Return pump

Seavee1218 · Jul 2, 2013

Ok so I got a new deepblue 80gal rimless shallow tank and I also have a custom 12in x 12in x 6in like 3gal frag tank I was wondering if I could run them both off one mag 9.5 return pump , the pump will have to go up about 3ft . Tank will be only a few sps with mostly Lps and zoas .. Thanks guys !

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Eric B · Jul 2, 2013

Yes as long as both are draining back into the same sump. You can just put a "T" with some ball valves in the return lines so you can control the flow to each tank separately.

Seavee1218 · Jul 2, 2013

Eric B said:
Yes as long as both are draining back into the same sump. You can just put a "T" with some ball valves in the return lines so you can control the flow to each tank separately.

Awsome !!! I was thinking the same , I will have both tanks drain into a huge refugium also idk if u know but I got a refug with mangrove , cheato , and live rock and miracle mud , it's about time to renew the mud should I just clean it out and run lr , cheato , and mangrove ?? Also have a big skimmer

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Eric B · Jul 2, 2013

Do you think the mud has benefited your system in any way? I have never ran a system with it in there but I was planning on doing a trough with some mud and mangrove's. I am pretty sure the mangrove's need to be planted in some type of substrate whether it is the mud or sand or maybe a mixture of the two, but have not fully researched it and maybe someone else on here will chime in. I have heard however that if replacing with new mud you only want to replace like half at a time and not all at once. I would definitely run some small live rock rubble in the refuge and cheato if you have the room which it sounds like you do just make sure the cheato tumbles. Sorry I could not be of more help on the mud question I have just not dealt with it at all and only seen it on a few systems.

Seavee1218 · Jul 2, 2013

Eric B said:
Do you think the mud has benefited your system in any way? I have never ran a system with it in there but I was planning on doing a trough with some mud and mangrove's. I am pretty sure the mangrove's need to be planted in some type of substrate whether it is the mud or sand or maybe a mixture of the two, but have not fully researched it and maybe someone else on here will chime in. I have heard however that if replacing with new mud you only want to replace like half at a time and not all at once. I would definitely run some small live rock rubble in the refuge and cheato if you have the room which it sounds like you do just make sure the cheato tumbles. Sorry I could not be of more help on the mud question I have just not dealt with it at all and only seen it on a few systems.

Thanks buddy u helped a bunch I appreciate it !!!

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AZDesertRat · Jul 3, 2013

The water surface elevation of both tanks will need to be the same unless you keep the returns above the water level so you don't siphon from one down to the other in a power outage. If anything place the frag tank above the display so it would siphon the small amount of water ity holds into the larger tank which should be able to contain it and not the other way around.

Seavee1218 · Jul 3, 2013

AZDesertRat said:
The water surface elevation of both tanks will need to be the same unless you keep the returns above the water level so you don't siphon from one down to the other in a power outage. If anything place the frag tank above the display so it would siphon the small amount of water ity holds into the larger tank which should be able to contain it and not the other way around.

Even if I have seperate drains and returns for both tanks ?

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AZDesertRat · Jul 3, 2013

If they share one Mag 9.5 pump they can't have separate returns, the pump is the common low point. You would need separate pumps to isolate one from the other.

Seavee1218 · Jul 3, 2013

AZDesertRat said:
If they share one Mag 9.5 pump they can't have separate returns, the pump is the common low point. You would need separate pumps to isolate one from the other.

What if I run a T off the pump and add valves to adjust the flow going to each tank ??

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SplishsplashME · Jul 3, 2013

Put a tee then two ball valves, my thinking for that is that you can have more fine tuning adjustment. I would just be worried that your going to hurt the pump by not allowing all of its power to be let out. It just might shorten its life.

Seavee1218 · Jul 3, 2013

Yea that's what I was thinking I could run the valve wide open going to the80 and probley half closed going to the frag tank so it doesn't shoot water out the tank

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Jlobes · Jul 3, 2013

you will not harm the pump by restricting the output, but will indeed if you restrict the input. Also, I think what AZ is referring to, is the back siphon when your power goes off/out. since, they would share the same return line.

Seavee1218 · Jul 3, 2013

Jlobes said:
you will not harm the pump by restricting the output, but will indeed if you restrict the input. Also, I think what AZ is referring to, is the back siphon when your power goes off/out. since, they would share the same return line.

But wouldn't both tank just drain into my sump when the power goes out ?

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Eric B · Jul 3, 2013

You can ball valve mag pumps with no problems and will not shorten its life that is why I recommended doing it with a "T" and 2 ball valves to adjust the flow to each tank.

As far as what AZ was talking about is that you need a siphon break in each return pipe so that when power is cut and water is draining back to sump air will enter the system and break this siphon. All returns should have some type of siphon break to prevent this back flow. I run 4 outlets which are all submerged below the water surface but after the last outlet I reduce the size to a John Guest fitting and run the tub just into the overflow. When running normal water is exiting all return outlets as well as trickling out the end of the John Guest tubing which is in the overflow above any water line in the tank. When power is turned off this tubing sucks air and causes a siphon break in my system and stops flow back to sump.

You will need a siphon break on each of the returns to each tank so that both will suck air and stop the flow back to sump. After this all should work fine to use 1 pump for both tanks with a common sump and have seen this done successfully many times even when tanks are on different levels.