Adding a second return pump?

[red reef]

Thinking about adding a second return pump to my 360 display tank. Tank is up and running for about a year and I have had flow issues. I have a Syncra 12, 3200gph as my return. I do have my chiller teed off of the main return with a gate valve to slow the flow through the chiller.
My tank is 96" x 24" x 36" tall it is 1.25 thick acrylic on all 4 sides. with an island center overflow. the tank is viewed from all sided. I have two 1.5" drain lines and one 1.25 " emergency drain tube. The two main drain lines are closed down a lot to create a 100% siphon. I was thinking of adding a DC pump next to my main, something like a waveline DC12000. then run a rigid pvc pipe up the side and over the top and then in the tank with some inductors on them.

Other then draining and drilling to add a closed loop I think this is my only answer. I Would like to hear what your thoughts are.

 

[mfinn]

With it as open as it is, I would do a bottom drilled closed loop to keep it looking as clean as it is now.
I think running pvc up over the top would take away from the clean appearance.

My second pick would be a couple Quiet Drive Vortechs, with the controllers inside the stand.

 

[red reef]

With it as open as it is, I would do a bottom drilled closed loop to keep it looking as clean as it is now.
I think running pvc up over the top would take away from the clean appearance.

My second pick would be a couple Quiet Drive Vortechs, with the controllers inside the stand.

sounds good but the tank is UP and running, photo is a year old when I was doing a leak test. Vortechs would be nice but will not make it with 1.25" walls.
this is my first big tank and boy I wish I drilled a close loop system in the bottom.

 

[mfinn]

Yeah, the Vortechs wouldn't work with 1.25" acrylic. I failed to catch that important detail.

I guess if the over the top pvc is the only option, checkout the colored pvc from bulkreefsupply.


http://aquarium.bulkreefsupply.com/reefing/Colored-Pvc

 

[mfinn]

You can even find colored pvc fittings around the web.
I found some on ebay.

 

[red reef]

Yeah, the Vortechs wouldn't work with 1.25" acrylic. I failed to catch that important detail.

I guess if the over the top pvc is the only option, checkout the colored pvc from bulkreefsupply.


http://aquarium.bulkreefsupply.com/reefing/Colored-Pvc

great idea, I was going to paint it

 

[mfinn]

I used some plumbing a friends tank and it was fun to use, and looks sharp.

 

[ReefBum]

Besides more flow, the other benefit of a second return pump is redundancy. You never know if a pump is going to fail.....and it would be really bad if you were away for a few days.

 

[red reef]

Besides more flow, the other benefit of a second return pump is redundancy. You never know if a pump is going to fail.....and it would be really bad if you were away for a few days.

You know I never thought of it that way before.

 

[bobyboy]

Option 1:
Upgrade your return pump to something that'll net you an extra 20-30% flow.

Option 2:
Snake some black PVC up the back so it sorta blends into your overflow.