Turning off return pumps during feeding...

[TripleT]

How many people do this? How long do you keep it turned off?

Manually, or using a controller?

Any impact on pump life?

 

[re-fin-away]

I dont turn off the return pump, just the powerheads.

 

[unbreakable]

skimmer and return pump. powerheads go into feed mode and slow down. I use the apex controller to do this. It also does this on its own at certain times of the day (programed by the apex) when my automatic feeder is supposed to dump food

 

[rifishguy]

I turn mine off for 10 min.

 

[pgammon]

My powerheads go off at 7 pm, so I feed after and use a controller to turn off return pump for 20 min.

 

[Steveb]

I turn main pump and skimmer off during feeding. Power heads stay on to help move food around.

 

[d-man]

just powerheads

 

[James404]

I turn off just the return pump, I leave the skimmer on since its in the sump anyway. I usully just leave it off until all the food has been consumed. I keep my powerheads on.

 

[OwenInAZ]

I leave everything on and dump the food in opposite the overflow. It's heavy enough it sinks pretty rapidly, and the fish waste no time in snatching it up. The finer stuff gets carried around in the flow to the needy coral.

 

[thecichlidpleco]

I only do this with the powerheads and the return pump when I am feeding coral, otherwise, my fish can fight the current just fine.

 

[ReefMan1111]

skimmer and return pump. powerheads go into feed mode and slow down. I use the apex controller to do this. I turn them off for 10 min.

 

[rancoo]

It depends on what kind of food i am using, if its flakes i turn powerheads and the pump off, because if not they all be sucked into the overflow before they get time to eat. But, if its a sinking type food, i will leave everything on.

 

[cubsFAN]

I leave everything on and dump the food in opposite the overflow. It's heavy enough it sinks pretty rapidly, and the fish waste no time in snatching it up. The finer stuff gets carried around in the flow to the needy coral.

me also do this

 

[tamortman]

i turn the return off when i feed the coral i leave it off for a hour or so i still have all the powerheads running.

 

[psteeleb]

I use a controller in feed mode for 10 minutes(so I dont forget to turn it back on)

It shuts off the main return and skimmer - the power heads stay on to circulate the food