Nighttime Flow?

jbuckner · 11/04/2008, 08:35 PM

I have my powerheads connected on the same timer as my metal halides. Is this typically good practice or should I leave them on at night too or maybe randomize the flow more throughout the day? What kind of schedule would you recommend?

Thanks
Jason

Don-Coraleone · 11/04/2008, 08:38 PM

yeah its a good idea. the seas are calmer at night.

Rae C. · 11/04/2008, 08:52 PM

Never heard of doing that. i turn mine off occassionally to watch tv, but never left them off that long. Hmm. Is there a benefit to it, or just no harm done?

crvz · 11/04/2008, 09:17 PM

You just have them shut off entirely? One thing I'd be worried about is some fish climbing into the powerhead and then having it turn on. Trust me, this happens. Some controllable powerheads will cut power back with a light sensor at night, but I wouldnt want to turn them off entirely.

TheH · 11/04/2008, 09:20 PM

Why are the seas calmer at night?

Rae C. · 11/04/2008, 09:28 PM

Less heat from the sun. The heat produces temperature differences between water and air, which then leads to faster currents and more turbulence. JMO

jbuckner · 11/04/2008, 09:33 PM

Quote:

One thing I'd be worried about is some fish climbing into the powerhead and then having it turn on.

I've been concerned about my cleaner wrasse sleeping in it, but he's managed to avoid it so far.

There doesn't seem to be many low cost controllable powerheads. I can't afford a Tunze (or Vortech) setup yet so is there a low(er) cost solution?

Jason

black_majik · 11/04/2008, 09:35 PM

I wouldn't completely cut off flow, but turning some of the powerheads off isn't a bad idea.

Rae C. · 11/04/2008, 09:38 PM

If there's a fuge pump/skimmer going, that still keeps some flow. But is that enough?

jbuckner · 11/04/2008, 09:48 PM

Yeah I've got the flow from the return pump, but it's a single nozzle so it's not spread out.

I might pick up a smaller powerhead just leave that running at night and turn the larger powerhead off.

What would you say would be the difference between nighttime current and daytime current? 50% of the flow of daytime?

Vortech and Tunze users: how low do you set yours at night?

Anemonebuff · 11/04/2008, 11:14 PM

The same at night as day time. Vortech 100% all the time and my Tunze (1850 GPH) goes from full to half power 24/7.

silverwolf72 · 11/05/2008, 01:01 AM

You would want them on all the time, there is already less oxygen at night without photosynthesis going on, turning them off just makes it worse.
I would think the actual currents would be the same as this is caused by by the moon. The night thing would only effect surface waves, which move up and down but have no real flow. If you had a tunze wavebox then that would make since to turn off at night.

xskyzx · 11/05/2008, 02:33 AM

my k2 turn on and off sametime as the MH on, and only use maxi 1200 as return for flow. but my tank only 16 gal. everything seem fine.

dkh0331 · 11/05/2008, 05:50 AM

I leave my Streams on 24/7. I only turn them off when I feed.

black_majik · 11/05/2008, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by out
If there's a fuge pump/skimmer going, that still keeps some flow. But is that enough?

Not really, you would want like another powerhead on the all of the time just to be safe. Returtn nozzles don't create a good amount flow.

crvz · 11/05/2008, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jbuckner
There doesn't seem to be many low cost controllable powerheads. I can't afford a Tunze (or Vortech) setup yet so is there a low(er) cost solution?

Jason

Unfortunately, not that I know of. It'd be nice if someone put one out, but otherwise shopping used is probably your best bet. If the fish arent sleeping in there yet, they may not start, but you may consider some sort of grill on them to keep it that way. Just a thought.

greenbean36191 · 11/05/2008, 06:25 AM

It's an extreme over generalization to say that the ocean is calmer at night. In some places where wind driven currents are major contributors to water motion, this can be the case. Often though, especially on the coasts of large ocean basins, this isn't the case.

I do not recommend reducing flow at night. Like someone else has already mentioned nighttime is the period when oxygenation is already at its lowest. By eliminating more flow from the system you not only reduce the saturation point, you actually slow down diffusion for sessile critters like corals, making it harder for them to breathe the oxygen that's already there.

returnofsid · 11/05/2008, 09:02 AM

Wow, the oceans are calmer at night huh? Never heard of that one. Now, it's possible that the surface calms down at night...but the continual currents that flow throughout the ocean are still flowing. I wouldn't recommend changing flow at all.

As has been mentioned, lowering your flow at night can have a negative impact in oxygenation of the water. pH already drops at night, lowering oxygen will drop ph even more. It's also the period when most corals feed. Lowering flow will effect the corals ability to feed as well. They can't move, so need the flow to move particles past them, in order to eat. Because they're eating, they also are more active, which would lead me to believe they need more oxygen.

I just think lowering flow at night can lead to all sorts of problems. I'd also really question the validity of statements such as the ocean has less flow at night. I might believe that if I saw some associated studies that back it up.

The only time I'd ever suggest lowering flow is MAYBE while feeding fish, and only for a short time. I don't think most reefers even lower flow during feeding.

