checks out you will have a very quiet safe system.

 

[Bret]

If i want to turn my return up faster, that would allow me to open the valve more on the overflow right? Does it matter if my return pvc is completely smashed against the bottom of my sock? Or should I get longer socks to give it a few inches

Yes, if you crank up the flow on your return, you will have to open the valve on your main drain to compensate. Generally I would not want the main drain fully open. This will give you some additional insurance that your emergency can handle all the flow if needed (assuming they are the same size pipe).

PVC against the bottom of the sock should be fine, against the bottom of your sump is not fine.
Also, this is another area you can use to tune in the noise level of the drain. Too long or too short can cause noise.
If after you get it all tuned in and it has had time to stabilize for several hours, and you are still getting air coming from the main drain, you might consider shortening the length of the pipe below the water level in your sump.