What’s your backup plan if your return pump fails?

[JeffB418]

I have redundant pumps on each system. If one fails I can remotely enable the other.

 

[PharmrJohn]

I'll be running two returns with an extra in storage.

 

[forestsofkelp]

I have an extra I can hook up with a hose as an external bypass on a jiffy.

If I was smart I’d have two return pumps that are identical and easy to swap in an emergency (and rotate them) or hook up two pumps to a dual return, run both, clean one as needed, and if one fails, it’s no problem.

 

[Tamberav]

With all the great Black Friday sales going on I have been contemplating buying a spare return pump. For cheaper items like heaters it seems like a no brainer to have a spare on hand but return pumps can cost hundreds of dollars or more depending on the size of your tank and flow needs. Now that my 100 gallon tank is almost 3 years old and fully stocked with corals and live stock it seems like a no brainer that I should have a spare return pump on hand as well.

I’m curious what others backup plans are should their return pump fail at some point. How devastating would it be for your tank to go with out the main return pump for even a few hours?

Just order a new one, the display can run on circulation, move the heater to the display. New one should arrive pretty quick, do a water change but change the sump water then swap new one in.

I wouldn't even expediate it.

My last return pump I bought USED, ran it 8 years, gave it away to someone else and it's still going. I guess a back up would have just sat in the closet...

 

[alex37310]

I’m wondering if two pumps can be safely hooked up to a tee to a shared return line? If one fails, the other one takes over?

Or for those of us with controllers and are out of town can the second pump, still on the shared return, stay OFF, but is always in the tank on a separate outlet and remotely turned on if you get a notice that the default one fails?

Great idea but you would need a check valve for each

 

[Miami Reef]

Is each pump on a separate return?

Yes.

 

[Miami Reef]

Are the pumps in use on separate returns?

Yes

 

[Mark Goode]

Just order a new one, the display can run on circulation

Even if your heaters are in the sump? Serious question, not meant as an attack or anything.

Edit: forget it, I just read the rest of your post....

 

[ED3]

I'm using two return pumps for redundancy in my new build. I have plenty of spare pumps in the event both go out

 

[ED3]

Even if your heaters are in the sump? Serious question, not meant as an attack or anything.

You would need to move the heaters to the display

 

[bobnicaragua]

I run 2 of the smallest octo return pumps.

 

[Mark Goode]

You would need to move the heaters to the display

Yeah, I just read that bit. Ignore me, it's 21:10 here in Merrie England and I've been at the Scotch...

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

With all the great Black Friday sales going on I have been contemplating buying a spare return pump. For cheaper items like heaters it seems like a no brainer to have a spare on hand but return pumps can cost hundreds of dollars or more depending on the size of your tank and flow needs. Now that my 100 gallon tank is almost 3 years old and fully stocked with corals and live stock it seems like a no brainer that I should have a spare return pump on hand as well.

I’m curious what others backup plans are should their return pump fail at some point. How devastating would it be for your tank to go with out the main return pump for even a few hours?

I run 2 L2s in my return chamber for my display. In the event both go down, I have 2 other pumps to external systems (frag and a cryptic) that will keep the water in the sump from being stagnant.

 

[ninjamyst]

Even if your return pump fails, as long as you have wavemakers, your tank will survive just fine for days (assuming it's not freezing cold or ***** hot in your house).

My issue is actually if return pump fails and my sump fills up, my skimmer will go crazy. A minor annoyance.

 

[mfinn]

I always keep a cheap pump on the shelf for backup. Even if it's a old mag pump and a flexible hose going back to the display. Doesn't have to be pretty.

 

[kevgib67]

I have a new one I bought a year or two ago just in case.

 

[Sdbuehler1]

With Sicce pumps being 25% off right now, I couldn't pass up the deal and purchased a spare Syncra SDC 6.0. That is what I am running on my 100 gallon and it would work fine as a temporary solution on my 180 gallon to allow me time to order a larger replacement pump.

 

[Sdbuehler1]

Even if your return pump fails, as long as you have wavemakers, your tank will survive just fine for days (assuming it's not freezing cold or ***** hot in your house).

My issue is actually if return pump fails and my sump fills up, my skimmer will go crazy. A minor annoyance.

I have my apex set to turn my skimmer off when the sump level gets too high for this exact reason.

Im thinking you would also have to turn off dosing or reroute dosing lines to the main tank. That would be pretty bad once you replace the pump and push all that extra dosing all at once into the main display.

 

[14 foot reef]

I run Tandem MRS 6100's and have one on the shelf as a back up. Such cheap insurance when you think about it.

Pumps | MRC America

www.mrcamerica.com

 

[bakbay]

I run 2 Red Dragon return pumps and an extra controller for redundancy. The whole system can go offline but my 2 MP60s are on battery, which should last for 24+ hours.