Do you turn off flow when feeding reef?

koffee · 04-14-2008, 02:02 PM

I redid my electrics recently to put all of the power heads on one strip, which makes it easy to turn off flow in the DT when feeding the fish. Some fancy and expensive controllers even have a feeding button to turn off PHs and then back on after a short duration. But other people are against turning off the flow for anything short of maintenance on the PHs.

What are you thoughts?

framerguy · 04-14-2008, 02:07 PM

If you don't turn off the filter system the food gets sucked into it before it is eaten...then it breaks down needlessly, turns to bad stuff.. yada yada. Best just to turn off the filter and let them eat. Just don't forget to turn it back on. I lost a beautiful Tomini tang that way. I got a controller soon after that.

Frankie · 04-14-2008, 03:44 PM

I don't turn off the flow. It is in my opinion that food that gets stuck in the rock work will break down and pollute the water. Because i have such a heavy flow rate in my tank i just let it get pulled into the flow pattern. The fish have learned to eat fast and all are very healthy with their every other day feeding of just mysis shrimp. Sometimes soaked in vita chem and other stuff. I also feed nori to the tangs on the alternate days. Because i use a sock no food get into my sump and i change that out every two days.I rather waist a bit of food then have it rotting away in the tank where the fish cannot get to it.

vdituri · 04-14-2008, 04:02 PM

I only turn off the overflow pump.
I leave the powerheads on up above.
Food moves around.
Fish get to eat.
Then I turn on the overflow.

Should probably get a filter sock.

djbacon · 04-14-2008, 04:49 PM

I only turn off the pump when target feeding

Dentoid · 04-14-2008, 05:09 PM

Sometimes to target feed. I target feed 2-4 times per month.

kathywithbirds · 04-14-2008, 05:29 PM

Yeah I'm with Frankie. I've cut down feedings (good) but still feed them alot (bad). So the food gets moved around. I turkey baster the food to the eel sometimes, but he does get some when I feed everybody too.

Tonz of fun · 04-14-2008, 10:36 PM

Does the oceans current take a five minute break when its time to feed? Lol I say make them work for it lol

Edd13 · 04-19-2008, 01:22 AM

i leave the power heads on but turn the return pump off (nothing comming up nothing going down) then feed ... about 15 min later i power it back up

koffee · 04-19-2008, 02:53 AM

I'm thinking of going that way now... turning of the return only, but leaving the PHs on. I actually have a ball valve to send the return back into the sump instead of actually turning off the pump.

JoJo · 04-19-2008, 09:33 AM

in previous tanks i kept the pumps going, not sure what i'll do in this tank

Snelly40 · 04-19-2008, 10:29 AM

good points to all. I see benefits to both ways. Like frankie says you dont want food falling in cracks and breaking down and this will happen if you turn off the flow to feed your fish.
I do not turn off flow to feed my fish ever, but when i target feed i do turn it off. I know you mention the ocean doesnt take a break with current but in our tanks we have different specimens that wouldnt all be located in the same flow rates so i think it is more responsible to adjust flow rates when necessary to help those corals that are not as adept to catching food in higher current.
I do use a filter sock also to help catch anything bad too though.

Rcpilot · 04-20-2008, 08:19 PM

I turn off powerheads in the tank, but leave the HOB refugium going all the time.

If I didn't, my watchman goby would starve. He's a tard and won't come out to eat unless the pumps are off. He's actually trained now. It was an accident that he got trained. I noticed he wasn't eating when the other fish were eating. Then I noticed him stealing food from polyps. Figured he was hungry--but stupid.

I started turning the pumps off. Now he's trained. He comes out as soon as the pumps go off and he stares at the top of the tank waiting for food.

Other than being trained when to eat--he's a complete tard.

hma · 04-22-2008, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonz of fun

Does the oceans current take a five minute break when its time to feed? Lol I say make them work for it lol

This is also my opinion on this subject.

BigAl07 · 04-22-2008, 02:59 PM

I have 2 different scenarios in my tank(s).

In the 90g I turn off over-flow pump as to not suck any extra back down into my filter sock. I leave the Koralias going full bore just for circulation. After about 15-20 minutes the main pump comes back on.

in the 10g, 6g and 12g they are turned off totally for the "Feed Cycle" simply because the return pump and others are on the same circuit.

View Poll Results: Do you turn of flow (PHs) to feed your reef?
Yes, for every feeding.	14	20.59%
Only to target feed corals.	15	22.06%
Sometimes.	15	22.06%
No, my system isn't designed for that.	13	19.12%
No, turning off flow is bad.	11	16.18%
Voters: 68. You may not vote on this poll

04-14-2008, 02:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
koffee Midas Blenny Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 119 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Do you turn off flow when feeding reef? I redid my electrics recently to put all of the power heads on one strip, which makes it easy to turn off flow in the DT when feeding the fish. Some fancy and expensive controllers even have a feeding button to turn off PHs and then back on after a short duration. But other people are against turning off the flow for anything short of maintenance on the PHs. What are you thoughts?

