My New 72"x20"x20" Tank Build

untamed · #1 10-31-2007, 01:18 AM

I would upgrade that gate valve you have on the Herbie drain. I think what you have there is called a knife valve, and I don't think you'll get the fine adjustment that you want from it.

I could be wrong, but most gate valves have round, screw-type handles like this. I know that on my system, an adjustment of almost immeasurable rotation causes an effect.

untamed · #2 10-31-2007, 01:29 AM

I realize that you haven't built the overflow box yet, but your plumbing mock up shows the primary (Herbie) overflow intake as being quite high in the tank. You don't want that. That line should just be a bulkhead right on the bottom of the tank.

Your emergency flow drain should have a vertical riser like that. The surface will be skimmed by the overflow box, and the water level in the overflow box will be between the bottom of the tank and the level of the emergency overflow.

The closer to the top of the overflow box that you run the water level (controlled by your gate valve), the quieter the overflow box because the only noise is the water falling from the tank surface down to the water level in the overflow box.

Optimally, you will want the water in the overflow box to be almost as high as the tank surface, with the emergency drain standpipe, just higher than that.

Finally...consider using the Herbie AGAIN for the water that drains from the refugium into the sump. As is, you'll have silent flow right from the tank to the refug and sump, but the water that drains from the refug to the sump might be noisy. Use the hole you've already made as the emergency, and create another bulkhead at the bottom and run it as a Herbie. That's what I did and it works perfectly.

There are actually quite a few similarities between what you are doing there and what I have already done. You are welcome to drop by and examine and listen to plumbing, if you like. (I don't know how close you are to Coquitlam...)

GreenSpottedPuffer · #3 10-31-2007, 01:56 AM

Untamed, thanks for all the advice! I just read it quickly but I will read it again slower later on. Your right about the gate valve...I was ****ed when I ordered some of my plumbing online and it arrived much different than what I expected! The main thing was those gate valves, that are not actually gate valves! Im going to have to find a proper gate valve tomorrow.

Thanks again for the advice and I will use the herbie method for the connection between the refugium and sump. Thanks for the heads up on that. That should also keep any bubbles from getting into the sump from the refugium.

I checked JL and ocean Aquatics but neither have 2" Gate Valves. I know Home Depot and Rona do not either. Anyone know where I can get one? It has to be easy to get to though because I have no car right now. Im in Vancouver.

Canuckgod420 · #4 10-31-2007, 02:19 AM

hey if your still looking for large gate valves check out the plumbing supply stores...ie hillcrest plumbing on kingsway.....or B.A. Robinson.

GreenSpottedPuffer · #5 10-31-2007, 03:01 AM

Yeah thanks, I will call Hillcrest tomorrow. I am still looking. I need to get this gate valve by Thursday if possible.

GreenSpottedPuffer · #6 10-31-2007, 03:13 AM

Untamed, for the refugium to sump "herbie", do you think a ball valve would be accurate enough? I agree that for the overflow drain, I need a proper Gate Valve but I was thinking that for the reugium one, a ball valve would do...maybe not though.

untamed · #7 10-31-2007, 03:28 AM

re: Ball valve directing flow to refugium...

I'm thinking that a ball valve will work fine for that application. It will be a bit crude to adjust the flow into the refugium, but once you get it set you'll be fine if you just leave it alone. You'll then be able to fine tune the water exiting the refugium with a gate valve.

As the Herbies don't allow any air into the lines, you can always have the pipes exit silently below water line. That also avoids splashing and bubbling which results in less salt creep everywhere.

mark · #8 10-31-2007, 03:37 AM

Can't say nothing about the Herbie as but to listen to Untamed as he's experienced with running one.

For the return you should be able to reduce pipe diameter one size to make a little more manageable after the top Tee, build a manifold (such as like here) to even out flow and with multiple outlet not have a great loss.
RC calculator might be a guide.