Plumbing help! Using dual return pumps, two returns - how to manifold?

[CapnGreenJeans]

I'm planning to plumb my tank with two return pumps in the sump, each hooked up to their own separate return in the tank.

What's the ideal configuration to set up a manifold for attaching future gear (carbon, uv, gfo, etc)? Should the manifold branch off of only one return line? Should I have a smaller manifold branching off of each return line? Should they share a common manifold (this could cause weird flow issues if the pumps aren't balanced?)?

If anyone has pictures of clean dual pump/dual return plumbing jobs, I'd love to see!

 

[mcgyvr]

Are you putting the pumps in serial or parallel or independent ? Seems like independent..

What is the reason for wanting the dual pumps?
If for redundancy then do you want that same redundancy in your manifold setup?

 

[CapnGreenJeans]

The pumps will be independent. I considered running series or parallel, but parallel would result in reduced flow, and series would result in drastically reduced flow if one died.

The dual pumps are for redundancy, and I don't think redundancy for the manifold is necessary, as it won't be a key part of life support.

 

[mcgyvr]

If you dont need the redundancy then pick one return and add the manifold to it...
Keep it simple

 

[billdogg]

IME, the main return pump rarely fails. Having two running at the same time just increases the complexity of the system, reduces overall sump volume (assuming internal pumps), and doubles the required costs and maintenance.

If you are doing it for the increased flow in the DT, you are much better served using power heads of whatever brand you choose for in tank circulation.

That being said, I keep a spare return pump for all my systems so that when I do need to take one offline for cleaning, I can just swap out with the spare and then take my time cleaning/repairing as needed.

 

[Sk8r]

My main pump (Iwaki) has run for 13 years with one two-hour maintenance and an 8-day power-out. And probably will go another 20 years. Little pumps die a lot, the big ones almost never. If you want to make an investment in disaster-survival for your tank, invest in a generator backup to keep the pump running in an 8 day power-out. I did it without. Tank lived. But now I own a generator.