View Full Version : Turn Off Filter?
Hi. I have Bio-Wheel filters. Are we supposed to turn off the filter when feeding the fish? I haven't heard so but when I feed the flakes they tend to get sucked up pretty quick by the filter.
J double R
03-05-2007, 9:21 AM
try turning off the filter but not the biowheel sprayer.
Does feeding on theother side of the tank help?
root81
03-05-2007, 10:31 AM
I don't know about biowheels, but I'd think it's a matter of how the fish eat. I have a powerhead filter which causes the pellets and flakes to sink quickly, but I don't turn it off. 2 of my 3 cherry barbs are very aggressive when it comes to food, and will fight over the floating food, but the 3rd is more shy, but will immediatly grab anything that sinks. If the filter is causing food to sink and it's ignored and gets lost in the gravel, then it's probably a good idea to turn off the filter when feeding, but if everything is being eaten, it probably doesn't matter.
RiVerfishgirl
03-05-2007, 10:34 AM
You can turn off the filter for a few minutes while you feed, it's not going to hurt anything. Just don't leave it off for more than about 5-10 min max, and try not to overfeed.
There seems to be a great chance here to forget to turn the filter back on. I would avoid turnign it off unless you really need to. I have never personally had a probelm with any of my HOB filter on any of my tanks.
RiVerfishgirl
03-05-2007, 12:33 PM
Assuming the person remembers to turn their filter back on there is nothing wrong with turning it off to feed.
Sometimes if you have fish that are slow to grab the food and a filter that intakes water quickly just about all your food ends up in the filter. That's a huge waste, IMO.
I turn off all my filters when when doing water changes on my tanks, I've yet to forget to turn them back on.
Marinemom
03-05-2007, 12:36 PM
I would not turn the filter off. As previously mentioned there is a good possibility that you will inadvertently forget to turn the filter back on and this of course will mess with water quality. The good bacteria will start to die and while the filter is shut off for any extended period of time the fish will suffer since thier life support system will have been shut down. Try dropping the food in the tank where there is as little surface aggitation as possible away from the filter and see if that helps. I think the possibility of forgetting to turn the filter back on exsists mainly because we all are enthralled with watching our fish and since this is so mesmerizing we just seem to forget about the filter for a short time.
Marinemom
RiVerfishgirl
03-05-2007, 12:44 PM
There are several ways I could think of to remember to turn a filter back on.
Setting an alarm, sticking a note on the tank before you turn 'em off, etc.
It just doesn't seem like that big of a task to me.
Maybe you guys are just extremely forgetful : p
Madcrawdad
03-05-2007, 1:36 PM
There are several ways I could think of to remember to turn a filter back on.
Setting an alarm, sticking a note on the tank before you turn 'em off, etc.
It just doesn't seem like that big of a task to me.
Maybe you guys are just extremely forgetful : p
turning on an HOB when doing a water change is a little easier to remember than when you feed your fish every day.... can't tell you how many times I'd get halfway to work when the thought pops into my head "did I remember to lock the door, did I close the garage door, etc." now I'd be thinking "did I turn the filter back on?"
I personally wouldn't turn my filter off every day when feeding...it'd be way too easy to forget to turn on... the phone or doorbell rings and I'd be off to do something else, possibly forgetting all about the fish.
not sure what you're feeding, but you can try a feeding ring like the one in the attached link http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=6280&Ntt=feeding%20ring&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=2004&Nty=1
Shagmaster
03-05-2007, 1:44 PM
not sure what you're feeding, but you can try a feeding ring like the one in the attached link http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=6280&Ntt=feeding%20ring&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=2004&Nty=1
Now thats a cool invention! One of those, "Why didnt I think of that" things!:rolleyes:
They are fine little devices. Until the suction cup decides to not stick anymore and it floats to the back. They are cheap though.
marinemom (and everyone else) - my water changes take me about 10 mins to replace the water I take out (25 - 40%). I turn both my filters off when I do this - am I putting my biological filtration at risk ?
When I feed I turn off the filter on one side - my pellets wouldn't sink otherwise.
aardvark1
03-05-2007, 9:46 PM
Coler-
I do all my water changes on all the tanks at the same time. All filters are turned off (all plugged into one power strip) and water pythoned out, new water put in, filters turned back on when water lever is high enough for filters to suck it in.
30 minutes usual time, maybe a tad more if I'm doing some gardening.
No problems with bio...
Yet!
Marinemom
03-06-2007, 12:03 AM
Basically if the filters are off for more then an hour that is when you will have to worry about the good bacteria starting to die. If it is just a few minutes or usually less then an hour I don't think you have anything to worry about.
Marinemom
Mgamer20o0
03-06-2007, 3:09 AM
i would just try to feed in the other side. maybe feed a little more. how about putting a sponge on the filter. that way its taking in water from a greater area. less section but almost the same flow.
Rbishop
03-06-2007, 5:29 AM
I'm with the crowd of leaving the filters on.
5xevy
03-06-2007, 12:35 PM
Now thats a cool invention! One of those, "Why didnt I think of that" things!:rolleyes:
Okay I looked at the food ring and I even had my coffee...but how does this thing work?
Edited to add...I always keep my filters on unless I'm doing tank maintenance and need them off. I either feed my fish with my bare hand and sway it it in the middle of the tank while releasing the food, or I use a small cup and do the same thing.
Shelby_Tempo_GT
03-06-2007, 12:40 PM
I turn off my HOB for the 5 minutes they feed. This keeps the floating food in one place so they can eat properly and I have a better idea of just how much they are eating in 3-5 minutes.
WaterBaby
03-06-2007, 1:05 PM
I don't turn off the filters in my tanks with fish, but I do turn off the filter in my ADF tank when I feed them.
I put their food in a terracotta plant dish. If the filter is on, the food gets pushed all over the tank, and those darn frogs are so blind, if the filter is on, most of the food gets sucked up into it before the frogs get to it.
Madcrawdad
03-06-2007, 1:26 PM
Okay I looked at the food ring and I even had my coffee...but how does this thing work?
suction cup sticks to glass at surface of water while ring floats on surface....sprinkle food in ring. presumably the ring protects the food from the surface agitation already going on in the tank and keeps food from sinking immediately and being blown all over the tank.
Slappy*McFish
03-06-2007, 1:56 PM
I leave the filters on.
Shelby_Tempo_GT
03-07-2007, 9:15 AM
suction cup sticks to glass at surface of water while ring floats on surface....sprinkle food in ring. presumably the ring protects the food from the surface agitation already going on in the tank and keeps food from sinking immediately and being blown all over the tank.
also helps keep the bathtub ring off the tank (one less thing to worry about on the weekly cleaning)