Turn off Pumps at Night?
 

I just put a Hydor Koralia 3 in my 46 gallon bow front and its great.

Im just wondering how many people on here actually have a timer on their circulation pumps like this, so it's off at night and then on during the day?

Im thinking of doing that but am not sure.

thanks

I do it with my closed loop. It comes on with the lights and turns off when the lights go out. I have three power heads in the tank that I leave on 24/7. I figure it creates more of a random flow.

that's ton of current, i would say keep em off to give the fish a break....

While back was thinking the CL (Dart/3600gph) off in the late evening until early morning, more for noise than anything else, relying on the return (~1000gph) for aeration, etc.

Never did though, partly so not cycling power to Dart (believe easier on pump to stay running and might be a non-issue as never had problems but concerned what if the pump doesn't restart) and return pump only would be giving somewhat laminar flow for period CL off.

Some of my pumps are timed with my lights. I wouldn't time all your pumps with the lights but I think some of them turning off overnight is a good idea.

edit: I thought I read you had 3 Koralia 3's...hence I said a ton of current LOL.

If it is not a reef tank or you don't have a ton of LR in there, I would tame the current at night. :)

I leave my powerheads on day and night. I would worry about them becoming fish blenders unless you have covers for the intakes.

With 60#s of live rock in a 46g tank I would think its rather full. If your only running the one power head plus your return I wouldn't turn them off. What is your return pump and what type of corals do you have?

Scott

pump
 

My return pump...im not sure what it is...it does a good job though. Aerates the water and breaks the surface well.

I have mushrooms, cabbage coral, frogspawn, leathers, zenia...etc.

I put the frogspawn in an area where there isnt too much flow and it seems happy.