Dual return pumps

[Slawman]

A few weeks ago my 8000lph primary return failed. All I had on hand at the time were two Tunze silence 3000lph and I put both of them onto it, worked just fine and ended up just as silent (but 2000lph down on flow rate).

I am curious if other reefers use two smaller pumps instead of one large one, I don't see it mentioned much.

Using two pumps has the advantage of being more reliable and you can achieve dead silent running at a lower cost.

Thoughts?

 

[bevo5]

Yeah why not? As long as you’re moving the water you want to move, right? Definitely nice to have the back up built in.

 

[Apotack]

Redundancy is a good thing

 

[Slawman]

I thought that as well but it just does not seem to be a suggestion that comes up much and was wondering why.

 

[Quietman]

I've been curious about the plumbing for this setup. Wouldn't you have to have a check valve to prevent flow from working pump exiting the non-working pump? Also, if you run dual, can't one over power the other and cause a reverse flow? I could be overanalyzing pump plumbing.

 

[Apotack]

I run two but they are plumbed separately to separate outputs

 

[SeaJay]

I run two but they are plumbed separately to separate outputs

Me too. No Backflow valves needed. Although I’m moving my sump to the basement so I just purchased an iwaki external pump.

 

[ingchr1]

I run dual return pumps on my Waterbox AIO 40.2 for redundancy. One return with no check valves, works fine. The pumps are Sicce Syncra Silent 0.5's.

AIO Build - Waterbox Marine AIO 40.2 Build (by ingchr1)

Setting up my first reef tank, a Waterbox Marine AIO 40.2. The last tank I had was about 20 years ago and was a 55 gallon fish only. I selected an AIO since the location I have for the tank will not accommodate any other cabinets for housing supplies and electronics. The footprint of the area is...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[symon_say]

Or simply add a siphon breaker to each return.

 

[Slawman]

I run dual return pumps on my Waterbox AIO 40.2 for redundancy. One return with no check valves, works fine. The pumps are Sicce Syncra Silent 0.5's.

AIO Build - Waterbox Marine AIO 40.2 Build (by ingchr1)

Setting up my first reef tank, a Waterbox Marine AIO 40.2. The last tank I had was about 20 years ago and was a 55 gallon fish only. I selected an AIO since the location I have for the tank will not accommodate any other cabinets for housing supplies and electronics. The footprint of the area is...

www.reef2reef.com

I have never run the 5000, is it dead silent at full speed?

 

[ingchr1]

I have never run the 5000, is it dead silent at full speed?

Did you mean to quote me?

I have Sicce Syncra Silent 0.5, one speed and they are silent.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I think cost comes into it.
Buying two pumps that deliver the same volume as 1 pump would cost more.
Other than cost it's got positives with redundancy.