Filters on/off - good or bad?

[Dr Joe]

If you insist on doing this, remove the filters you shut off and clean them each time.

Others have said and I will say it too...

Filters used for mechanical removal of waste are ideally...full of waste (which also contains bacteria). Let that set for any length of time without circulating oxygenated water thru it and you could have a disaster depending on the size of the filters (and time on / off) when restarted.

Don't put yourself and the fish thru till trouble.

Quit smoking, you'll save a ton of money...If you don't smoke, look at all the money your saving already .

Change to a more efficient filter system for long term savings (after it's paid off).

Dr Joe

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[gasser]

I like your thinking but don't turn off the filters unless you are taking them completly off line and cleaning them out. The stagnant water in them will cause all the bacteria in them to die. Yes there are bacteria on every surface in your tank including everything in your polishing canister. Once the water stops moving through they all die and any nutrients in there will rot/ decay into ammonia and hydrogen sulfide gas. Open it up after a day or so and see for your self. It will stink up your whole house.

I have thought about adding a couple of solar tubes over my tank to get some natural light into it. Free, changes with the seasons and phases of the moon. Only problem is I keep tropical fish so the shorter photoperiod may pose some problems. supplamental lights would fix it. Solar with inverters/ batteries for pumps and heaters is also a great Idea. They even have solar water heaters so you could heat the tank with one. All of this won't be cheap though and probably won't save any money at all unless you guys have very high electric costs. If you are paying 14 to 15 cents per KWH then go for it but I only pay 8 cents per KWH so it would not be feasable from a cost only standpoint but I am all for using less non fossil fuel electricity.

Good luck with your projects.

Jeff

 

[HiGhTiMeZ]

i think it would do more bad than good.

 

[navygirl76]

i wouldnt turn off any filters.. your bb needs to be oxygenated to live, and if that stuff dies and rots you will have one huge mess on your hands.

I dont think you will save that much money anyways by doing that... jmho