Redundant drain or redundant return? Which would you choose?

[bamafanmdw]

Working on a new build and looking for some input. It is a 5 x 2 x 2 - 150 gallon reef with center back internal overflow. The overflow will have room for 4 holes. Would you run a bean animal and one return? Or a Herbie and 2 returns?

I see the benefits for both - and I could have a 5th hole drilled but would increase the size of an already large internal overflow so trying to stay with just 4 holes.

Tank flow will be by internal pumps (20x) not relying on the returns for that rate. I will be running a refugium so I do not need high tank turn over rates - plan to run around 5x with the capacity to go up to 10x if needed. I do not plan immediately to run any reactors or UV so would not be pulling from the return for those devices but will plumb a manifold if that changes in the future. Planning for 1.5" drains and 1" returns.

I know everyone will have a different opinion - really curious to see what most people would choose.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Bean and one return and keep a spare pump on hand is the route I would go :)
Better to have a pump fail then have a drain clog and overflow :)

 

[Fish Fan]

Working on a new build and looking for some input. It is a 5 x 2 x 2 - 150 gallon reef with center back internal overflow. The overflow will have room for 4 holes. Would you run a bean animal and one return? Or a Herbie and 2 returns?

I see the benefits for both - and I could have a 5th hole drilled but would increase the size of an already large internal overflow so trying to stay with just 4 holes.

Tank flow will be by internal pumps (20x) not relying on the returns for that rate. I will be running a refugium so I do not need high tank turn over rates - plan to run around 5x with the capacity to go up to 10x if needed. I do not plan immediately to run any reactors or UV so would not be pulling from the return for those devices but will plumb a manifold if that changes in the future. Planning for 1.5" drains and 1" returns.

I know everyone will have a different opinion - really curious to see what most people would choose.

Hello!

What tank did you get? Typically, overflows these days are just for the drains and have two to at most three drains, and return lines are separate. Your tank (if it's like my 150) will have three drains for a BeanAnimal style overflow.

 

[bamafanmdw]

Hello!

What tank did you get? Typically, overflows these days are just for the drains and have two to at most three drains, and return lines are separate. Your tank (if it's like my 150) will have three drains for a BeanAnimal style overflow.

It is being built by Glass Cages to my specifications. I just am trying to limit how large the overflow becomes since it is internal.

 

[Fish Fan]

It is being built by Glass Cages to my specifications. I just am trying to limit how large the overflow becomes since it is internal.

Ah gotcha! Well good luck with your build!

 

[bamafanmdw]

Bean and one return and keep a spare pump on hand is the route I would go :)
Better to have a pump fail then have a drain clog and overflow :)

I agree! But........if I put a screen on the main drain line to keep out snails and make sure the emergency drain is kept clear during routine maintenance......how often does a Herbie really fail? Vs a pump failing during the night or when I am at work and it takes time to swap it out? That is my internal debate.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I agree! But........if I put a screen on the main drain line to keep out snails and make sure the emergency drain is kept clear during routine maintenance......how often does a Herbie really fail? Vs a pump failing during the night or when I am at work and it takes time to swap it out? That is my internal debate.

Honestly a screen on the main drain will be more likely to clog than a snail getting in it

 

[SnowyFox]

A single return can always be split into 2 or more separate lines after it passes through the bulkhead and into the tank. Especially if you just use 1.5" for everything. If it were me, I would go with the 3 drains and 1 main return