night flow?

[tank o tang]

How much (if any), do you slow down or turn off flow during the night?

 

[KarlBob]

I don't. I leave all of my powerheads running at full speed 24/7, barring power failures and water changes.

I don't know of any reason to turn down flow at night, but I'm open to persuasion.

 

[108reefer]

I wouldn't bother - the ocean doesn't. the fish really don't mind, and corals feed at night too.

 

[greenbean36191]

None. The benefits of doing so are mostly imagined (e.g. it makes it easier for the fish to relax or corals to feed), while the drawbacks are potentially serious. The main concern is that reduced nighttime flow makes it harder for the corals to breathe right when oxygen is most limiting to them- and is limiting even to corals on the reefs in nature.

 

[KarlBob]

Reef fish that hide at night have evolved to find shelter from currents. I have two blue-green chromis who like to hide at night. They've never had any problem finding secure spots and settling down for the evening. The powerheads definitely do not blow them around the tank in their "sleep"!

 

[dots]

I would be concerned about the reduced oxygen also creating a larger nightly Ph shift.

 

[tank o tang]

Thanks, I was wondering since all my controllers have night mode option that switches all the powerheads off. Just wondering if it was something I should try since I was reprogramming them.

 

[tmz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15315209#post15315209 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by greenbean36191
None. The benefits of doing so are mostly imagined (e.g. it makes it easier for the fish to relax or corals to feed), while the drawbacks are potentially serious. The main concern is that reduced nighttime flow makes it harder for the corals to breathe right when oxygen is most limiting to them- and is limiting even to corals on the reefs in nature.

Absolutely. Hypoxia is a threat particularly at night when photosynthesis stops..

 

[KarlBob]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15319956#post15319956 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tank o tang
Thanks, I was wondering since all my controllers have night mode option that switches all the powerheads off.

Weird. Have these companies caved in to uneducated consumers' demands for a setting that actually hurts the critters it was supposed to protect?

 

[tmz]

Marketing is sometimes a wonder. Makes me wonder a lot.