2 return pumps.. one tank?

dvskin · Dec 27, 2013

Hey guys, I'm sitting here doing my plumbing. Hooking up my scwd n looking at my return pump.. I was wondering if it's a crazy idea to have to return pumps. One for either side of the tank. I would then eliminate the scwd and control the pumps via Apex. I was thinking of making them come on and off at dif times of the day, sometimes bboth of them will be on. Just give me some random. My only concern would be my overflow keeping up with the changing flow. I run a 3 hole beananimal overflow system with a full siphon drain, an open air drain, and an emergency dry drain. Anyone have any thoughts on this??

Chad

Los · Dec 27, 2013

As long as your overflow GPH can handle more than your returns... you shouldn't have a problem.

Herefishyfishy · Dec 27, 2013

On my previous 180 while living in Kent and before the days of decent power-heads, had three decent sized pumps as returns.
One for the main side returns, one on a spray bar down the back, and one on a rotating head. Only limited by the size of the overflows, and your noise tolerance level :)

dvskin · Dec 27, 2013

My full siphon drain is adjusted with a gate valve. I feel like it will need to be adjusted when the flow ramps up and down. Just brainstorming

dvskin · Dec 28, 2013

Just gonna give this a little bump. I hooked up the plumbing last nite, one pump and a scwd. When the scwd starts switching side, the level in the external overflow box goes up, and puts more water through my open air drain. I think this will obviously always happen if I hook up 2 pumps. So I guess the answer is it will work, but will get noisy (as fishy said.)Might end up doing this down the line though, if I'm not happy with the flow I get from the current setup.

Herefishyfishy · Dec 28, 2013

dvskin said:
My full siphon drain is adjusted with a gate valve. I feel like it will need to be adjusted when the flow ramps up and down. Just brainstorming

Why would one have a gate valve on an overflow, seems like asking for a over top of tank flood if it gets clogged.

BENT STIX · Dec 28, 2013

I gate valve my overflows. Allows me to make the overflow silent. Also it is very precise level control of the overflow and cuts back on air bubbles. Just my expierence.

DaveMorris · Dec 28, 2013

Herefishyfishy said:
Why would one have a gate valve on an overflow, seems like asking for a over top of tank flood if it gets clogged.

The Bean Animal overflow requires one of the three drain pipes to have a valve on it to adjust the siphon. The emergency drain pipe is what prevents a flood. I do not believe that you would be able to keep the overflow set right when switching the two pumps on.

dvskin · Dec 28, 2013

That's what I was thinking Dave. Thanks a lot. Guess I'm auck with putting power heads in the tank

CoralReefDoc · Dec 28, 2013

Sorry, wrong thread

afishionadoo · Dec 28, 2013

No, you really are not, dvskin ...

What Id recommend, highly given your specific scenario, is run two pumps but at constant flow rates; efficiently producing the aforementioned random flow pattern by having them discharge at two sea swirl oscillating return devices.

As you know, sea swirls can be rather pricy, however not having to supplement with as many/any internal power heads, depending on the model/flow rate of each pump, can/will offset that initial cost ... From both a monetary and aesthetic standpoint, respectively.

dvskin · Dec 28, 2013

Sea swirls aren't an option unfortunately. The returns come through the back glass, not over the top. Thanks though Fish.

Might save my pennies for an mp40, or 2 mp20's

dvskin · Dec 28, 2013

Just a thought... Venting/brainstorming.. I have an old mag5 that I may temp hook up to the other side.. see what happens. If I'm happy with the "noise" it makes and my open air drain/durso pipe(old school term!) can keep up, I still may do this... Dunno though, Dave is probably right though..

EDIT I guess I could get the sea swirls to work, but I would rather go with power heads I'f I'm gonna have those monstrosities in there anyway. LoL

AJsTank · Dec 28, 2013

I did 2 return pumps on my build.

dvskin · Dec 28, 2013

AJ! Nice build sir. Do you keep your pumps on all the time?? My plan was to use two pumps, but to use them like wavemakers. Oscillate them n what not. I guess if I never have them both on at the same time, or for a few seconds during transition, my drain would stay the same (providing the pumps are identical) just more brainstorming, putting stuff down on "paper"

YET ANOTHER EDIT
Are you running diablo's? I have the small version

AJsTank · Dec 28, 2013

dvskin said:
AJ! Nice build sir. Do you keep your pumps on all the time?? My plan was to use two pumps, but to use them like wavemakers. Oscillate them n what not. I guess if I never have them both on at the same time, or for a few seconds during transition, my drain would stay the same (providing the pumps are identical) just more brainstorming, putting stuff down on "paper"

At max, they are each about 3,000 GPH - I have one at 50% and one at 70% - The one at 70% is T'd off to my reactor and has a longer run, so it's turned up a little bit more.

2 pumps is great because if 1 goes down, you always have a second one going. Also, it allows you on the DC pumps to turn them down like I have to increase the life of the pump and with them running less than 100% it gives you flexibility. If you ever need to T into the returns, you can always increase your flow or decrease as needed.

dvskin · Dec 29, 2013

AJsTank said:
At max, they are each about 3,000 GPH - I have one at 50% and one at 70% - The one at 70% is T'd off to my reactor and has a longer run, so it's turned up a little bit more.

2 pumps is great because if 1 goes down, you always have a second one going. Also, it allows you on the DC pumps to turn them down like I have to increase the life of the pump and with them running less than 100% it gives you flexibility. If you ever need to T into the returns, you can always increase your flow or decrease as needed.

Thanks again AJ. My main concern was the changing flow rate and the overflow handling it. I wanted to control these two pumps with my apex n kick them on n off to create random flow.

On a side note, I'm leaning more towards the 2 pump idea.
My scwd already stopped switching sides (again... Merh) if I program the apex to never have both on at the same time, I should be good. Providing I use an identical dc pump, on the same setting.

FlyinBryan · Dec 29, 2013

2 returns on at the same time would just blow water through your sump (refuge) or filtration system twice as fast. I don't know what benefits that would give you at all. But hey, it'd be a cool to have, probably a good back up, but not necessarily a need to have.