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

[UtahReefer]

I keep a brand new spare....

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have a backup for every component in my tank

 

[Laith]

I have two return pumps (RE) running at 50% each. For maintenance or backup, one can run at 100%...

 

[AquaNanoNZ]

I always get 2 pumps and can just swap out if needed. Most of my tanks have been pretty small so 2 pumps is inexpensive.
I don't keep spares of everything but return pumps and heaters I always have 2

 

[Mark3]

I run two return pumps with two returns....run them at about 40% If one fails, I can turn up the other and continue till replacement is available.

 

[Charles Zinn]

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?

Bought some eco-tech battery back ups for power outages

 

[Charles Zinn]

always have a spare...they also come in handy when it's time to clean the pump...jus5t exchange. then run the pump in RO and algae remover

 

[Chuck_e]

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?

You could, but you would need either a check valve or a shutoff valve between the common line and each pump, otherwise the flow from one will just go back through the other.

 

[edsbeaker]

You could, but you would need either a check valve or a shutoff valve between the common line and each pump, otherwise the flow from one will just go back through the other.

That makes sense. Thanks.

 

[SomeHappyFish]

I have many return pumps on hand but I will run to my lfs to get the exact same one within a day