Dual return or single “higher end” return

[SneakyTortuga]

I have a new tank larger tank coming. Somewhere in the 200gallon + range. I was contemplating my return pump situation. The new tank is going to have 3- 1” drains with 2- 3/4” returns.

Background:
I currently have a 100 gallon tank running a Jebao dct 4000 for just over 2 years. The pump has run FLAWLESS. It’s completely silent and has given me 0 issues. At $70 how do you beat that?



The new fad is redundancy. Which I understand! Especially when last year I left for 3 months from home on work and my ato dumped 10 gallons of saturated kalk into my tank because of a faulty sensor.

Option A. $200ish

run 2 Jebao dct 6k or 8k pumps. 1 to each return

Option B. $800+

Splurge on a high end pump. Red dragon or abyzz

Option C. $400+

Get one middle ground pump such as a reef octopus. It’s the only mid tier pump I’ve seen with a decent track record.

Would love to hear some opinions while I break out the popcorn

 

[Roid Reefs]

I would personally run two return pumps, probably the 12000's. Build and H-pipe to attach them with valves so I could shut off from each other and run them lower, or remove one and up the flow higher to use all return lines.

 

[SneakyTortuga]

I would personally run two return pumps, probably the 12000's. Build and H-pipe to attach them with valves so I could shut off from each other and run them lower, or remove one and up the flow higher to use all return lines.

This is the route I’m leaning at the moment

 

[MrWheelock]

If i was doing it all again i would run 2 less expensive pumps. Im running the current usa DC pump and to me its super silent, but I'd run 2 in the future

 

[Silent]

The new fad is redundancy. Which I understand! Especially when last year I left for 3 months from home on work and my ato dumped 10 gallons of saturated kalk into my tank because of a faulty sensor.

Redundancy is not a fad...its an evolution.

 

[TheHarold]

This is the route I’m leaning at the moment

I have the new DCA12000 and it is EXCELLENT. 0-10v apex control, run dry protection (I tested), comes with a float switch cutoff, etc.

I love their stuff. Have another return pump that’s been going 3 years with no issues.

$400+ for a return pump with a crap 1 year warranty is...... crap

 

[S2G]

Depends on how bad you need your sump. If you having something critical that needs to get from sump to tank I'd run duals especially being gone 3 months at a time. Personally I went the single quality pump route with a split return.

Quality pumps doesn't have to be super expensive. You can get a fluval sp series with an askoll motor for $100-200. I just bought a skimz leopard on sale for like 3/4 off. I think this would be a better plan than a jebao.

 

[mrpizzaface]

I like the idea of dual pumps. If budget were a concern I would run dual Fluval
Sp4 or sp6 and control flow with a valve.
If money were no concern I would run dual Abyzz.

 

[WVNed]

I am running 2 Jebao 8k on my 240. One to each 3/4 return.