one pump or many??

is it better to have many smaller pumps running different things i.e skimmer, calc reactor, return etc or to just have one with taps and manifolds?

what is better in concern to heat, energy and cost?

basically is it better to have 4x 3000Gph or have 1x 12000gph??

any input would be helpful thanks

 

I'm thinking that one large pump will be more heat/cost/energy efficient, as long as you get a good efficient pump.

However, that also puts you at a single point of failure for your entire tank system, I would definitely have a backup on hand (my return pump's impeller seized up entirely last night in fact, luckily I had another pump handy). It also might make maintenance a little easier since you only have one thing to clean, you could just swap your backup in for a day or so while you clean the main pump.

It also might make it a little more difficult to isolate single systems for maintenance since in order to take the skimmer offline for maintenance you would need to shut that flow off and would then have more flow going to everything else in the system or you would have to fiddle with a bunch of valves. I don't know how much trouble that would be in reality again, just speculating.

I also wonder if feeding your skimmer from your return pump is as efficient as skimming with a separate pump and then having the return pump return mostly skimmed water.

Couple things to think about anyway. I'm sure there are pros and cons to both.

 

Fewer, larger pumps will save you a lot of heat and energy usage!

 

I personaly like having one large pump with a manifold. I have one Magdrive 18 pushing everything except the skimmer. Luna

 

I want one pump someday for now I have 3 and they probably draw 2X the power and noise of one big reeflo.

 

1 large pump as to a bunch of little ones. A lot less heat and kilowatts used.

 

thanks everyone i got the idea from otty and since you have commented on it i will take words from the experienced and go with on large pump with a manifold