Shayne's 90 Build

Durso's are a great drain and will run pretty much silently if done right and you can cram a ton of flow throw them. Another option is the HGB or Hofer Gurgle Buster, I run this on my frag tank and my 180. They are quiet but can be a bit finicky of you adjust flow after you have set them. Other than that they are fairly quiet. Either way they both work. Let me know if you need help with either and I'd be happy to answer any questions you have on building them.

Durso will likely never clog. I have never ran an emergency drain and have never seen a real reason to unless you are running the herbie method which in itself is a huge flood risk.

I guess I could just start with a Durso and run the return through the overflow. If I don't like it I can think about changing it to a Hofer (not to be mistaken for Herbie, iirc).

A poll for people who have used both would be more helpful. Everyone I know of who has used one likes it better than a durso.

Hofer Gurgle Buster: http://home.everestkc.net/jrobertson57268/HGB/

Herbie: The Herbie design is actually a combination of designs. Two standpipes are required. One of them is typically a Durso or Stockman; this is the pipe that dictates the water level in the overflow chamber just as it would in a single stand pipe situation. The second standpipe (referred to as siphon pipe from here forward) is generally an open pipe that is lower than the inlet of the Durso pipe. Both standpipes return to the sump via separate piping, tying them together defeats the purpose. The siphon pipe must have a valve between it and the sump at some point, this is optional for the Durso pipe. The siphon pipe should be sized to handle all of the pump flow with the valve wide open, but you will run it with the valve partially closed to only allow about 95% of the pump flow. With the siphon pipe restricted to about 95% of the pump flow the water level in the overflow box rises to the Durso pipe at which point it begins to flow down both pipes. The siphon pipe is now under full siphon because it is completely submerged. A pipe under full siphon is dramatically more quiet than a pipe with air entrained in it - and the sump is very quiet as well since there is no bubbling effect. The result is a very quiet system, and an added level of protection against flooding. Ideally both standpipes should be capable of taking the full pump flow of the other. Unless the Durso/Stockman pipe becomes completely blocked it is virtually impossible to flood.
Link: http://dinardiengineering.com/blog/?p=34


Edited by Shayne - May 24 2010 at 12:38am

Ah, cool.  Thanks for the link.  I think I'll give this a try, since my setup is almost there anyway.  I have three bulkheads in my overflow, the middle one is the return, the left goes to my refugium, the right to my sump.  The left and right currently both have stockman stand pipes, so I should be able to just replace the right side with a shorter open pipe and adjust the valve to the sump until it's all silent.  Can't wait to try it out now! 

If you can go a little bit larger you will be happier.

Just put the biggest 1 you can in. Make sure you have enough room for the footprint on 1 end for your skimmer

If I went with the Herbie style I'd have to drill a hole for a return. I'm sure I can find some instructions for how to do it, but am I pretty safe drilling my tank myself?

I've been reading through BobC63's old 225 G build thread. I noticed he used a plenum. I was reading on RC forums that plenums used to be popular but now they're not. How do you guys feel about them?