I was just thinking about the use of 2 pumps in case 1 fails and i started to think this wont work. lets say you have 2 of the same return pumps and 1 fails. so the only pump working is now supplying 1/2 the flow, but wouldn't all that flow just come right back out of the other (now failed) return pump? water will want to take the easiest route and i doubt its 4 ft up a pipe when it can just do a turn in the opposite direction and out of the failed return pump.
dual return pumps for redundency
- Thread starter SeeFu
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JoshH
Tank Status: Wet...ish, growing things....
A lot of people run a setup with two check valves so in theory if the one pump fails the check valve will close and prevent the flow from being pushed through the dead pump. This is also usually supplemented by valves so you can close them and service the dead pump. Or take one offline for regular maintenance. If you plumb each pump to a separate return in the tank you don't really need the check valve setup although it would still be nice to have...
jasonrusso
2500 Club Member
I have 2 return pumps with 2 returns. If I shut one off, the water level in the sump rises a bit, but that's all.
CJBuckeyes
Active Member
Yes, but it will then just be functioning as your return. You'll still be getting filtered, heated/cooled water from your sump being returned to your tank via the good pump.
As mentioned above, you can also try a check valve.
As mentioned above, you can also try a check valve.
Sleepydoc
Valuable Member
It depends on your setup - let's say you have two pumps y'd together and one fails. The water from the good pump will tend to go down to the bad pump, but the impeller on that pump will provide some resistance to flow, so, depending on how much head height you have in your return plumbing, odds are that at least some of the water will go up to the display.
The two ways of avoiding this are either to put check valves in line for each of the pumps or to have separate return lines for each of the pumps. Of the two options I'd recommend the second, but it's more piping.
You could also have ball valves inline for each of the pumps. That requires some intervention on your part but would be a nice compromise and unless you're away from your tank for more than a day it'd be unlikely to cause a problem.
The two ways of avoiding this are either to put check valves in line for each of the pumps or to have separate return lines for each of the pumps. Of the two options I'd recommend the second, but it's more piping.
You could also have ball valves inline for each of the pumps. That requires some intervention on your part but would be a nice compromise and unless you're away from your tank for more than a day it'd be unlikely to cause a problem.
CJBuckeyes
Active Member
Oh I was just assuming there would be separate return lines for each pump in my answer above. Good to point this out
jasonrusso
2500 Club Member
I'd always prefer to have 2 return pumps with separate returns. It's simple and a good redundancyOh I was just assuming there would be separate return lines for each pump in my answer above. Good to point this out
jasonrusso
2500 Club Member
Are you going to use 2 returns? That changes everything. I hate the use of check valves. They don't work long term.
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nezw0001
Well-Known Member
I have two return pumps feeding separate return lines. I needed to add check valves otherwise if one failed when i was not at home water would just back flow through the other(non functioning) return and bypass the overflow. With this system i'm not critically relying on the check valve so i'm not too concerned about them. if one fails water will just by pass the overflow and the sump will not function correctly till i get home and throw manual valves. Minor inconvenience not catastrophic failure.
Sleepydoc
Valuable Member
Good point - I forgot to mention that!
jasonrusso
2500 Club Member
If I turn one of my pumps off, my sump level only goes up 2 inches. Do you have a siphon break?
