2 Return Pumps?

[coraline79]

Has anyone ever tried this? I am planning on buying a 1500gph pump, but Iwas wondering if I could get 2 7-800 gph pumps for the return instead? I thought this could be a failsafe type thing in the case of failure. Let me know what you think. I want to go submersible becasue they are quieter, but If you know of some quiet externals let me know.

[ErikH]

If one fails, the other one will keep pumping, and the overflow will keep draining which will cause a flood.

I have my setup like this:
Overflow box to the sump.
The ATO floats are set to their lowest point and the ATO ONLY runs at night, indicated by a loud beep. I am always home when it is on.
My return is just below that, enough to NOT blow bubbles.

Reasons:
If my return kicks off, the sump can hold the excess. If the siphon breaks, it can only pump so much water before it hits air, which will not overflow. If it is at night and the ATO kicks on, I will at least hear it, and the overflow is low enough for the display to hold almost all of the 5 gallon top off.

[coraline79]

I see, that makes sense to me, no second pump. My return area will hold 16 gallons, so hopefully I am safe with the topoff, and overflow. My topoff will be fed by a r/di unit, probably a 15 gallon high tank that will fit in my stand. next to the 55 gallon sump/fuge.

[LoneStar]

If you have a reef ready tank with built in overflows, then I don't see a problem with running two return pumps. As long as the built in overflows can handle the flow, then there wouldn't be a problem.

[coraline79]

ok after thinking about this, I am confused. If one pump goes out then the other one will continue to run, but won't it only push a certain amount of water into the overflow, and then in turn pump back out. I have a calfo setup 4 foot long 2 2inch drains opened halfway.

[Ping]

If your overflow has J tubes and one pump fails, the loss of syphon is a possibility. This could happen if you have one or several tubes.

[ErikH]

It will push the water up, but since less is being pumped back up, it wont flow as fast. As long as your sump can handle that water you should be fine. The lowest the display can get is to the overflow, and if one pump fails, you will just have slower flow overall.

[mattymalcolm]

I have my 110gal with a 55gal refuge and two mag 7 return pumps and it works. I have had problems with one of my pumps going out and it ran fine with one pump it is just to slow so it needs two to function properly...but no flooding

[britfish]

I run 2 Pan World 1000GPH pumps on my 215G without any problems. If one pump fails (I have switched it off to check) there's just reduced flow but everything keeps working as normal. In fact I think its a good idea to have two pumps as a safeguard in case one fails.

[captexas]

Yeah, main concern is to make sure your overflow can handle both pumps running at the same time, which it sounds like yours will. Just because one pump shuts off doesn't mean it's going to overflow. You've got the same amount of water in the tank/sump whether one pump is running or two. Again, only concern is to make sure your drains can handle both of whatever size pumps you go with when they are running at the same time.

[Texreefer]

I had dual 800's running on my old tank for almost 2 years,, no problems,, just make sure your sump can handle the overflow when they are both off

[JimD]

I had dual 800's running on my old tank for almost 2 years,, no problems,, just make sure your sump can handle the overflow when they are both off

Probably the best piece of information so far.

[captexas]

Probably the best piece of information so far.

That applies to whether you are running 1 1500gph pump or 100 15gph pumps. The total water volume is the same either way. Only difference is if one pump fails, the total gph reduces going into the tank, but so does the gph draining from the tank. Again, it's the same amount of water and the same amount of space holding that water.