Return Pump on my Apex?

[MHG]

I was trying to free up some outlets on my apex. Do I really need my return pump on my apex? I cant think of any automated reason to shut it down... Also if I am on vacation and I get a leak alarm and I need to send my brother to my house, if he needs to isolate the sump or the plumbing because of a leak he will never be able to figure out how to turn off the return. If it is just on my power strip with the device switches it is pretty easy to figure out...


am I missing some reason to have it on there?

 

[tkeracer619]

No. If the controller fails you might loose 100% of your flow and will loose the tank.

I never have and never will recomend a return pump plugged into a controller.

 

[MHG]

No. If the controller fails you might loose 100% of your flow and will loose the tank.

I never have and never will recommend a return pump plugged into a controller.

Well that assumes that the DC-8 will fail and not have the correct state "ON" when it fails.

However with that logic (good logic) the circulation pumps which are arguably more important should also not be on the controller... If I take those off the controller i lose the "feed" option which is one more reason I wanted a controller.

 

[tkeracer619]

You don't need circulation pumps. You do need water flow. The return is sufficient to keep the tank from certian death.

I have seen an apex die with no power to the dc8. Its not a matter of if but when.

 

[caliking]

I do not run my return pumps on the controller for the same reason, if the controller fails you loose your tank. I do keep the powerheads on the controller for the feed option, but i would rather have some flow from the return than no flow at all if the controller failed.
I also have a solar and battery back up in case the power goes out, so the powerheads will still run for about 36 hrs.

 

[MHG]

Well I can find many many people who say circulation is more important than keeping your sump running in the event of a power outage. Most of the threads I have read all say the one thing they want on the UPS is circulation pumps... while that is a worthy discussion we can all have, I agree that a failure of the DC-8 would kill the return and if there is no auto control reason the keep it on the apex I will move it to the power switches..Thanks for the advise...

However from what I have read there are two different (at least) failures with the apex that fall within the failure discussion. The first is the controller dying or losing communications with the DC-8. This one most definitely is a matter of when. However the DC-8 will fail over to whatever you have the outlet set for. The second is the failure of the DC-8. While this appears to be less likely it is more detrimental as anything in the controller will fail as well (skimmer, heater, ATO, dosers, lights). Thus this secondary discussion would likely lead to the conclusion that controllers are bad because they may fail. I on the other hand believe that their benefits outweigh the risks...

 

[tkeracer619]

Most return pumps pull a lot more wattage then a circulation pump.

That is the only reason people battery backup circulation pumps.

 

[doctorgori]

I am vasilating over the same issue.... I'm thinking if you are going to hook up some type of leak detection units then naturally any pump that has the potential to cause an overflow should be on the Apex ...

but as far as failure, dunno about DC8's but I thought EB8/EB4's had a fallback state? if so, then I see no issue if you upgrade to those

 

[mussel and hate]

In answer to the OP I can't think of any reason you'd want to have your return pump switched by a controller.

Regarding the Circulation pump vs return pump debate I'd like to point out that it's gonna be low tide with the return pump off even if the powerheads keep running.

Edit: and just before I post someone comes up with a reason.

 

[MHG]

I am vasilating over the same issue.... I'm thinking if you are going to hook up some type of leak detection units then naturally any pump that has the potential to cause an overflow should be on the Apex ...

but as far as failure, dunno about DC8's but I thought EB8/EB4's had a fallback state? if so, then I see no issue if you upgrade to those

You are correct. I meant EB-8

 

[tkeracer619]

Yup and the fallback doesn't always work. We are talking electronics here. If they didn't break you wouldn't need that fallback device. Who is to say its going to actually work when you need it. From personal experience I have seen one that didn't and it could have nuked the tank. Your more then welcome to run your return pump on a controller, thats your choice. Its a bad one.

And there is no way in hell I would let a controller shut down a return pump due to an automated leak detection. Skimmers and reactors sure but your return pump? I do not have the same confidence in electronics as some here do.