11/04/2008, 08:35 PM	#1
jbuckner Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: East Orlando, near UCF Posts: 19	Nighttime Flow? I have my powerheads connected on the same timer as my metal halides. Is this typically good practice or should I leave them on at night too or maybe randomize the flow more throughout the day? What kind of schedule would you recommend? Thanks Jason

11/04/2008, 08:52 PM	#3
Rae C. Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 916	Never heard of doing that. i turn mine off occassionally to watch tv, but never left them off that long. Hmm. Is there a benefit to it, or just no harm done? __________________ Rae C It's 8:30, kids. Turn off the tank and go to bed! Current Tank Info: 65 gal, softies, 1 mandarine, 1 clown

11/04/2008, 09:17 PM	#4
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	You just have them shut off entirely? One thing I'd be worried about is some fish climbing into the powerhead and then having it turn on. Trust me, this happens. Some controllable powerheads will cut power back with a light sensor at night, but I wouldnt want to turn them off entirely. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

11/04/2008, 09:28 PM	#6
Rae C. Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 916	Less heat from the sun. The heat produces temperature differences between water and air, which then leads to faster currents and more turbulence. JMO __________________ Rae C It's 8:30, kids. Turn off the tank and go to bed! Current Tank Info: 65 gal, softies, 1 mandarine, 1 clown

11/04/2008, 09:35 PM	#8
black_majik Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 848	I wouldn't completely cut off flow, but turning some of the powerheads off isn't a bad idea. __________________ Finding Nemo: The most effective method of killing tropical marine fish. Current Tank Info: A couple: A 75 about to get a makeover, 20g Fish Holding Tank, 12g Reef W/ Anemones and yes Uncle Frosby they are indeed mushrooms.

11/04/2008, 08:38 PM	#2
Don-Coraleone Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: east coast Posts: 1,478	yeah its a good idea. the seas are calmer at night.

11/04/2008, 09:20 PM	#5
TheH Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 1,278	Why are the seas calmer at night?

11/04/2008, 09:38 PM	#9
Rae C. Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 916	If there's a fuge pump/skimmer going, that still keeps some flow. But is that enough? __________________ Rae C It's 8:30, kids. Turn off the tank and go to bed! Current Tank Info: 65 gal, softies, 1 mandarine, 1 clown

11/04/2008, 09:48 PM	#10
jbuckner Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: East Orlando, near UCF Posts: 19	Yeah I've got the flow from the return pump, but it's a single nozzle so it's not spread out. I might pick up a smaller powerhead just leave that running at night and turn the larger powerhead off. What would you say would be the difference between nighttime current and daytime current? 50% of the flow of daytime? Vortech and Tunze users: how low do you set yours at night?

11/04/2008, 11:14 PM	#11
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	The same at night as day time. Vortech 100% all the time and my Tunze (1850 GPH) goes from full to half power 24/7.

11/05/2008, 01:01 AM	#12
silverwolf72 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lake Forrest CA Posts: 1,732	You would want them on all the time, there is already less oxygen at night without photosynthesis going on, turning them off just makes it worse. I would think the actual currents would be the same as this is caused by by the moon. The night thing would only effect surface waves, which move up and down but have no real flow. If you had a tunze wavebox then that would make since to turn off at night.

11/05/2008, 02:33 AM	#13
xskyzx Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 439	my k2 turn on and off sametime as the MH on, and only use maxi 1200 as return for flow. but my tank only 16 gal. everything seem fine.

11/05/2008, 05:50 AM	#14
dkh0331 Es gibt keinen ersatz Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Close to the edge, down by a river Posts: 3,581	I leave my Streams on 24/7. I only turn them off when I feed. __________________ Just found out that grandpa has a drug addiction. He is addicted to viagra. No one is taking it harder than grandma.

11/05/2008, 06:25 AM	#17
greenbean36191 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 10,598	It's an extreme over generalization to say that the ocean is calmer at night. In some places where wind driven currents are major contributors to water motion, this can be the case. Often though, especially on the coasts of large ocean basins, this isn't the case. I do not recommend reducing flow at night. Like someone else has already mentioned nighttime is the period when oxygenation is already at its lowest. By eliminating more flow from the system you not only reduce the saturation point, you actually slow down diffusion for sessile critters like corals, making it harder for them to breathe the oxygen that's already there. __________________ Some say the sun rises in the East. Some say it rises in the West. The truth must be somewhere in the middle. Current Tank Info: tore them down to move and haven't had the time or money to set them back up

11/05/2008, 09:02 AM	#18
returnofsid Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,852	Wow, the oceans are calmer at night huh? Never heard of that one. Now, it's possible that the surface calms down at night...but the continual currents that flow throughout the ocean are still flowing. I wouldn't recommend changing flow at all. As has been mentioned, lowering your flow at night can have a negative impact in oxygenation of the water. pH already drops at night, lowering oxygen will drop ph even more. It's also the period when most corals feed. Lowering flow will effect the corals ability to feed as well. They can't move, so need the flow to move particles past them, in order to eat. Because they're eating, they also are more active, which would lead me to believe they need more oxygen. I just think lowering flow at night can lead to all sorts of problems. I'd also really question the validity of statements such as the ocean has less flow at night. I might believe that if I saw some associated studies that back it up. The only time I'd ever suggest lowering flow is MAYBE while feeding fish, and only for a short time. I don't think most reefers even lower flow during feeding.