Turning powerhead off at night?

[Ocho Cinco]

I just started up my aquapod again and bought a new Catalina 400 pump for flow in the tank. Well....it's running really loud. The LFS guy said the tend to run loud but i didnt think this loud. I'm happy with the flow from it, but I was wondering if it would be ok to turn it off at night seeing as that it's in my bedroom. Any ideas?

Thanks!

[tazzy695]

ok first question is this the only pump in the system meaning if you turn it off there will be no flow ?????????????

my first thing to say would be no don't turn it off if it is too noisy return it if you can and get something that will be quieter

if you cant do that maby try putting something between it and the tank to pad it so the vibration doesn't go into the glass making it noisy to you a sponge can work well for this

[Ocho Cinco]

ok first question is this the only pump in the system meaning if you turn it off there will be no flow ?????????????

my first thing to say would be no don't turn it off if it is too noisy return it if you can and get something that will be quieter

if you cant do that maby try putting something between it and the tank to pad it so the vibration doesn't go into the glass making it noisy to you a sponge can work well for this

It is not my only flow source....i also get flow from the return. I might try to return it but the lfs are jerks sometimes when it comes to returns. Im trying to think of what i can do with that sponge idea....

[tazzy695]

how is it attached to the tank is it by suction cup ???

[Ocho Cinco]

how is it attached to the tank is it by suction cup ???

Yes its attached by suction cups

[tazzy695]

that means it is already cushioned some

the sponge idea works if the power head is just sitting on the bottom of the tank or tight against the glass like held on via magnet or something

[jimsflies]

I wouldn't turn it off. I tried that a couple times playing with the concept of "less waves at night" and had some corals suffer....even though I still had tons of flow. I think corals get used to a certain amount of flow and react poorly if it changes...IMO this is especially the case with larger colonies especially sps.

[Ocho Cinco]

I wouldn't turn it off. I tried that a couple times playing with the concept of "less waves at night" and had some corals suffer....even though I still had tons of flow. I think corals get used to a certain amount of flow and react poorly if it changes...IMO this is especially the case with larger colonies especially sps.

Ok thanks. I actually got it figured out as of now using the maxi jet and parts from the catalina. So far so good!

[stunreefer]

I tried that a couple times playing with the concept of "less waves at night" and had some corals suffer....even though I still had tons of flow.
Yeah... "night modes" advertised on certain pumps/controllers always crack me up! Have these people never seen or been in the ocean? Fish and corals don't snuggle up under the blankets for sleepy time like we do, oh no, many times it becomes more violent at night. Higher tides = more crashing on the beach, rocks, and surges below. I've been on my fair share of night dives and it's remarkable how the current changes from the day, but less current is not how I would describe it at all. You can easily surge back and forth your whole body length in the current without swimming at all, just goin' with the flow ;)

See if the LFS will help you out, or grab a different pump. For cheap, effective and reliable pumps check out MaxiJets (you can mod them for nice, wide flow too).

[Ocho Cinco]

I got it all figured out with a maxi 1200 which i already had. I used parts from the Catalina to make it safer. How do you get wide flow from it? +1 on oceans getting more violent at night

[Sir Patrick]

Cut the tip off of it- the part the water exits.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHal-NhrJWM&NR=1


In your nano- this is the bast way available to widen the current out, and make less direct, and more indirect currents through your little tank.