Who's using a single large pump for skimmer + return?

[ChrisRD]

I'd like to get some opinions from people who are using (or have used) one large, pressure-rated pump to power a beckett skimmer + function as the sump return pump.

Any specifics/insight is appreciated, for example - what kind of pump you are using, how large your tank is, how you like this setup, what you would change, if anything, about the setup, etc.

 

[fungia]

i used to use a genx5 to run my beckett and one of my returns. it is a 125 gallon. you will need a ball or gate valve on one side of the tee to make sure water isnt all shooting into one place. when i had it first set up, it forgot the valve and not much water was pumped into the teed off direction (most of it wanted to go straight), so I put on a tee and it fixed the problem.

i dont think the genx is big enough and i get little flow back to the tank. i might try a bigger pump but right now i have another iwaki pumping water. i like the idea of multiple pumps, it makes sure that if one dies there is a back up.

 

[liquid]

My only issue I'd have with doing this is what happens if the pump dies. In this situation, you lose both your return pump and your skimmer pump until you got the replacement part. While it may never happen, it's always a possibility...

Shane

 

[ChrisRD]

Thanks for the feedback.

I've considered the redundancy thing. Even with two different pumps, if the return pump dies the in-sump skimmer won't be very useful - just recirculating in the sump. If the skimmer pump dies, IMO it's not all that time critical to repair/replace.

One way I could see useful redundancy is to use two of the same model pumps - one for return, one for the skimmer. Then, if the the return pump dies you have a backup (swap with the skimmer) until you can repair/replace the other.

Of course there's always the option of going with the one-pump setup and just having a spare pump on hand...

Considering noise, heat, energy efficiency, simplicity, maintenance, etc. the one-pump thing still sounds good to me.

Any other thoughts/experience? Anything else I should be considering that I'm missing?

 

[-JB]

I have my skimmer run off my circulation pump. I am using a Sequence 6000. Works great! Less heat, less electric.