04-14-2008, 02:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
framerguy Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 2,920 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Do you turn off flow when feeding reef? If you don't turn off the filter system the food gets sucked into it before it is eaten...then it breaks down needlessly, turns to bad stuff.. yada yada. Best just to turn off the filter and let them eat. Just don't forget to turn it back on. I lost a beautiful Tomini tang that way. I got a controller soon after that. __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) 75g Main, 55g Fuge w/DSB/+-25#LR, 25g Sump, turboflotor skimmer, 2x250w MH(9hrs/d), 4x65w PC(14h/d), 950gph mag drive/seaswirl return, 100# LR, 3" SB chronicles-akwareum (\___/) This is Bunny. (=O.o=) Copy and paste him into your signature (")__(") to help him gain world domination

04-14-2008, 03:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 6,035 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Do you turn off flow when feeding reef? I don't turn off the flow. It is in my opinion that food that gets stuck in the rock work will break down and pollute the water. Because i have such a heavy flow rate in my tank i just let it get pulled into the flow pattern. The fish have learned to eat fast and all are very healthy with their every other day feeding of just mysis shrimp. Sometimes soaked in vita chem and other stuff. I also feed nori to the tangs on the alternate days. Because i use a sock no food get into my sump and i change that out every two days.I rather waist a bit of food then have it rotting away in the tank where the fish cannot get to it. __________________ Visit my aquarium -->Frankie's 120 gal Experiment Bruce: Today's meeting is Step 5: Bring a fish friend. Everyone brought a fish friend? DIY=DO IT YOURSELF! If we ignore the environment maybe it will go away....

04-14-2008, 04:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
djbacon Scopas Tang Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Francisco Posts: 433 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Do you turn off flow when feeding reef? I only turn off the pump when target feeding __________________ Check out my awesome 14g nanoreef in progress - http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ater-tank.html The Nano Club - It's not the size of the reef. It's what's in it that counts

04-14-2008, 05:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 9,587 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Do you turn off flow when feeding reef? Sometimes to target feed. I target feed 2-4 times per month. __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

04-14-2008, 05:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
kathywithbirds You talkin ta ME? Join Date: May 2007 Location: Philly area, NJ Posts: 4,929 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Do you turn off flow when feeding reef? Yeah I'm with Frankie. I've cut down feedings (good) but still feed them alot (bad). So the food gets moved around. I turkey baster the food to the eel sometimes, but he does get some when I feed everybody too. __________________ (\__/) (\__/) (@.@) (^.^) (")_(") (< >)

04-14-2008, 10:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tonz of fun Bryozoan Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 50 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Do you turn off flow when feeding reef? Does the oceans current take a five minute break when its time to feed? Lol I say make them work for it lol

04-19-2008, 01:22 AM	#9 (permalink)
Edd13 Limpet Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Los Banos Posts: 132 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Do you turn off flow when feeding reef? i leave the power heads on but turn the return pump off (nothing comming up nothing going down) then feed ... about 15 min later i power it back up __________________ "Hi ... my name is Ed ... and I'm a Reef Addict ..." "How much deeper would the Ocean be if sponges didn't grow in it?" “My speck is inhabited by ponies that eat rainbows and poop butterflies” "I'm not a geek... I'm a 10th level Paladin"

04-19-2008, 02:53 AM	#10 (permalink)
koffee Midas Blenny Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 119 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Do you turn off flow when feeding reef? I'm thinking of going that way now... turning of the return only, but leaving the PHs on. I actually have a ball valve to send the return back into the sump instead of actually turning off the pump. __________________ An Alaskan Reef: 40G Tank + 38G Sump/Fuge with mushrooms, Xenia, GSP, some LPS, Coral Beauty, Lawnmower Blenny, Sea Hare, a pair of Ocellaris, Skunk Cleaner and Peppermint Shrimp, and various snails.

04-19-2008, 10:29 AM	#12 (permalink)
Snelly40 Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 2,280 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Do you turn off flow when feeding reef? good points to all. I see benefits to both ways. Like frankie says you dont want food falling in cracks and breaking down and this will happen if you turn off the flow to feed your fish. I do not turn off flow to feed my fish ever, but when i target feed i do turn it off. I know you mention the ocean doesnt take a break with current but in our tanks we have different specimens that wouldnt all be located in the same flow rates so i think it is more responsible to adjust flow rates when necessary to help those corals that are not as adept to catching food in higher current. I do use a filter sock also to help catch anything bad too though. __________________ Snelly's 90gal Reef-O-Rama *Member-"Crabs Are Evil" Society* In Hoc Signo Vinces

04-20-2008, 08:19 PM	#13 (permalink)
Rcpilot Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Arvada, CO. Posts: 282 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Do you turn off flow when feeding reef? I turn off powerheads in the tank, but leave the HOB refugium going all the time. If I didn't, my watchman goby would starve. He's a tard and won't come out to eat unless the pumps are off. He's actually trained now. It was an accident that he got trained. I noticed he wasn't eating when the other fish were eating. Then I noticed him stealing food from polyps. Figured he was hungry--but stupid. I started turning the pumps off. Now he's trained. He comes out as soon as the pumps go off and he stares at the top of the tank waiting for food. Other than being trained when to eat--he's a complete tard. __________________ President - Tiny Tank Club You can't culture hair algae like this! Don't even try....... ROOKIE!!

04-22-2008, 02:59 PM	#15 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 8,844 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Do you turn off flow when feeding reef? I have 2 different scenarios in my tank(s). In the 90g I turn off over-flow pump as to not suck any extra back down into my filter sock. I leave the Koralias going full bore just for circulation. After about 15-20 minutes the main pump comes back on. in the 10g, 6g and 12g they are turned off totally for the "Feed Cycle" simply because the return pump and others are on the same circuit. __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

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