Turning off my filter for 24 hours?

[Laticauda]

I don't think adding ammonia will be necessary for just one day. Could you lower the water level in the main tank to keep it going, or does your overflow not allow you to change the height of the water level in the tank? (To reduce the total amount of water in the system, so you are left with 120, instead of 120+sump contents.)

 

[Pharaoh]

I don't think adding ammonia will be necessary for just one day. Could you lower the water level in the main tank to keep it going, or does your overflow not allow you to change the height of the water level in the tank? (To reduce the total amount of water in the system, so you are left with 120, instead of 120+sump contents.)

Bacteria die off can begin within an hour. If you don't supply the bacteria with nutrients, it could in fact die. I'm just offering up options for the OP.

 

[Juxtaroberto]

Worst case, you could go get some ammonia to put in your sump to give the bacteria something to feed on for the day.

This is what I was going to suggest. Adding airstones to the biomedia, along with some ammonia for the BB to eat.

Does the medication you plan to use harm BB? If not, I wouldn't turn the pump off, even if it meant I had to use more medicine to account for the sump.

 

[Laticauda]

Bacteria die off can begin within an hour. If you don't supply the bacteria with nutrients, it could in fact die. I'm just offering up options for the OP.

Do you mind if I ask where you got this information? I'd like to read up on this more myself.

I don't mean to be argumentative, but when moving from one place to another, you are to place an air stone in a bucket with your BB, to keep oxygenated water over the BB, and it works like a charm (if you are going to have it out of circulation for 30 miniutes.)

I have had biomedia in a bucket all day long with an air stone, and witnessed no spikes afterward. Also, I accidentally left all of my filters off overnight (two HOB filters, that were empty that morning, due to the siphoning that happens when you turn off these type filters as well as my FX5.) I thought they surely would have died in the 8+ hours that they were all turned off, but I tested and watched very carefully for my ammonia or at least nitrItes to show up, but neither did. (Although, I don't recommend trying this!)

I really don't think they will die off from no ammonia for only 24 hours. As I'm also sure there is enough waste in the mechanical part of the filter, to supply adequate ammonia to the BB during that time period.

I've read here that you can leave a tank empty for a week without any BB die off (I don't believe it's possible to go for a whole week, but just one day, certainly.)

 

[batang_mcdo]

I Also have some feeders in the last chamber of the sump
my tank is drilled on the sides so if the water level does not reach the overflow , water will not circulate anymore the medication I'm using will not harm bb in the sump, but my problem is lfs ran out of stocks, i got the last bottle which is good for 120 gallons and i don't want to risk underdosage

Will be activating my sump again later will try to test water parameters . really appreciate the advise from you guys

 

[aclockworkorange]

Bacteria die off can begin within an hour. If you don't supply the bacteria with nutrients, it could in fact die. I'm just offering up options for the OP.

I've always heard the magic number is 4 hours, no idea why. There has to be a bit of fresh waste breaking down in the filter during that time, but 24 hours is a stretch.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Could try placing healthy fish who don't need medi into the sump