To Turn Off, or Not To Turn Off?

**igot2gats** · 10-01-2009, 10:33 AM

That is the question.

Do you turn off wavemakers / return pumps when you feed your corals and/or fish?

"I give you a topic, & discuss"
-Linda Richman

**Mike** · 10-01-2009, 11:01 AM

I don't. I used to turn off my Tunze's when I had them but now I have closed loops. The fish still get most everything. They just chase it like they would in nature I think. I feed smaller amounts more often also.

**Tankster** · 10-01-2009, 11:23 AM

So it doesn't all go into my overflow, I turn off my sump return pump using my AC jr's feed cycle. That way it automatically comes back on after 10 minutes. Before the controller I forgot to flip the return back on one night and lost a fish.

I also have a closed loop that I leave on during feeding.

**Mike** · 10-01-2009, 11:48 AM

As you stated above that is another good reason for me not to turn anything off during feeding

**divecj5** · 10-01-2009, 12:24 PM

I usually keep my MP20 blasting at full strength unless I'm specifically looking to target a specific coral. Then I'll either drop it into "feed mode" or just turn it off and spot feed.

I just assume make the fish work for their food a bit....they are living quite the lavish lifestyle already (random flow, stable temp, places to hide, etc)

**jimsflies** · 10-01-2009, 12:34 PM

Most of the time these days I have been feeding just pellets and leave all pumps on for that. But when I do get out the frozen reef stew, I turn off the return using the AC3 controller (which actually leaves the return off for like 15 minutes and the skimmer off for an hour). The controller also shuts off the closed loop for 5 minutes.

I also put my Vortech in feed mode which still allows a little flow which is nice to keep food from immediately settling and allows enough flow for the corals to sense that it is there to initiate feeding.

**tankdude** · 10-01-2009, 02:31 PM

I don't turn any pumps off when I feed my fish. I do turn them off when I put food in for my corals.

**Rook** · 10-01-2009, 03:32 PM

I have an ACjr and have the tunze put into feed mode, I leave the return pump on though. If I leave the tunze on I lose too much of the food which just wastes and increase the nutrient load.

**schminksbro** · 10-01-2009, 04:50 PM

I don't directly feed my corals other than aminos. I let the fish fight for it. Then they feed the corals. I don't turn anything off but I change filter socks every other day.