What are pros to having 2 returns coming from 1 pump?

[Fish N Coral]

For instance, having a return pump pushing water into a Y that splits into 2 ways to bring back water to your DT.

1. Is this purely aesthetic?
2. Don't you lose GPH from the return because it has to push the water to 2 different returns?

[santanzchild]

I have 2 overflows and 2 returns. I run them both off of one pump if for no other reason then I dont want two pumps in my sump. I am sure I lose some flow running it into a T and to both returns but honestly I can even turn my pump up to full without overflowing the tank so loss of flow due to head is not really an issue for me.

[Fish N Coral]

I have 2 overflows and 2 returns. I run them both off of one pump if for no other reason then I dont want two pumps in my sump. I am sure I lose some flow running it into a T and to both returns but honestly I can even turn my pump up to full without overflowing the tank so loss of flow due to head is not really an issue for me.

Assuming you are going to have just 1 pump, why have 2 returns? Does it help skim more area of the water surface? To help add more flow to the DT?

[palmerit]

I do it so I don't have as much concentrated flow out of 1 return.

[santanzchild]

Assuming you are going to have just 1 pump, why have 2 returns? Does it help skim more area of the water surface? To help add more flow to the DT?

Just to spread the flow around a bit. With two returns and two loclines I can get some back to front flow on both sides of the tank and not have to pay for two extra power heads.

[planedoc]

I have 1 pump and 4 outlets. 2 left and 2 right. They are all lok-line and I place them specifically in conjunction with my powerheads to eliminate dead spots.

[Fish N Coral]

For those of you who do have loclines, do u have them over the back and slightly above the water? Or drilled and under the water?

[maddmaxx]

For those of you who do have loclines, do u have them over the back and slightly above the water? Or drilled and under the water?

mine are up over the back and come just under the water line...

[maddmaxx]

http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq179/grubsnaek/Mobile%20Uploads/20140421_172415.jpg (http://s445.photobucket.com/user/grubsnaek/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140421_172415.jpg.html)

http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq179/grubsnaek/Mobile%20Uploads/20140421_172614.jpg (http://s445.photobucket.com/user/grubsnaek/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140421_172614.jpg.html)

[maddmaxx]

For instance, having a return pump pushing water into a Y that splits into 2 ways to bring back water to your DT.

1. Is this purely aesthetic?
2. Don't you lose GPH from the return because it has to push the water to 2 different returns?

i split my return from one pump so i have multiple source points of flow, including my powerheads..

yes you will lost some gph splitting them. but you dont want your main source of flow coming from your return pump anyway. you want slower flow thru your sump in general. thats why we put powerheads inside the aquarium to make up for that needed flow...

[ca1ore]

You lose more than you gain by splitting up the return. Really doesn't make all that much difference to in tank flow, which should ideally be handled by power heads, just serves to rob the pump of flow. I run my main pump through as few elbow, tees and nozzles as possible to maximize tank turnover and avoid the need to use a bigger pump.

[Macimage]

I split my return so that I have three seaswirls at different places (two in front on each side in the front and one in the rear in the middle) to maximize flow in the tank.

[RocketEngineer]

maddmaxx, having the flow go into the side of a tee is like having it hit a wall. While what you have works it adds a lot of resistance to the system.

I have two returns for a totally different reason: So the returns sit flat on the top edge of the tank.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm289/RocketEngineer/125G%20Setup/DisplayTankPainted006_zpscd01d4f3.jpg (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/RocketEngineer/media/125G%20Setup/DisplayTankPainted006_zpscd01d4f3.jpg.html)

Most of the flow goes straight through the tee but I do get flow from both outlets. Plus having two allows me to place the low flow outlet near the water surface to pull air when the return pump cuts out.

[davocean]

I prefer two return lines so I can hit some flow behind rocks and avoid dead spots.
To me it's not just about flow volume, it's avoiding any dead spots.
I keep mine up high to have an early siphon break.