Pumps off for feeding??

[banditpowdercoat]

OK, Just wondering, thnking about making a Feeding Timer fro my pumps to calm the water at feeding time. I do this with my FW tank, but wondering if its a good idea with SW? Just filling with Salt right now, LR should be here tomorrow. A while before fishies are even thought of, but was just wondering abotu feeding time and pump flow??

[hillbillyreefer]

I shut mine off and target feed the critters. As I stock the tanks this is becoming time consuming though. I'd like to hear what others do as well.

[banditpowdercoat]

Basically, I have an idea of a controller set fro 10 Min and you push the button, it shuts off the pumps for the set time< then automatically restarts them. Great if your absent minded like me and froget to turn them back on.

depending on the feeding requirements and orp levels it can be a great idea and benefit to shut off some or all pumps durring feeding!

[mark]

When I tried Reefroids I would shut off the return but leave the CL going. For normal feedings, I just leave the pumps on.

[ElGuappo]

Sorry didnt realize this was a fowlr forum still you might find this useful

Im new at the marine thing as of 6 monthes ago. when is started my tank i was told to turn pumps off at feeding time for my dovetail snails, now howeveri have taken it one step further for feeding corals and such.

When i feed i use an old flake container to thaw out food, i am slowly triing to get my fish onto pellets and flakes.
When i dip the yellow container into the water to collect water to thaw food. my fish have come to recognize that means feeding time.

when food is thawed i pour over a high current portion in my tank. let it run for about 45 seconds then shut down. after all the food has settled i start the pumps again for about 15 seconds (just to lift some food).I will do this several times. once everthing settled on the bottom yet again i let it sit for about 10 min then run pumps as normal. this just creats better opertuities for my jawfish,Crabs, and coral to grab a bite. I also have finicky fish this gives them another chance at food missed the first time around.

Sorry this got long but i could have written alot more.

this is due to my havig watched every feeding for the last 6 monthe

[rocketlily]

If you are shutting off pumps during feeding, do you have check valves for eliminating the siphoning of the return lines or do you drill siphon holes in the return lines.

Just doing the plumbing now and I want to make sure I get it right, as some of the corals do need the pumps off for feeding.

[niloc16]

personally i dont shut the pumps off. my theory is that in the wild the fish dont hve still current during feeding time and i think it is more natural for the fish to chase down the food. just my theory though

[rocketlily]

I agree with you on the fish, but when you have a coral that must be feed, such as suncorals, you can really waste alot of food if the flow is too high.

[naesco]

For fish only I think it doesn't make any difference but for reef I shut off the pumps and skimmer for an hour after I feed micro foods.