Separate pumps for return, UV, reactors?

[Hitchhik3r]

Do most people have separate pumps for everything they run such as for return, UV sterilizer, microalgae reactor? That's a lot of pumps to squeeze into a sump. Can you combine some of these and Y the output with a single pump? I'm guessing that would be difficult since they all require different flow rates.

 

[Tiki_Reef]

On my 120 I have a main return pump that feeds one of my return lines and another pump that feeds my UV and carbon reactor that occupies the other return lines into the tank, but I have a pretty big sump so space at the moment isn't a issue.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

I "T'd" off my main return line and made a manifold.
D

 

[air_run]

From what I have seen, people do it both ways.

On my 45g, I have one pump for my skimmer and my return pump runs (3) filter cylinders, a chiller and a UV sterilizer. On my 220g (in progress), one pump for skimmer, one pump for (3) filter cylinders and my return will feed a chiller and UV but, my UV will only be used when needed.

You separate the flow with (3) valves, one in between the in/out of chiller, UV, etc to direct/restrict flow and the other two to shut off for maintenance. If you really want to know the gph of each you could use flow meters that either Neptune or GHL offer, if you happen to be running a controller.

 

[kinetic]

Look up "manifolds," like others have said above as well. A clean setup would be one pump for the return, and then one beefy pump for everything else running off of a manifold. The manifold has valves that can help control flow to each individual thing that needs it. If you're lucky, maybe a couple can utilize the same rate of flow, so you can run them inline. Best way to test if the valves are adjusted correctly is to time how long it takes to fill up a cup, then do some math to find the gph and adjust the valve accordingly. You can also get really fancy and run a bunch of flow sensors (though that is a bit overkill, you only really need to set them once).

 

[SPS2020]

As above, manifolds are the easiest approach. Some decent pictures in my build thread.

 

[Hitchhik3r]

Thanks for your reply guys. My pumps currently have soft plumbing. Do these manifolds work with those as well or will I need to figure out some way to hard plumb them.

 

[HB AL]

I only have 2 pumps 1 for the return and 1 for the uv sterilizer which is for a slower flow through the uv, makes it easy and if one fails atleast another is running.

 

[mtraylor]

I use one pump to rule them all. One pump to run them all with manifold as mentioned above. My return pump runs the following:

Return
Uv sterilizer
Refugium
Calc reactor
Carbon reactor
Gfo reactor

Everything has its own valve to control flow rate. This is done via hard plumbing. I guess you could do with soft plumbing if you could find the parts. Never looked for barbed flow valves, etc.

My advice would be to hard plumb.

Note/advice: be sure to have a backup return pump for emergency change out.

 

[rhostam]

I use one pump to rule them all. One pump to run them all with manifold as mentioned above. My return pump runs the following:

Return
Uv sterilizer
Refugium
Calc reactor
Carbon reactor
Gfo reactor

Everything has its own valve to control flow rate. This is done via hard plumbing. I guess you could do with soft plumbing if you could find the parts. Never looked for barbed flow valves, etc.

My advice would be to hard plumb.

Note/advice: be sure to have a backup return pump for emergency change out.

Which pump do you use?

I am looking for something that can drive my UV as a dedicated COR20 using a manifold isn’t enough to achieve required flow (with only UV connected). Adding my reactor to the mix is out of the question until I find the right sized pump. So curious what people are using for a one pump to rule them all design.

Thanks!

 

[gbroadbridge]

Do most people have separate pumps for everything they run such as for return, UV sterilizer, microalgae reactor? That's a lot of pumps to squeeze into a sump. Can you combine some of these and Y the output with a single pump? I'm guessing that would be difficult since they all require different flow rates.

I just use a single large return pump with a manifold and ball valves to control flow.

Not worth the expense of gate valves for something I almost never change.

It's a sicce 5 or 6 pump (cant remember) on a 90 gallon system

edit. Just checked sicce syncra 5 silent. only silent once its been running for a month ;) Noisy when new.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Thanks for your reply guys. My pumps currently have soft plumbing. Do these manifolds work with those as well or will I need to figure out some way to hard plumb them.

You can soft plumb if you need to. Just remember soft plumbing reduces the volume of water unless you increase the size. I run one pump with a T before the oneway valve. check out my build thread by clicking the button on the left. You will see the T for the manifold. Remember with hard plumbing, you do not have to go expensive schedule 80 for 95% just regular stuff you get at home depot is fine. Just get decent quality gate valves for control and ball valves for maintenance.
Your flow rates for your UV and your chiller are going to be super slow, so that's how I can get away with one pump. But if you need to have a reactor with a high flow rate then maybe add a pump just for that.

 

[mtraylor]

Which pump do you use?

I am looking for something that can drive my UV as a dedicated COR20 using a manifold isn’t enough to achieve required flow (with only UV connected). Adding my reactor to the mix is out of the question until I find the right sized pump. So curious what people are using for a one pump to rule them all design.

Thanks!

I use vectra L2 pump on my 255 gallon tank. Sump is 100 gallon. That one pump runs everything. Very efficient and quite

 

[Hitchhik3r]

I ended up hard piping a dual manifold after reading your guys suggestions. It ended up working great . Thanks so much!

 

[t5Nitro]

Nice work! The engine is clean looking.

 

[mtraylor]

Great Job! Looks great. Can you come over and do my aquarium. Love the clean lines and look. Glad it worked out for you. So where are all the wires. I have to ask.

 

[Hitchhik3r]

Great Job! Looks great. Can you come over and do my aquarium. Love the clean lines and look. Glad it worked out for you. So where are all the wires. I have to ask.

Theyre all coursing behind the tank into another cabinet next to it that is housing my neptune apex system.

 

[yongreefer]

From what I have seen, people do it both ways.

On my 45g, I have one pump for my skimmer and my return pump runs (3) filter cylinders, a chiller and a UV sterilizer. On my 220g (in progress), one pump for skimmer, one pump for (3) filter cylinders and my return will feed a chiller and UV but, my UV will only be used when needed.

You separate the flow with (3) valves, one in between the in/out of chiller, UV, etc to direct/restrict flow and the other two to shut off for maintenance. If you really want to know the gph of each you could use flow meters that either Neptune or GHL offer, if you happen to be running a controller.

Hi! I am setting up my sump similar to ur 45g tank but I also have a refugium.

I am designing my sump layout for a red sea 350, I am wondering about the order and also can the return pump really feed the chiller and reactor.

1. Drain
2. Skimmer
3. Refugium
4. Reactor
Uv?
5. Chiller
6. Return pump

 

[air_run]

Hi! I am setting up my sump similar to ur 45g tank but I also have a refugium.

I am designing my sump layout for a red sea 350, I am wondering about the order and also can the return pump really feed the chiller and reactor.

1. Drain
2. Skimmer
3. Refugium
4. Reactor
Uv?
5. Chiller
6. Return pump

That order looks like it will work just fine. The return pump can feed just about anything and everything just fine as long as it's sized appropriately and you use appropriately sized plumbing. Keep in mind though, if you have to remove/clean a return pump or there is a failure, everything it's running will not be functioning. Most I believe will add in some redundancy by using multiple pumps or at least have a second or backup return pump on the ready with identical specs.