Surface aggitation blows food away..

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
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JEAE21

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 19, 2007
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So I unplug the XP3 during feeding times.
and around 8minutes after, I plug it back in.

But then I hear a rough sound for like a second...is this the motor not getting lubrication from water? I thought the filter is always filled with water..
Can I damage my filter like this?

Should I fill the filter up with the funnel, wait 2 minutes, then plug it back in?
 
The filter pulls in a certain amount of air when it's running...when you shut it down this air collects in the top next to the motor. When you turn it back on this causes the noise your talking about. It's nothing to worry about but remember that the BB in the canister need a constant water flow to provide O2. Shutting the filter off is not the best idea.

point the spray bar DOWN so that it hoseing off the bottom of the tank and you can also get an in line valve to SLOW (don't stop) the water flow through the filter during feeding times. These are simple to make if you cant find one.
 
does it affect the fish eating??? my filters blow food all over the place doesn't botther my fish though
 
Oops...I just remembered that you have an XP3....just turn the INPUT valve way down (not off) and don't forget to open it back up after you feed.
 
With 2 XP2's, 2 AC110's, and 2 Emp 400's on my 125, the food blows everywhere 'cause I don't turn any off or down.
My opinon is that it allows for the more timid fish to eat in relative peace since it goes all over the tank.
The bigger fish or the more agressive feeders get theirs, but so do the smaller less agressive ones.
 
ok, but the noise/bubbles scare me a bit.lol

how long can bio media go with out oxygen and water? i learned that if they dry out they'll die but what should I do when I'm cleaning the filter?
and also, chlorine kills BB right? what should I do after I rinse the sponges with tap water? i'm afraid the chemicals in the sponge will get pumped to the bio media above when i turn it on..
 
It's ok for short intervals like cleaning the filter pads out but remember that BB have access to a LOT more O2 in a wet/dry system than they do when depending on DO (desolved oxy in the water.)
 
JEAE21;1243778; said:
ok, but the noise/bubbles scare me a bit.lol

how long can bio media go with out oxygen and water? i learned that if they dry out they'll die but what should I do when I'm cleaning the filter?
and also, chlorine kills BB right? what should I do after I rinse the sponges with tap water? i'm afraid the chemicals in the sponge will get pumped to the bio media above when i turn it on..
Click to expand...
Firstly, get a pitcher and fill it with tank water. Put the bio-media in this while you clean the rest of the filter
After you clean everything, (talking XP here) put everything back together (except the bio), fill half way with dechlor. water at the right temp, add the bio back to it and put it back under the tank.
Bio can live long enough for that.
 
The noise and bubbles shouldnt scre you. Its just air in the impeller, when you plug it in it cavitates trying to get the water flowing again, which like you said, the noise disappears in a second or 2.
chlorine will affect the Bbacteria, it is best to rinse sponge pads with cool tap water, as hot water will strip the bacteria off. as long as you use cool water only to rinse any filter parts, you shouldnt have to worry about chemicals or cross contamination when you turn it back on
Also, a side note, I dont have a wet/dry on my tank but I added an airstone under the bio-sponge to create a wet/dry effect and boost BB
 
so i can have my filter filled half-way right? and then pull down the lever?

sturgeon; but i'm saying, wouldn't the sponge absorb the tapwater, and releasing it once the water starts flowing?
 
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