Filtration

[ZeroT]

For the years that I have kept fish I have always run external canister filters on a 14hr timer, from 7am till 9pm for example and off over night. Primarily to save on the electricity but it also give the fish a little rest

Wether this is too long or too short a time I dont know but it has never done any harm to any of my tanks or fish. So the first question is how long do you run your filters?

The reason I start this topic is that I have just purchased a new 90g tank and for the first time ever a sump to go with it. The plan is to include my heaters in the sump to keep them out of sight. The problem here is that if i was to stick to my timer then when the pump is off the heaters are in effect off due to the heated water not being pumped up to the tank. So the question here is do I just keep the pump on 24/7, or maybe also run a very small low powered pump 24/7 with the main pump still on the timer. This would mean there would be a slow constant run of water overnight keeping the water warm but the main pump being off saving power and giving the fish their quiet rest.

Your thoughts please!!

 

[kanakaia]

I keep my filters running all the time the power bill does not make that much of a difference.

 

[cyberbeer65]

I run my filters 24/7.I would think by having your heaters in your sump,you'll need to run yours 24/7 as well.

 

[anonapersona]

rest vs filtration

If the fish need a rest, then you can redirect the flow or rearrange the tank so that there are quiet places that allow sleep.

Cutting off the filtration is not a good idea, ever. Maybe, if you has massive overfiltration and were way understocked, so that the buildup of toxins did not get too high by morning, I guess you could get away with it, but still that seems risky.

So much easier to just allow for quiet places within the tank by redirecting flow.

 

[ZeroT]

I understand that 24/7 filteration is the best option but is it really a necessity. I dont know what your fish get up to a night but I have never had a build up of toxins by the morning!

I have kept eveything from my first community tetra tank to my current 50g with a 7" dempsy, 6" pike, 3" pictus and 8" sailfin running this 14hr filtration cycle and they have never had a problem all the time I have had them since less than 1" babies.

 

[mooman]

With a trickle filter it will be neccesary. If the bioballs dry out during the "down time" then you will lose your bio-filter.

 

[ZeroT]

Ah! Right thanks moonman, that makes sense handnt though about that, I was too concerned with the water temp and having to put the heaters back in the tank.

Does anyone have any good examples for a sump setup, all the ones I come across are for marine tanks. I think im going to modify my sump slightly to add another chamber so that the water goes sponge, bio balls, bubble trap, carbon back to tank.