Bio-Towers, is on/off okay?

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tank125

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 20, 2005
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I have 2 bio towers on a 1300 gallon system. They are both 4' tall and full of 1" bioballs. Would there be any adverse effects if I shut off the water supply to ONE of them every hour for an hour? Will the bacteria just rest for an hour and then start working again, or will it die off in an hour causing an ammonia spike?.... ahh, I think I know the answer, one hour is not a big deal for a trickle filter, but, I would like to know what people think.

One tower is supplied by a pump that needs to run 24/7, the other does not, I want to save on electricity by getting a wave timer and shutting off the pump every hour for an hour.
 
off every hour for 1 hour? wouldnt that mean the thing is off all the time? only kidding, could you maybe split the water feed so it feeds both towers with one pump.
 
nfored;2858315; said:
off every hour for 1 hour? wouldnt that mean the thing is off all the time? only kidding, could you maybe split the water feed so it feeds both towers with one pump.
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no, the one that I want to cycle off is fed by the return from a tank that is one floor above. that tank no longer needs the pump to service it all the time because most of its bio-load (fish) have moved to the basement pond. So by default the bio-tower fed by its drain will not be getting any water during those "off" hours. I could split feed that goes to the other tower, but the more flow a tower gets, the more efficient it is.
 
I'm not sure about the bacteria, but all those on/off cycles will shorten the life of your pump.
 
considering your keeping rays... i would keep the both running at all times... dont see the point in having them cycle
 
With no feed of oxygenated water, the bacteria will die.

But anaerobic bacteria that eats nitrate likes no o2, so.... it might actually encourage that kinda bacteria.

I dunno... good question.
 
I am pretty sure that BB starts to die off within 20-30 minutes, I read it on a thread here but can't seem to find it. I think you would be best to just run 100% or shut it off completely.
 
Nyquil Junkie;2860739; said:
With no feed of oxygenated water, the bacteria will die.

But anaerobic bacteria that eats nitrate likes no o2, so.... it might actually encourage that kinda bacteria.

I dunno... good question.
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No.

These bacteria grow under very specific conditions and have to be treated very carefully. Even with the right conditions this could cause a tank disaster if it malfunctioned.
 
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