Return pump question

[GibsonGuitars]

Hello, setting up a new tank Cobalt C vue 45 and was wanting to add the hydor Selts D pump ... mostly for the feeding pause button and adjustability. My Set up actually has 2 pumps totaling just under 600 gallons per hour. Can I add 1 pump at either 750 or 1000 gallon per hour , put in a “Y” to feed both outlets? Logic tells me the manufacturer would have done this to save costs if there wasn’t some benefit of two pumps. That’s said I t will save me about $50-75 to add just one seltz d pump, and I would have a single control unit instead of two.

 

[GibsonGuitars]

I know, It is a rookie question... lol, I just can’t figure out why there are two pumps when one makes more sense... figuring there must be a reason for two pumps and hoping someone knows... or if no reason that it’s ok to alter the setup and that I am not compromising the set up some way by switching to one pump.

 

[ReefLab]

Having one with a Y would work out fine imo. Welcome to R2R!

 

[GibsonGuitars]

Having one with a Y would work out fine imo. Welcome to R2R!

Thank you

 

[NowGlazeIT]

There is a trend going around that two pumps add redundancy should one fail. Giving you time to get a new pump without losing total water circulation.

 

[GibsonGuitars]

There is a trend going around that two pumps add redundancy should one fail. Giving you time to get a new pump without losing total water circulation.

Ok, now I get the reasoning behind two pumps. And for an extra $50-$75 I have some peace of mind that If my pump happens to die the moment I leave for a 12 hour day, I don’t come home to a disaster. I have two heaters for the tank as well for the same reason, one at 78 one at 76, so now it all makes sense. Looks like I am buying two pumps because that’s smart thinking.

 

[bob salzlein]

Ok, now I get the reasoning behind two pumps. And for an extra $50-$75 I have some peace of mind that If my pump happens to die the moment I leave for a 12 hour day, I don’t come home to a disaster. I have two heaters for the tank as well for the same reason, one at 78 one at 76, so now it all makes sense. Looks like I am buying two pumps because that’s smart thinking.

The manufacture generally uses two pumps usually because of cost and size. I believe those two pumps are A/C in that tank and one larger one might be to big to fit and they can put two smaller ones in there really cheap. One Seltz DC Hydor pump and a Y would be fine, other than you wanting the safety of two pumps. Just make sure when plumbing, you max out the tubing as far as you can to avoid back pressure.

 

[GibsonGuitars]

The manufacture generally uses two pumps usually because of cost and size. I believe those two pumps are A/C in that tank and one larger one might be to big to fit and they can put two smaller ones in there really cheap. One Seltz DC Hydor pump and a Y would be fine, other than you wanting the safety of two pumps. Just make sure when plumbing, you max out the tubing as far as you can to avoid back pressure.

Yes, you are correct. I am a general contractor and do have plumbing skills... you would need to consider water volume, in other words two pumps with 1/2” inch pipe , would require no less than a 3/4” replacement to achieve a similar volume of water... 3/4” Or 1” to the Y , then split to 2 1/2” to the outlets... just to be specific. I see so many people who say “my rain fall shower head sucks” and that was because there plumber sucked and didn’t pull a 3/4” or 1” off the main to supply it. Water volume is the most overlooked aspect of plumbing.