Are you doing this with your aquarium return pump? Maybe you should be!

revhtree · Sep 11, 2020

Quick tips and QOTD today! It's simple but could really save your tank one day! Your aquarium return pump is the heart of your system and needs to be running at all times and there are some things you can do to make sure it is always pumping! Breakers can get tripped, power strips can quit working and pumps get dirty and can stop pumping! Here are a few tips and I hope that you will share some of your own.

1. If at all possible have your aquarium return pump on it's own circuit.

2. Plug your return pump directly into the electrical outlet. Don't use a power strip or even an aquarium controller.

3. Clean your return pump regularly to keep it running smoothly and efficiently!

4. Make sure the return intake of your pump isn't restricted.

5. KEEP A SPARE PUMP FOR AN EMERGENCY!

Do you have your return pump on it's own circuit and do you think that is necessary? What about these other tips?

Please share any tips you have for making sure your return pump is running at all times!

Shon · Sep 11, 2020

DC pumps battery backup if applicable

SAWFISH · Sep 11, 2020

I don't have my pump on its on circuit. I think more important than having a dedicated circuit is having a method to monitor if your pump is working or not. If you can just be alerted when it is not working it is typically simple to replace the pump or flip the breaker etc, what matters most is knowing the pump has stopped.

Cleaning the equipment and making sure the intake is clear is a great way to extend life and avoid pump failure, and having a backup on hand is great so your tank is not without circulation for prolonged periods

Clownfish_Boy · Sep 11, 2020

You should use a breaker protected switched outlet strip (with only the pump on it), so you can flip a switch to turn the pump on and off.

Timfish · Sep 11, 2020

WIth my setups ideally I would have two pumps, each on it's own circuit. That's usually not practical though so redundancy is the fall back. Multiple return pumps and battery operated air pumps with spares ready to go.

andrewkw · Sep 11, 2020

Only in the winter. My house despite having many open slots on the panel has my outside outlets on the same circuit as the original outlets near my tank. So when I cut the grass with 300 feet of extension cords I often blow the circuit. My gfci has only tripped once when I had slightly wet hands other then tests.

I agree it is safer and normally for me the risk of shock from 1 item is an acceptable risk vs blowing the gfci and having everything shut off. My outlets are all in pretty safe spots but of course anything could happen.

KStatefan · Sep 11, 2020

I do not think it should be on it own circuit alone but having equipment seperated on two circuits or at least separate GFCIs.
Somestimes it might be better to have something that will idicate to everyone in the house that there is a power issue. Not aquarium related but I have our modem on the same circuit as the sewer pump my wife and daughter will notice that almost instantly

Brew12 · Sep 11, 2020

I have my return pump plugged into my Profilux controller. The Profilux power strip is plugged into a GFCI. I have no issues or concerns doing it this way. My gyres in the tank are on a separate GFCI (2 actually) and will provide plenty of aeration in the event the return pump is lost and I will have hours to react without risking losing anything.

When I had my tank built, I did make one "mistake" that I wish I could change. I only have on hole drilled for my return pump. I wish I had two of them drilled. I would love to have 2 return pumps on separate Profilux power strips for online redundancy.

Pntbll687 · Sep 11, 2020

yes my return pump is on it's own circuit, and is plugged directly into an outlet. I also have a sensor to turn off the return if the water level drops below a certain point, so it doesn't run dry.

Cleaning, eh, every whenever I think about it and get to it.

No restrictions on the inlet

Spare pump, yes. Is it the same pump as the return, no, but it will work until I can get a replacement.

Greybeard · Sep 11, 2020

Hm.

On it's own circuit? Good idea, impractical, for many of us. Very much so, for myself.

Directly into an outlet? No, thanks. In fact, I'd consider that a move away from reliability.

My return pump is connected to my Apex, with an alarm on it's electrical usage. Clogs or failures will vary the pump's current usage, and send me an email, let me know there's a problem. Also, my weekly water change is much quicker using my Apex's Water Change mode, I'd not be willing to do without it.

