filtration not all the time

[tankbusterlover]

Hi,

I've been reading some post about people not leaving their filtration system on all the time. Even on ebay when i was looking for a eheim for my 75 gallon it was say to not let it run 24 hour a day. Best about 5-6 hours a day or something like that. It is me who misread or something.

RIght now i have an aquaclear 300 and it can't keep up because my tank is overcrowded. That is why i bought a new tank. You can'T stop an aquaclear becasue you have to add water back to get it start again. I am waiting to get it cycle and get the cover for it. RIght now i just have the lights on a timer from 10am to 12:30am. It's 15 hours and 30 minutes of light by day. I just have plastic plant but it's good for the fish to have light.

 

[Nate77]

You filter should run 24/7.Should only have to shut it down for maintance.

 

[Scottfree]

Your filter should run 24/7 and I wouldn't keep your tank lit over 12 hours, probably 8-9 is optimal....

 

[Potts050]

You do not necessarilly need to run mechanical filters 24/7 unless they are of the cannister type. HOB filters can be run intermitantly and in a lot of cases need only be run after feedings and for a few hours a day otherwise. Filters like the Emperor series HOB needs to be run frequently enough to prevent the biowheel from drying out.
I experimented with various power saving schemes a couple of years ago and came up with a filtration sequence that uses a lot less power with excellant filtration results. I run eight fry grow out tanks that have sponge filters running 30 seconds on 60 seconds off, 24/7 and HOB's that come on for two-two hour periods a day. The tanks have crushed coral substrate and remain clean with this regimen.
Intermittant cycles wont work with cannister filters as the media will become oxygen starved and the beneficial bio-bugs will shut down.

 

[Euge]

I don't think you should be turning your filters off. I've never heard of this being done before. I was always led to believe that regardless what type of filtration you use there will still be some biological filtration going on. Turning off your filter starves the BB with essentials nutrients. Meaning you have to cycle the tank again.

 

[Potts050]

Not in this case. My biowheels dont dry out and the bacteria in them stay active. Also, the sponge filters contain beneficial bacteria and they continue to work 24/7. I never record any ammonia in my tanks.
I agree that shutting down cannister filters is not advisable.
Just because you have'nt heard of a method that works dont be too quick to dismiss its merits. Just like Shrek said, "Change is good donkey!"

 

[hmt321]

I will try to find the article that i read this out of, but with high light, co2 inj planted tanks, I have heard that some people shut down filtration, via a timer for 3-4 hours when "prime photosynthesis" supposedly takes place.

If i am not mistaken that is 2 hours or so after the light comes on and lasts approx 3 hours or so.

I am in a bad habit of saving forum pages and Internet articles w/o descriptions, i have like 500 of them, ill try and find it.

 

[CHOMPERS]

Not in this case. My biowheels dont dry out and the bacteria in them stay active. Also, the sponge filters contain beneficial bacteria and they continue to work 24/7. I never record any ammonia in my tanks.
I agree that shutting down cannister filters is not advisable.
Just because you have'nt heard of a method that works dont be too quick to dismiss its merits. Just like Shrek said, "Change is good donkey!"

When i was running hobs intermittently (off for several days), the bacteria culture that would survive turned out to be a strand that would consume nitrates aerobicly. I ended up killing those cultures after treating for ich

 

[johnptc]

Hi,

I've been reading some post about people not leaving their filtration system on all the time. Even on ebay when i was looking for a eheim for my 75 gallon it was say to not let it run 24 hour a day. Best about 5-6 hours a day or something like that. It is me who misread or something.

RIght now i have an aquaclear 300 and it can't keep up because my tank is overcrowded. That is why i bought a new tank. You can'T stop an aquaclear becasue you have to add water back to get it start again. I am waiting to get it cycle and get the cover for it. RIght now i just have the lights on a timer from 10am to 12:30am. It's 15 hours and 30 minutes of light by day. I just have plastic plant but it's good for the fish to have light.

here is the deal ime:

biofilters run 24/7 or the bacteria die

mechanical filters only need to be run enough to keep the water clean.

if you combine bio and mechanical in one unit run it 24/7

any other options ?????

 

[CHOMPERS]

Just like Shrek said, "Change is good donkey!"

love donkey