Running two circulation pumps alternatively?

[Joreef92]

Hi There,

I was wondering if running two circulation pumps alternatively in a symetrical way would be a good idea to avoid any dead spot ?

I have a 30 gallon WB, i was thinking to use for the first 12 hours the pump on the left and for the remaining 12 hours, the same pump on the right.

In my case the two pumps would be Tunze 6045.

OR should i reduce the flow of the Tunze 6045 and have both working in the same time?

 

[mfinn]

While Tunze pumps are excellent pumps, I would wonder if the 6045 would stand up to the constant on/off cycle.
Maybe a pair of the 6055's which are controllable?

 

[User1]

It could work if the pumps you are using are designed to handle that sort of on / off cycle. Example I have a pair of XF250 Gyres and alternate sides to simulate incoming and outgoing tides. I also run a pair of Neptune Cor 15 pumps on my return. I use a virtual outlet and named it tide. It switches every 6 hours and when that happens one return pump is on, the other switches to off. These are tied to a 1 inch sea swirl on opposite sides of the tank. Again to simulate high and low tide flow patterns.

So it can be done but typically they are done using a controller. Controller be it controlling the tank or the married power heads and its controller head unit.

 

[Joreef92]

Hm, using some timer plugs would be risky for the pumps ?

 

[gabrieltackitt]

Hm, using some timer plugs would be risky for the pumps ?

with that I would be worried that if one timer fails, then the possibility of both pumps working at the same time may happen, which depending on your overflow setup may be too much water and suck your return chamber dry and kill both pumps. Or both pumps end up off at the same time, and you have no flow for that period of time. Just my 2 cents but I wouldn’t trust a setup like that without a controller monitoring the flow somehow.

 

[Water Dog]

With fixed speed powerheads, I would grab one of these to give you alternating flow between the two pumps throughout the day.

Loc-Line

Bulk Reef Supply - Saltwater Aquarium Supplies for Reef Tanks

www.marinedepot.com

Wave Surfer Controller

Easily program and control your Sicce Voyager and Sicce Syncra pumps to simulate real ocean currents with the Sicce Wave Surfer Controller. Dual outlet pump controller Maximum of 100W per outlet Suitable with other "fast timer safe" pumps up to 100W Night mode, feed mode and alternate or...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Before the advent of DC controllable circulation pumps in the hobby, these switching wave makers were the standard for reefers if you wanted alternating flow between your AC powerheads.

Anybody remember these from back in the day?

 

[mfinn]

with that I would be worried that if one timer fails, then the possibility of both pumps working at the same time may happen, which depending on your overflow setup may be too much water and suck your return chamber dry and kill both pumps. Or both pumps end up off at the same time, and you have no flow for that period of time. Just my 2 cents but I wouldn’t trust a setup like that without a controller monitoring the flow somehow.

The op is talking about internal flow pumps. Not return pumps.

 

[gabrieltackitt]

The op is talking about internal flow pumps. Not return pumps.

Ahh I gotcha, much less worrying than before.