Turning my filter off overnight?

[Ms.Bubbles]

I know it's ideal to have the filter running 24/7 but the noise is driving me nuts at night.

I have a Fluval 1 internal (underwater) filter (not a HOB filter), and the tank is lightly planted and lightly stocked (just 1 betta).

If I turned it off for about 8 hours overnight, would I totally lose my biological filter?

Thanks

 

[wesleydnunder]

Yes, I think so.

Mark

 

[liv2padl]

while you may not completely lose the biofilter, your fish will certainly suffer stress from the buildup of toxic ammonia and nitrite.

 

[Ms.Bubbles]

Would there be a stressful amount of ammonia/nitrites overnight if there is only 1 betta in the tank?

 

[Aqualung]

It would be much better to leave the filter running 24/7. If the noise is really a problem then I would consider getting a quieter filter.

However, I doubt you will lose much bacteria within an 8 hour span, and ammonia shouldn't build up much in that time frame with only one betta. I have an internal Cascade filter on my fry tank and I shut it off at night to give the fry a rest. The filter produces a lot of current in the tank. I have yet to have any problems with ammonia or nitrite, but I am also doing 50% water changes and vaccuming the leftover food every day.

If you try it, just be sure to monitor your water conditions closely. Also, I wouldn't recommend making it a long-term situation.

 

[liv2padl]

Would there be a stressful amount of ammonia/nitrites overnight if there is only 1 betta in the tank?

ANY amount of ammonia or nitrite is stressfull to fish.

 

[TKOS]

The problem I see is that there isnb't much ammonia to begin with as there is only 1 betta. But I guess you could try an experiment and do it for a few days and keep testing for ammonia and nitrites. Perhaps you won't get a significant buildup.

the main problem I see is that you may just forget to turn things back on. I know I would.

 

[Ms.Bubbles]

The problem I see is that there isnb't much ammonia to begin with as there is only 1 betta.

Not sure I understand-why is not having much ammonia to begin with a problem?

 

[TKOS]

Not sure I understand-why is not having much ammonia to begin with a problem?

Because you will have a small base of bacteria to begin with. So there is the chance that such a small bed of bacxteria could be completly killed overnight. A larger source of ammonia menas more bacteria and thus a greater chance more would survive to repopulate from.

 

[OrionGirl]

Have you considered planting the tank? The plants would be able to consume much of the ammonia produced, and this would reduce the concerns of the colonies starving overnight. Since the filter is internal, I doubt this would happen--the bacteria still have food available, since ammonia diffuses pretty rapidly in water. It's actually more a concern that they'll run out of oxygen, since the lack of surface agitation will minimize the gas exchange. If you DO decide to have the filter go off (although I would strongly encourage you to find an alternative filter--or make sure yours is running properly--other than splashing water, most should be very quiet), I would put it on a timer to avoid it being off for too long.