Single pump or multiple?

I'm in the design process of my 40B/40B setup and I'm wondering how large a pump to use, or if multiple pumps would be better. I need to power an ATS (210-250gph), pump water to the front portion of my display sump (200gph) and my return (figuring 250-350gph)

The way I currently have the sump setup uses two eheim 1000's, and a Mag 3 for my return. I'm wondering if it would be better to run a Mag 7 or 9.5 return pump and just branch off to feed the other two.

The practical me says run a single pump and branch everything off. The OCD control freak in me says run multiple pumps.

Ideas and suggestions happily accepted! I've got a sketchup design I can toss up as well.

 

Hello,
Look at the Blow Hole pumps from Reeflo 1450 may be a nice fit?

 

If I wasn't trying to stay away from external pumps due to a lack of space within the stand I'm building, it would probably be a good fit. The other constraint being I do not want any holes below the sumps waterline. To me that's just asking for a flood. Thank you for the idea though!


edit: Speaking of the sketchup pics

 

No worries...............Water Blaster pumps are a good choice also.

 

You should only need the return pump if you design everything right. Branch off water to the ATS from the overflow amd have it empty into the return section. The rest goes to the skimmer section and then flows through your baffles to the return section.

 

The ats won't be able to be driven off the drain line. Not enough flow in all likelihood. Plus, one less thing to potentially clog and flood. While the overflow would easily handle 700gph, there's no reason to have that much flowing through my sump. Really no reason for anyone to have that much water going through their sump with only a 40B display tank.

Not that I don't appreciate your suggestion. It's something I've thought about, have seen done, and am not thrilled with the idea.

 

Dag nabit, telling folks to run stuff off their drains... for shame ;D
This seems like the 10th time I've said this in the last few weeks to folks haha

You got the right idea.
Just use one pump and make a manifold.
I've been sketching up a very similar setup to what your doing for my upgrade soon. I'm leaning towards the Eheim compact 3000 for my situation.

 

Yeah, my problem is I don't have a ton of money floating around to just wing it and hope the pump I get works. I'm still figuring on a Mag 9.5, but i'm curious as to if a mag 7 would do.

 

Wait, what does this mean? Just curious...

 

There was a dude named kgoldy that made a 40b display sump on the other forums for nano tanks. I basically am doing the exact same thing as he did, albeit with a few subtle changes. The display part of my sump is where I'm going to sneak in a mantis without the gf seeing it off the bat.