HOB filter on a timer...

B

babe

AC Members
Oct 15, 2008
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Hello everybody! =)

I wasn't sure where to post this so excuse me if it's in the wrong forum...

I was wondering what problems could arise from putting my Aquaclear 70 on a timer. I plan on having the filter turned off during the daytime and on during the nighttime. Will the filter have a shorter lifespan because of this?

Also, inside the filter, I have a big bag full of ceramic rings. Will the beneficial bacteria on the rings survive without water circulation?

Thanks for reading! I hope to gain some knowledge from all of you!
 
I don't think that will work. When you turn off a filter, the siphon is still in effect, so the water in the filtration chamber drains out. The filter must be primed before being turned back on; it cannot pull water from the tank with no water in the chamber. This will also quickly damage the motor.
 
filters aren't meant to be turned on and off everyday. Yes I would guess it will shorten its lifespan.
 
As well, your fish are creating ammonia 24/7...if the water's not circulating, that excess ammonia is just building up the tank instead of being converted by the bacteria in the filter while the filter's off. They don't use much electricity, and it's worth it to keep your fish from being poisoned by their own waste. I have an AC on my planted tank, I just keep the water level on my tank as full as possible to minimize the disturbance. It definitely hasn't slowed down the plant growth any.
 
justahannah said:
As well, your fish are creating ammonia 24/7...if the water's not circulating, that excess ammonia is just building up the tank instead of being converted by the bacteria in the filter while the filter's off. They don't use much electricity, and it's worth it to keep your fish from being poisoned by their own waste. I have an AC on my planted tank, I just keep the water level on my tank as full as possible to minimize the disturbance. It definitely hasn't slowed down their growth any.
Click to expand...

That makes sense...But I was told that plants use up ammonia. I have a 55 gallon jungle full of watersprite and some banana plants in my tank with about 3 breeding pairs of swordtails...Will the plants I have be able to handle the ammonia level during the daytime?

I also have a small powerhead in the tank for bottom circulation. I just wanted to keep the surface water calm by turning off the power filter.
 
Like I said, your plan won't work due to the limitation of the equipment; any other details are superfluous at this point.

You can also attach a piece of filter foam to the HOB's outflow to diffuse the water and minimize surface disturbance. If you want some night-time oxygenation, add an airstone and put that on your timer.
 
Judging from all your responses, I guess it is a bad idea to put the filter on a timer...

Thanks for the help! =)
 
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