reducing flow at night

eaglesrx · 04/16/2006, 10:24 PM

Hello,

This is probably a basic question, but does shutting off a pump each night to reduce flow (obviously if you have more than one pump running) reduce the longevity of a pump?

I'm planning on adding a second pump to my tank to double my flow rate to 20 times the volume of my tank per hour.

Thanks,

51504reef · 04/17/2006, 12:00 AM

I BELIEVE THAT IT CAN ACTUALLY SHORTEN THE LIFE OF THE PUMP, ALOT OF PUMPS ARE NOT MADE TO TURN ON AND OFF ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT WOULD PROBABLY DEPEND ON WHAT PUMPS YOU ARE USING CONSIDERING THERE ARE SOME POWERHEADS MORE SUITED FOR APPLICATIONS SUCH AS WAVEMAKERS THAT CYCLE OFF AND ON. I HAVE A SEIO 1500 IN MY TANK THAT TURNS OFF AT NIGHT-BUT I DO IT FOR POLYPS EXTENSION DURING NIGHTTIME/FEEDING TIME. HOPE THIS HELPS

gussy · 04/18/2006, 02:12 PM

Yup...they are just like computers and light bulbs...kill them fast. I only turn them off to save electricity as I'd besaving more than the cost of the pump over its life.

Ti · 04/18/2006, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 51504reef
I BELIEVE THAT IT CAN ACTUALLY SHORTEN THE LIFE OF THE PUMP, ALOT OF PUMPS ARE NOT MADE TO TURN ON AND OFF ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT WOULD PROBABLY DEPEND ON WHAT PUMPS YOU ARE USING CONSIDERING THERE ARE SOME POWERHEADS MORE SUITED FOR APPLICATIONS SUCH AS WAVEMAKERS THAT CYCLE OFF AND ON. I HAVE A SEIO 1500 IN MY TANK THAT TURNS OFF AT NIGHT-BUT I DO IT FOR POLYPS EXTENSION DURING NIGHTTIME/FEEDING TIME. HOPE THIS HELPS

YUP

eaglesrx · 04/18/2006, 07:45 PM

thanks to everyone for the advice. I have a tiny 24 gallon nanocube. So, the pump that I was going to set on a timer is a maxijet 1200.

I've heard that if you have a tunze pump, you can set those on a timer since they're designed also to be used a a wavemaker.

Thanks again for the info.

gath2 · 04/19/2006, 09:08 AM

You should be fine turning off a maxijet. People use these on wavetimers as well and don't have any problems.

keeperofthefish · 04/19/2006, 01:03 PM

MaxiJet would be fine. Tunzes would wear fast. They're designed to work on something that keeps the impeller spinning but just reduces speed--doesn't cold stop and start it.

eaglesrx · 04/19/2006, 08:09 PM

hmmm, conflicting opinions. Well, I would rather take the risk, right or wrong in the long run and just set my pump on a timer. I'll see how my fish tolerate it. I like the idea of creating different types of currents within the tank.

thanks,

conspicman · 04/19/2006, 11:46 PM

you should not have any problems with the maxi jet. on the down side if you do just replace it. they are very inexpensive.

04/16/2006, 10:24 PM	#1
eaglesrx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Fairfield, CT Posts: 1,292	reducing flow at night Hello, This is probably a basic question, but does shutting off a pump each night to reduce flow (obviously if you have more than one pump running) reduce the longevity of a pump? I'm planning on adding a second pump to my tank to double my flow rate to 20 times the volume of my tank per hour. Thanks,

04/17/2006, 12:00 AM	#2
51504reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 62	PUMPS I BELIEVE THAT IT CAN ACTUALLY SHORTEN THE LIFE OF THE PUMP, ALOT OF PUMPS ARE NOT MADE TO TURN ON AND OFF ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT WOULD PROBABLY DEPEND ON WHAT PUMPS YOU ARE USING CONSIDERING THERE ARE SOME POWERHEADS MORE SUITED FOR APPLICATIONS SUCH AS WAVEMAKERS THAT CYCLE OFF AND ON. I HAVE A SEIO 1500 IN MY TANK THAT TURNS OFF AT NIGHT-BUT I DO IT FOR POLYPS EXTENSION DURING NIGHTTIME/FEEDING TIME. HOPE THIS HELPS

04/18/2006, 02:12 PM	#3
gussy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 636	Yup...they are just like computers and light bulbs...kill them fast. I only turn them off to save electricity as I'd besaving more than the cost of the pump over its life.

04/18/2006, 07:45 PM	#5
eaglesrx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Fairfield, CT Posts: 1,292	thanks to everyone for the advice. I have a tiny 24 gallon nanocube. So, the pump that I was going to set on a timer is a maxijet 1200. I've heard that if you have a tunze pump, you can set those on a timer since they're designed also to be used a a wavemaker. Thanks again for the info.

04/19/2006, 09:08 AM	#6
gath2 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Fairview Heights, IL Posts: 646	You should be fine turning off a maxijet. People use these on wavetimers as well and don't have any problems.

04/19/2006, 01:03 PM	#7
keeperofthefish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 228	MaxiJet would be fine. Tunzes would wear fast. They're designed to work on something that keeps the impeller spinning but just reduces speed--doesn't cold stop and start it.

04/19/2006, 08:09 PM	#8
eaglesrx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Fairfield, CT Posts: 1,292	hmmm, conflicting opinions. Well, I would rather take the risk, right or wrong in the long run and just set my pump on a timer. I'll see how my fish tolerate it. I like the idea of creating different types of currents within the tank. thanks,

04/19/2006, 11:46 PM	#9
conspicman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Bch, Fl Posts: 263	you should not have any problems with the maxi jet. on the down side if you do just replace it. they are very inexpensive.