Pumps off at feeding time.

I always turn my circulation pumps and filters off when I feed. They are all plugged into 1 power strip. I usually leave them off for about 30 minutes afterward. Trying to help the target feeding for my mandarin and some corals. Is this too long to starting killing some of the biological filtration? I also hear this may be bad for the motors but so far after 5 years no pumps have died on me. Any thoughts on this?

 

Cant say I have done it but should be fine. Most of your filtration should be in your liverock anyhow if you have a sump I would leave that one on just because a lot of the critters living in there will appreciate the extra food and detritus that gets sucked into it.

 

To Dyonopses1
Hello I have had saltwater fish tanks for about 7 years now and I never turned off my pumps for feeding. I never used protein skimmers because I never found the use of one so thats why my pumps always stay on. To answer your question turning of your pumps does not kill your biological filtration. Everyone runs there tank differently. If turning off your pump for feeding suits you, you should continue in that route.

I hope this helps and if you need more advice please ask. I know im new to the site but I have been in this hobby for a few years now.

 

I have always turned my pumps off for about 20-30 mins when I feed, and have never encountered any problems from it. I'd say you're fine.

 

I turn off my flow to feed my Mandarin also

 

I do not turn my pumps off, because I am afraid it may lower the pumps life span to plug and unplug them on a daily basis. But I am not not sure if that is true or not.

 

I have them all plugged into one power strip and just flip the switch on that.

 

I turn my return pump and skimmer off for 30 minutes and my powerheads for a couple minutes so the food doesn't blow all over the place. After a couple minutes the powerheads are turned back on to stir up any uneaten food.

 

I have never shut my pumps off at feeding time. Ocean currents never stop.

 

I turned off my pumps when I had seahorses. I put it on a bathroom timer with a relay so when I turned it to 30 minutes, the pump would stay off for that length of time and come back on automatically. I did that because i forgot to turn it back on a couple of times.