Herbi overflow making noise

[Palmer]

I set up a tank 2 months ago that had an external herbi overflow and is now starting to make a lot of noise. Please see pictures below. I havent installed a new pump and I do not think there is anything clogging the return pipe going to the sump. Looking in the top the water is freely moving down to the 45 degree elbow shown in the picture. I am not sure why all the sudden it is making all this water flow noise but I was wondering if there is someing I can put on or in the pipe to help quiet it downa bit?

Palmer

[muck]

Lower your main drain and throttle the ball valve back some to keep the water level in your overflow about the same height it is now.
Heck even take out the piece of straight pipe.

[kien]

Looking at those pictures, it doesn't seem to me like you have a heck of a lot of room to play with between the main herbie drain and the backup/emergency drain. Normally you want some distance between the two so that the water level in your overflow box is well above the main drain and well below the emergency drain. It looks to me like you only have like an inch(ish) between the two drains? That will be (or is) hard to adjust to get it perfect, and even if you get it perfectly aligned between the two pipes it won't take much to knock the water level/flow to the point where it is hitting the emergency drain or the main drain. I suggest lowering your main drain down to at least half the height that it currently is now. That should help as it'll give you more room to play with the herbie level.

[Kalifornia]

Palmer

I would add the stockman overflow silencers to your system
used them in all my tanks and what a difference

http://lava.lounge111.net/diy_stockman_mod.htm

[superduperwesman]

Originally Posted by Kalifornia

Palmer

I would add the stockman overflow silencers to your system
used them in all my tanks and what a difference

http://lava.lounge111.net/diy_stockman_mod.htm

Shouldn't need this with a herbie

[fkshiu]

Your main drain standpipe (the one on the left in the pic) is too tall as someone mentioned. A Herbie is completely gravity driven so there must be a certain amount of water on top of the main drain for it to work.

The water going down the main drain now is causing a vortex and sucking down air as well. That's what is causing your noise. So cut down that pipe until your not getting air sucked down that pipe.

Also, I hope that you're using a gate valve to control flow instead of a ball valve. Lastly, ensure that the exit of the main drain is completely submerged under water.

[Palmer]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I had a bit of an "Ah Hah" moment since I have set this up wrong. I didn't understand the Herbie overflow system and just continued with what I thought was on the tank prior to my getting it. I do not have any valve on the main pipe return so no wonder I am getting noise! When seeing this system for the first time I thought the only advantage to it is the second pipe as a contingency if the first gets clogged. I didn't understand the silencing aspect of controlling the return flow from the first pipe.

So I did go out today and get a 2 " ball valve to install tommorow on the main return pipe to the sump. Based on fkshiu's comments this isn't optimal a gate valve is better?

Palmer

[kien]

Originally Posted by Palmer

Thanks for the replies everyone. I had a bit of an "Ah Hah" moment since I have set this up wrong. I didn't understand the Herbie overflow system and just continued with what I thought was on the tank prior to my getting it. I do not have any valve on the main pipe return so no wonder I am getting noise! When seeing this system for the first time I thought the only advantage to it is the second pipe as a contingency if the first gets clogged. I didn't understand the silencing aspect of controlling the return flow from the first pipe.

So I did go out today and get a 2 " ball valve to install tommorow on the main return pipe to the sump. Based on fkshiu's comments this isn't optimal a gate valve is better?

Palmer

Uh ya.. no valve on main drain means no herbie for you!

Although a ball valve can work, in the end it will just drive you insane in the membrane. So do yourself a favour and ditch the ball valve and install a gate valve as previously suggested. Otherwise you'll be back here asking why it is so difficult to control the water level of your Herbie

You didn't mention it but I still think your main drain pipe is a tad too high :-)

Looks something like this..


Notice how much higher the emergency pipe is from the main pipe. On yours, it looks like by the time the water clears the main pipe (for silencing), the water level will have reached the emergency pipe and thus will make noise in the pipe and from splashing in the sump. If you're monkeying with the plumping mind as well fix the pipes. As suggested before you could also remove the main pipe completely.

Gate valve on main drain..

[Palmer]

Thanks Kien,

I heard the advice about the main pipe loud and clear, my not commenting on changing the main pipe was intentional as I was hoping to not have to cut it since there is so little room in the overflow box to wield a saw and I didn't want to touch the bulkhead. I then noticed it was originally set up with a threaded fitting to the bulkhead in the overflow box so I could remove the main pipe completely without difficulty or then cut it once removed and reinstall if necessary.

BTW does anyone know of a good place to get a 2 " PVC gate valve in Calgary (preferably slip fitting?) I have been going to RONA and they have almost no selection on some of these fittings.

Palmer

[kien]

Red Coral should have them in stock for ya :-)