How long can pumps/filtration be down?

arejayy · 01/08/2014, 01:01 PM

Not exactly new to the hobby, but addmittatly don't know the answer to this question...

Im going to potentially do some maintenance on my tank this weekend, replace some pumps etc. and wanted to get everyone's take on how long the tank, and more specifically the fish can go without circulation/filtration. I imagine the pumps will be off for appox. 2 hours and was going to leave my circulators on, will this be ok? Tank is mostly aggressive and houses primarily triggers along with a tang, gobie, and puffer. Thanks!

krzyphsygy · 01/08/2014, 01:13 PM

By circulators, you mean powerheads? If yes, then as long as you have them on you'll be fine. Just make sure the powerheads are moving a good amount of water.
I can leave my main pump off as long as I want because I have 3 very strong powerheads.

HumbleFish · 01/08/2014, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krzyphsygy

By circulators, you mean powerheads? If yes, then as long as you have them on you'll be fine.

+1 Even if you lost total power, you'd likely still be good for 2-3 hrs (and probably a lot longer than that). But it's always a good idea to have a battery powered air pump (or two) handy.

arejayy · 01/08/2014, 01:28 PM

Yes, powerheads...I have 2 Koralia 1400's that I will leave on. Thanks for the info, much appreciated!

Uncle Salty 05 · 01/08/2014, 02:01 PM

Do you have a sump?
What is your primary filtration? (other than live rock and sand)

arejayy · 01/08/2014, 03:15 PM

Yes, I have a Proflex 4 sump. Wet/dry setup, socks, floss, bio balls. ASM G4 with Sedra, also running phosban and carbon reactors to polish things up and keep algea at bay. I know bio balls and the wet/dry setup in general are not the choice of most these days, but with this and past tanks they have never let me down. Red Sea and API tests both show 0 nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia at all times...PH is perfect. So going to run with it for now.

Uncle Salty 05 · 01/08/2014, 03:20 PM

For some reason I had a hunch.
While the system is down you will want to pour some water over the bio-balls every few minutes to keep them wet and oxygenated.
More than an hour dry and you will lose a lot of your bacteria.
I would also let the reactors run if possible.

arejayy · 01/08/2014, 03:28 PM

Good call, thank you. I have my skimmer plumbed a bit "different" which may help. With the Proflex there is no room in the first chamber. I was getting an insane amount of micro bubbles when I had the skimmer dumping back into the return. So I extended the drain of the skimmer and now have it dumping back into the first chamber. If I leave the skimmer running it should continue to circulate water through all three of the chambers, keeping the bio balls happy. I will keep the reactors on as well..Thanks for catching that, I appreciate it!

Uncle Salty 05 · 01/08/2014, 03:30 PM

You're welcome.

Sk8r · 01/08/2014, 04:36 PM

The amount of time a tank can be safe with no pump varies a lot depending on stocking level and species of fish. Tangs and angels take a lot of oxygen Bottom-sitting gobies---not so much. Temperature affects how much oxygenation water will 'carry.' And water surface area affects gas exchange rate. My own tank is safe for 8 hours, possibly more, especially if the tank also chills down a bit.

01/08/2014, 01:01 PM	#1
arejayy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 55	How long can pumps/filtration be down? Not exactly new to the hobby, but addmittatly don't know the answer to this question... Im going to potentially do some maintenance on my tank this weekend, replace some pumps etc. and wanted to get everyone's take on how long the tank, and more specifically the fish can go without circulation/filtration. I imagine the pumps will be off for appox. 2 hours and was going to leave my circulators on, will this be ok? Tank is mostly aggressive and houses primarily triggers along with a tang, gobie, and puffer. Thanks!

01/08/2014, 02:01 PM	#5
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	Do you have a sump? What is your primary filtration? (other than live rock and sand) __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

01/08/2014, 03:20 PM	#7
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	For some reason I had a hunch. While the system is down you will want to pour some water over the bio-balls every few minutes to keep them wet and oxygenated. More than an hour dry and you will lose a lot of your bacteria. I would also let the reactors run if possible. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

01/08/2014, 03:30 PM	#9
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	You're welcome. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

01/08/2014, 04:36 PM	#10
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	The amount of time a tank can be safe with no pump varies a lot depending on stocking level and species of fish. Tangs and angels take a lot of oxygen Bottom-sitting gobies---not so much. Temperature affects how much oxygenation water will 'carry.' And water surface area affects gas exchange rate. My own tank is safe for 8 hours, possibly more, especially if the tank also chills down a bit. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/08/2014, 01:13 PM	#2
krzyphsygy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,148	By circulators, you mean powerheads? If yes, then as long as you have them on you'll be fine. Just make sure the powerheads are moving a good amount of water. I can leave my main pump off as long as I want because I have 3 very strong powerheads.

01/08/2014, 01:28 PM	#4
arejayy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 55	Yes, powerheads...I have 2 Koralia 1400's that I will leave on. Thanks for the info, much appreciated!

01/08/2014, 03:15 PM	#6
arejayy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 55	Yes, I have a Proflex 4 sump. Wet/dry setup, socks, floss, bio balls. ASM G4 with Sedra, also running phosban and carbon reactors to polish things up and keep algea at bay. I know bio balls and the wet/dry setup in general are not the choice of most these days, but with this and past tanks they have never let me down. Red Sea and API tests both show 0 nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia at all times...PH is perfect. So going to run with it for now.

01/08/2014, 03:28 PM	#8
arejayy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 55	Good call, thank you. I have my skimmer plumbed a bit "different" which may help. With the Proflex there is no room in the first chamber. I was getting an insane amount of micro bubbles when I had the skimmer dumping back into the return. So I extended the drain of the skimmer and now have it dumping back into the first chamber. If I leave the skimmer running it should continue to circulate water through all three of the chambers, keeping the bio balls happy. I will keep the reactors on as well..Thanks for catching that, I appreciate it!