2 pumps on 1 line, yes or no?

[Mike.B]

I was wondering if I could hook up a 750 gph pump and a quietone 6000(1500gph) to the same 1" line, I only got one 1" line coming back up to the tank from the sump and I wanted to know if it would be beneficial to hook the 2 pumps to the same 1" line with a T or Y fitting or something. I want to run 3 nozzles into the tank that are constantly on, would it be better to do it this way or just to run the quietone on all 3? I dont want to run lines behind the tank.

Just a random question, howcome no one has check valves on there return lines, if the power goes out the water will siphon back to the sump from the return lines and possibly overflow the sump, any reason people dont have checkvalves?

[MayoBoy]

Checkvalves clog up and aren't terribly reliable. The best bet is to drill a small hole somplace just below waterline. As the tank drains, the hole will break the siphon.

I'm not sure about your original quesion, I'm considering doing the same thing on a smaller scale. I would imagine a Y fitting is better than a T because of flow dynamics.

[wife no likey]

I was just looking for info on the same question; I found some useful things here:

http://www.mcnallyinstitute.com/15-html/15-01.htm

[wfrost]

Next time you are at Lowe's look at the in ground sprinkler section usually close to plumbing sometimes you can find all sorts of y and t 3/8 and 1/4 adapters.

[dougchambers]

You said you don't want to run lines behind the tank, but if it were me, I would create a closed loop with the extra pump. You can place the pump in the stand and run two lines up the back of the tank. Pickup black PVC, ABS or vinyl and it will be tough to even see it with the cords for your lights. In our last tank, we mounted a MAG7 on an acrylic plate placed on top of the overflow and used it to feed a SeaSwirl. The hood covered it nicely and it worked great without extra pipes in the back.

Closed loop benefits:
- Less flow through your sump with better flow in your display.
- Less opportunity for micro-bubbles
- Easy to setup
- Low maintenance

I'm a big fan of closed loops. We run a Sequence 4200SEQ12 feeding an Oceans Motions 4-way for our current system and it's outstanding.

Here is a shot of the hood where you can see the MAG in the back corner.



-Doug

[dead beat reef]

Do not run pumps in tandom. If you run the small pump first it
cant feed the large pump enough water. If you run the small
pump 2nd it will cut back the flow of the larger pump. Up grade
to a larger pump. I dont know if you can go external? I replaced
my Quiet one 6000 with a Dart. Tons of flow and pressure.
Very quiet. Low heat. G.F.I. dbr

[Mike.B]

K well I dont think Ill run the pumps together because they'll just be fighting eachother, and something like 2200gph on a single 1" line just isnt realistic, I now relize that.

Doug your closed loop design is interesting but having it at the top of the sump wouldnt that create tons of micro bubbles. Maybe If a pump was placed at the bottom of the overflow it would be better?...if it will fit. If I could fit it in the bottom of the overflow would this be a good way of doing it?

I think with these 2 pumps Ill have more than enough flow for a 70g and 1 pump comes with the tank so rather just buy a relatively cheap QO 6000 and call it good.

I think Ill run the 700gph pump on a single return and run the line behind the tank, and feed that pump from the sump, just because I want it underwater so its quieter. Ill run the QO 6000 on one of those things that swaps the flow back and forth(dont know the name) on the 1" line going up the overflow and have it alternating between the other 2 returns in the water.


I'm still not sure what to do with the check valve thing on the return lines, the drill a hole things kinda ghetto to me and wouldn't water be shooting out there?

[Feerlaroc]

A closed loop draws water from a pipe inside the tank itself (not the sump) so no microbubbles. Also if you drill the hole in your return line like Mayoboy said slightly BELOW the waterline about 1/8 of an inch it will shoot water underwater in your tank (not above water). Also I could be wrong but I think I have read on here that check valves decrease flow.

My 2 cents

[dougchambers]

Originally posted by subzero420
Doug your closed loop design is interesting but having it at the top of the sump wouldnt that create tons of micro bubbles. Maybe If a pump was placed at the bottom of the overflow it would be better?...if it will fit. If I could fit it in the bottom of the overflow would this be a good way of doing it?

I'm still not sure what to do with the check valve thing on the return lines, the drill a hole things kinda ghetto to me and wouldn't water be shooting out there?

Not sure where the "top of the sump" confusion came from, but our closed loop pulls water from two 2" drains in the bottom of the tank. The water is then joined into a single 2" flex line that feeds the inlet of our 4200SEQ12 pump which sits on the floor. The output from the pump goes through a gate valve and into an OM 4-way. From the 4-way, we route to four separate return lines. Two come through the bottom of the tank and branch under the rock work while the other two come over the top of the tank. We have absolutely NO microbubbles from our CL.

I've run check valves before and like most, I will tell you that they are prone to failure. Many have good success, but it only takes one failure to get REALLY wet. As ghetto as it sounds, vacuum breaks are very common. Like Feerlaroc mentioned, you place the hole so it points into the tank and doesn't see air until the water siphons back and the hole sucks air.

-Doug