Dual pump aero

Anybody got any good ideas on running 2 pumps inline in an aero system. Mainly as a backstop to pump failure.

I was thinking of just using a Y connector but worried the water would take the path of least resistance and if one pump fails it would just push water back out through the pump.

SO I was thinking of putting a backflow preventer between the pump and the Y. The only problem there is the pump line would never drain back to the rez. Probably not a big deal since it runs every 10 minutes or so but Id prefer not to pump warm hose water on the roots.

any other out of the box ideas?

Pressure switch or flow switch when main stops second kicks in.

I have only ever done hydro and only used ecoplus pumps, about the cheapest out there. After many years i still have all but one of my original pumps in full time use(I dropped one) and they have seen thousands of plants from start to finish. What I'm saying is, keep it simple. I went 20hrs last week without power and I didn't do any hand watering and i didn't even see drooping.

they are pretty reliable although Ive had a few die over the years. Usually they start making a racket first. Its actually not the pumps im really concerned with. Its the shitty cycle timers. Ive tried all kinds and all of them seem to be crap.

Well again, I can say I run a single CAP drne(?) recycle timer and have had it for the same amount of years as the pumps. It runs 5-6 pumps (all 600+ to 1000gph) continuously and has for years, but the key is using the timer to open a relay and not as the main power supply for the pumps. This prevents overloading the timer and allows for years of life.