Plumbing help! Using dual return pumps, two returns - how to manifold?

CapnGreenJeans · 01/23/2020, 01:23 PM

I'm planning to plumb my tank with two return pumps in the sump, each hooked up to their own separate return in the tank.

What's the ideal configuration to set up a manifold for attaching future gear (carbon, uv, gfo, etc)? Should the manifold branch off of only one return line? Should I have a smaller manifold branching off of each return line? Should they share a common manifold (this could cause weird flow issues if the pumps aren't balanced?)?

If anyone has pictures of clean dual pump/dual return plumbing jobs, I'd love to see!

mcgyvr · 01/23/2020, 01:31 PM

Are you putting the pumps in serial or parallel or independent ? Seems like independent..

What is the reason for wanting the dual pumps?
If for redundancy then do you want that same redundancy in your manifold setup?

CapnGreenJeans · 01/23/2020, 01:36 PM

The pumps will be independent. I considered running series or parallel, but parallel would result in reduced flow, and series would result in drastically reduced flow if one died.

The dual pumps are for redundancy, and I don't think redundancy for the manifold is necessary, as it won't be a key part of life support.

mcgyvr · 01/23/2020, 07:47 PM

If you dont need the redundancy then pick one return and add the manifold to it...
Keep it simple

billdogg · 01/24/2020, 07:39 AM

IME, the main return pump rarely fails. Having two running at the same time just increases the complexity of the system, reduces overall sump volume (assuming internal pumps), and doubles the required costs and maintenance.

If you are doing it for the increased flow in the DT, you are much better served using power heads of whatever brand you choose for in tank circulation.

That being said, I keep a spare return pump for all my systems so that when I do need to take one offline for cleaning, I can just swap out with the spare and then take my time cleaning/repairing as needed.

Sk8r · 01/28/2020, 12:16 PM

My main pump (Iwaki) has run for 13 years with one two-hour maintenance and an 8-day power-out. And probably will go another 20 years. Little pumps die a lot, the big ones almost never. If you want to make an investment in disaster-survival for your tank, invest in a generator backup to keep the pump running in an 8 day power-out. I did it without. Tank lived. But now I own a generator.

01/23/2020, 01:23 PM	#1
CapnGreenJeans Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Posts: 25	Plumbing help! Using dual return pumps, two returns - how to manifold? I'm planning to plumb my tank with two return pumps in the sump, each hooked up to their own separate return in the tank. What's the ideal configuration to set up a manifold for attaching future gear (carbon, uv, gfo, etc)? Should the manifold branch off of only one return line? Should I have a smaller manifold branching off of each return line? Should they share a common manifold (this could cause weird flow issues if the pumps aren't balanced?)? If anyone has pictures of clean dual pump/dual return plumbing jobs, I'd love to see!

01/23/2020, 01:31 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Are you putting the pumps in serial or parallel or independent ? Seems like independent.. What is the reason for wanting the dual pumps? If for redundancy then do you want that same redundancy in your manifold setup? __________________ Who me?

01/23/2020, 07:47 PM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	If you dont need the redundancy then pick one return and add the manifold to it... Keep it simple __________________ Who me?

01/24/2020, 07:39 AM	#5
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	IME, the main return pump rarely fails. Having two running at the same time just increases the complexity of the system, reduces overall sump volume (assuming internal pumps), and doubles the required costs and maintenance. If you are doing it for the increased flow in the DT, you are much better served using power heads of whatever brand you choose for in tank circulation. That being said, I keep a spare return pump for all my systems so that when I do need to take one offline for cleaning, I can just swap out with the spare and then take my time cleaning/repairing as needed. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

01/28/2020, 12:16 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	My main pump (Iwaki) has run for 13 years with one two-hour maintenance and an 8-day power-out. And probably will go another 20 years. Little pumps die a lot, the big ones almost never. If you want to make an investment in disaster-survival for your tank, invest in a generator backup to keep the pump running in an 8 day power-out. I did it without. Tank lived. But now I own a generator. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/23/2020, 01:36 PM	#3
CapnGreenJeans Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Posts: 25	The pumps will be independent. I considered running series or parallel, but parallel would result in reduced flow, and series would result in drastically reduced flow if one died. The dual pumps are for redundancy, and I don't think redundancy for the manifold is necessary, as it won't be a key part of life support.