+Mitch Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 just curious if folks turn off their return pump when feeding, and if so, for how long? and how about your skimmer... turn off? and how long? if you could do it automatically, would you dial down your powerheads too? thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzobob Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 For all feeding I turn off the protein skimmer When feeding 'liquids' (roti feast, marine snow etc) I turn off the return pump but leave in tank circulation going. When feeding 'solids' (mysis, squid, etc) I turn off all circulation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 +1 with Gonzobob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisfowler99 Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Vortec in "feed mode" (that lasts 10 minutes) Return pump off for 15 minutes Skimmer off for 1 hour. (my current settings...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbnj Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Return pump off for 1 hour. Powerheads & skimmer remain on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Feed A - (fish) all power heads, return pump and skimmer off for 15 minutes Feed B - (coral feeding) return off 1hr, skimmer off 75 minutes, all power heads on. Dave- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKipf Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 I turn off all powerheads // Skimmer // return pumps when doing my routine feeding and leave them off for about 10 minutes (or whenever the food is gone) and then just turn them on again. It's funny, as soon as those suckers go off all those fish hit the surface of the water waiting for food. When I feed the corals once a week, I'll leave the powerheads off for about 30-40 min, and usually the return pump too -- but I could realistically leave the return pump on as well as it doesn't move a ton of water in my tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 I don't turn anything off when I feed. I just feed rather slowly. I do not put all the food in at once. If I put the food in all at once I have to turn off the return pump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonSequitur Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 I typically leave my return pump annd skimmer on when feeding fish and feeding largeish items to corals, and leave powerheads off for 15 to 30 mins. When I feed reef roids or baby brine shrimp I usually leave the return on, turn the powerheads off for about 5 mins, and turn the skimmer off for an hour or longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meteorflower Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 I've also just been feeding slowly when I feed the fish, and turning off the skimmer when I feed liquid or very fine foods to the corals. My macroalgae and zooplankton refugium takes care of the rest... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doktorstick Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Circulation - Always On Return Off - 15 minutes Skimmer Off - 1 hour Question for those fish feeders that turn of the circulation pumps. Why? Don't the fish like the movement? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisfowler99 Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Question for those fish feeders that turn of the circulation pumps. Why? Don't the fish like the movement? I put mine into feed mode, which drops the speed to 10% of what it was at. It's mainly to keep the food from moving around too much. In feed mode it blows around a good bit as it is. It may not be necessary...but it definitely moves around a lot if it's on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeeperKeeper Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 You guys are just spoilin' your fish. Make 'em work for it, put on a show, chase that food around a bit! Fish need exercise too. They don't need to just sit around and get stuff handed to them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexKilpatrick Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Circulation - Always On Return Off - 15 minutes Skimmer Off - 1 hour Question for those fish feeders that turn of the circulation pumps. Why? Don't the fish like the movement? This is anecdotal, but to me the fish are more aggressive about pursuing the food when it is moving around a lot. I guess it is an instinct thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonSequitur Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 I turn the circulation pumps off when I feed to give the bottom dwelling and slower moving critters time to get their share. I noticed that when I fed with the powerheads on my herd of chromis always had plenty to eat, but my watchman goby never seemed to get much, my soft and LPS corals only got what they could catch as it rapidly drifted past (they particularly like mysis, so I make a point of dropping a little over each one). I almost always leave the return pump on, my theory is anything that makes it over the overflow and into the sump will encourage growth of pods/other beneficial detritivores in the sump (and feed the chocolate chip starfish currently banished there). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doktorstick Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 My overflow snags the floating stuff if I leave the return pump on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonSequitur Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Yes, that is true.. if I feed something that floats it usually ends up in the overflow before being eaten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 I spoil my fish. I feed with an eye dropper. Dave- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Daniel Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 I don't turn anything off during regular feedings. I also feed slowly and do not dump the food into the tank. Once in awhile, when I do directly feed the corals, I will turn off the return pump and skimmer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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