Clean it and maintain it regularly? Of course. Make sure it's not clogged or restricted? Sure. Keep a spare? I'm with you there.

Honestly, I'm not convinced that the return pump is mission critical, over the short term, anyway. Flow, in the tank, is absolutely mission critical... I have a Tunze pump connected to their battery switch, and a battery that will run it for a full day. Keeping water movement in the tank is CRITICAL to maintaining healthy animals.

Through the sump? Eh. If the sump flow stops for a few hours, what's the big deal? Tank is in my living room, it's a few degrees cooler in there than the tank is, but water doesn't loose heat that fast. As long as tank flow, surface agitation is maintained, my tank's health isn't really at risk, over short duration outages.

Hydrored · Sep 11, 2020

I run dual returns in case one fails and also a dedicated 20 amp circuit to the tank. I always recommend on a larger tank to plumb and run dual returns if space and budget allows. It’s nice for cleaning as well

KenO · Sep 11, 2020

I picked other. I have 2 return pumps. Each pump is on a different electrical circuit. If one pops, the other pump keeps running. The system would be noisy since the overflow is no longer balanced. Plus each of my pumps on its own is enough to run the entire tank. So if a pump goes bad, I can up the flow on the good pump to handle the entire load. Plus I keep a spare pump on hand too.

Why-Me · Sep 11, 2020

Nope.
I have a Jebao plugged directly into my Apex EB8, consider me livin' on the edge!

I have a backup pump for both tanks, just in case.

fish farmer · Sep 11, 2020

I'm under the impression that anything electrical going into the tank should be on a GFCI.

Am I wrong on this? Doesn't electrical codes dictate wet areas that have outlets nearby are supposed to be GFCI? Most of my aquarium outlets happened to be GFCI except the return pump and skimmer which went on a short GFCI outdoor extension...which I'm sure isn't truly up to code since it is in constant use.

I do keep a spare pump though.

RobMcC · Sep 11, 2020

Yes and no. They are plugged into one of my GHL Powerbars which are spread across two circuits. However, all my return pumps are also on automatic battery back up with between 7 and 14-ish days of backup along with flow pumps (the back up capacity has steadily increased over the last few years as power is off for more and more days at a time in California).

edit: I agree with your tips, I keep spare pumps in stock and clean pumps bi-monthly, including running in citric acid for 30 minutes.

Chuk · Sep 11, 2020

I do a combo. Normally its on the same circuit as everything else. When we go on vacation I put it on a separate circuit. I had my gfci trip on time while we were on vacation and kill everything. So to avoid that I put it on its own when I know we wont be around to reset the GFCI.

BlennyTime · Sep 11, 2020

I have 2 pumps and 2 circulators, they are each on their own circuit (some with other equipment).

RobB'z Reef · Sep 11, 2020

KenO said:
I picked other. I have 2 return pumps. Each pump is on a different electrical circuit. If one pops, the other pump keeps running. The system would be noisy since the overflow is no longer balanced. Plus each of my pumps on its own is enough to run the entire tank. So if a pump goes bad, I can up the flow on the good pump to handle the entire load. Plus I keep a spare pump on hand too.

I second this approach and it's the one i took. I'd add that there is less value going to an outlet directly if you are using a controller for monitoring power and operation, this is invaluable and compromises nothing from a safety and reliability aspect, or any type of controlled switch for that matter.

ChrisNH · Sep 11, 2020

Other.. I have return/skimmer/powerheads (x2) on their own circuit, the rest of the aquarium is on a shared circuit.

lefkonj · Sep 11, 2020

I don't have a dedicated circuited, couldn't get that when I built my tank. If I could I would have 2 dedicated circuits for my tank. I run everything split across two controller strips attached to their own battery backup. This gives me the ability to turn the pumps off when the power drops and run a single return to conserve battery time. Personally I never plug important electronics directly into an outlet without some type of surge protection.