Should closed loops be turned off at night?

[cherubfish pair]

I'm thinking about having my closed loop return into the back of the tank into the middle. I don't want to run into problems with multiple timers.

 

[newty]

I run my closed loop 24/7. Switching the pumps on/off can decrease their life cycle. IMO, it doesnt matter much to the majority of inhabitants. Unless you have a closed loop run by Maxijets or something like that.

Shawn

 

[dj synystr]

does the ocean turn off when the lights go out?

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7497644#post7497644 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dj synystr
does the ocean turn off when the lights go out?

No, but it does calm down. If you've ever been out at night on a boat, you know it gets calmer, especially near shore.

 

[tigerarmy40]

I have thought about this alot! you could really represnt a high and low tide if you could do this with out damaging your pumps.... I wonder if sequence pumps are ok with being turned off and on!?!?

 

[Buster4900]

My Dart is on a timer, cycles with the lights. Tank remains healthy and I save a few $$$ in electricity.

 

[Shouse94]

This is interesting, i was considering putting my CL on a timer as well, would leave the sump return pump on 24/7 though. I am concerned about wearing down the pump over the years however.

 

[sales weasel]

I have two MJ1200 and one MJ900 powerheads in my 55g along with a Mag7 return pump. I have two of the powerheads on a timer that turns them off with the last light. With all of them on, there is pretty good water movement and the corals definitely get their little polyps stimulated. However, I was worried about the fish having to fight the current all night.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7497703#post7497703 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
No, but it does calm down. If you've ever been out at night on a boat, you know it gets calmer, especially near shore.

 

[h20cooled]

As stated before, the ocean currents don't turn off at night. I've dived at night and day and they currents are still there, maybe a slight bit lighter. After my lasts dives I've decided that most tanks are very low on current compared to the ocean. I will never again worry about having to much...

 

[marcrothschild]

Turning the pump off at night you run the risk of small snails etc. wandering in and potentially ruining the impellar. Also if you dose Kalk, I think you run a greater risk of calcium precipitating near your pumps seal and causing a leak if the pump is shutting down every night. I would let it run 24-7..It will help to blow off CO2, and your fish will find a quiet spot to sleep regardless.

 

[newty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7497703#post7497703 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
No, but it does calm down. If you've ever been out at night on a boat, you know it gets calmer, especially near shore.

Interesting. But, does this also mean that the current 'strength'/flow is lower or weaker at night?

Shawn

 

[HotHotHot]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7499360#post7499360 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by marcrothschild
Turning the pump off at night you run the risk of small snails etc. wandering in and potentially ruining the impellar. Also if you dose Kalk, I think you run a greater risk of calcium precipitating near your pumps seal and causing a leak if the pump is shutting down every night. I would let it run 24-7..It will help to blow off CO2, and your fish will find a quiet spot to sleep regardless.

I agree. I already have snails wander into my 1-1/2" closed loop and I don't turn it off at night. It's a hoot to watch them hang on when the OM 4-way switches outlets.

Ed

 

[crash519]

The "current" doesn't subside. The wind, however, does and that is the major contributor to the waves that you experience in a boat.

 

[RichConley]

Right, but we're talking about reefs here.

The major function of reefs is that they are wavebreaks. So when the waves calm down, a lot of the water movement on a reef crest stops. So night does have significantly less current on the reef crest.

 

[tigerarmy40]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7501840#post7501840 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crash519
The "current" doesn't subside. The wind, however, does and that is the major contributor to the waves that you experience in a boat.

so its not windy at night!?!? there are high and low tides with or without wind so its pretty on point to say that the water on a reef will tend to calm in the night and thrash a little more in the day....

 

[davocean]

The ocean does apear to be calmer at night usually because the wind tends to mellow, but I dive at night also, and there is definitely still current, sometimes very strong.
I would leave it on to save wear and tear on pumps.

 

[cherubfish pair]

I have decided to leave it on at night for turbulence.

 

[cherubfish pair]

Anybody else leave theirs on 24/7?

 

[CMcNeil]

yup