Once-daily Tunze cycling

[wpecoul]

We've got one of the old-style, non-controllable Tunze streams on the 270G tank that I help take care of at church. I was considering putting this pump on the second outlet of the timer that controls the VHO lighting. Does anyone see an issue with having this pump cycle on and off once daily? It's not as though it is on a wavemaker or anything - we're talking on at 8 AM, then off at 6PM.

Thanks,
Will

 

[JR's Reef]

It will be fine. you can turn them on/off every 15mins if you want to but not anything less than that

 

[8BALL_99]

I'd just leave it on. They use very little power compared to the water flow. only running it half the time doesn't really give you any benefit.

 

[wpecoul]

I wasn't worried about the power consumption - just would like slightly lower flow at night. There is a new model Stream 2 on the other side of the tank that I was planning to leave on 24/7.

 

[8BALL_99]

You might want to do some reading on that. My understanding is your much better off keeping higher flow at night. A marine biologist student explained it to us at one of our meetings. I won't bother trying to explain it cause I'm sure I would do a bad Job of it. Basicly O2 levels drop at night due to various reasons. So lowering the flow just adds to the problem.. People tend to think night means rest Ect but really the ocean doesn't slow down just cause it gets dark. Infact tides come in and out at night just like they do during the day..

 

[wpecoul]

That's true enough. I know that Calfo is of that mindset as well. Since it means I don't have to get another timer, I guess I'll just leave it as-is.