2007-12-15 21:48:52 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
no, you never turn a filter off, it needs to run 24/7
however, if you have an additional pump which goes to a decoration or a bubbler, this one can be turned off
sometimes the pumps are really noisy, especially if you buy the cheap ones
Hope that helps
Good luck
EB
2007-12-22 12:21:45 · answer #1 · answered by Kribensis lover 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Never turn the filter off for more than an hour. Why? Because the filter does 2 jobs. Firstly, it builds up a bacterial colony on the media inside it. The bacteria break down ammonia in fish waste and uneaten food into nitrate.
The second thing is, it renews the oxygen levels in the tank (or helps to) and circulates the water.
The bacteria in the filter need the recirculated, oxygen-rich water to survive. After 20 minutes, they begin to die off, and after an hour, the levels of bacteria in the filter reaches critical. Anything more than that will force the filter to recycle - and that means anything from 3 weeks to 2 months of ammonia and nitrite poisoning for your fish (IF they survive).
2007-12-17 15:42:51 · answer #2 · answered by Lindsay 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The filter should be left on at all times to keep the water clean and habital for the fish. If the filter is turned off, the water will stagnate in the filter and the toxins you have been filtering out will leach out of the filter material. So when you turn the filter back on, it will pump this"bad" water back into your tank.
2007-12-16 11:16:17 · answer #3 · answered by stargrazer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No you should not turn the filter off at night. Not only does your filter constantly clean your water but most filters put oxygen into your tank. Fish need oxygen in their water to survive. So I would not turn your filter off at night.
2007-12-16 07:41:37 · answer #4 · answered by SHC 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Mine got turned off one night by a power surge. I didnt notice intill the next day!! I saw my fish gasping for air way more then they would and then i realised, my water didnt look any dirtyer but it probably was lol so i wouldnt recommend turning it off BUT it can be done. (if a blackout occurs they can last for ages, my tank was filterless for a least 12 hours, it 180L by the way and ruled by cichlids)
2007-12-16 06:03:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on how loaded your tank is. The filter also oxygenates the water, allowing more fish to be kept in a tank of a given size.
If the tank is not overstocked for operation without oxygenation - an aquatic shop would be able to help here - then, yes, you can turn it off.
Ponds/lakes do not have forced filtration. Even the humble goldfish bowl is ok if not overstocked.
Also, cold water is better than tropical water for holding oxygen.
2007-12-16 06:02:35 · answer #6 · answered by lulu 6 · 1⤊ 4⤋
No. If you turn it off then overnight the water will end up dirty and cloudy.
and only need to work harder when you do switch it back on.
it can also harm your fish.
I only ever turned the light off at night when I had a tank in the house
2007-12-16 05:53:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
we have about 4 fish tanks in the house and my Dad never switches it off.
2007-12-16 06:43:39 · answer #8 · answered by minx7♪♫ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, the water needs to be filtered constantly.
2007-12-16 05:52:28 · answer #9 · answered by JJ N 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No don't turn it off!
2007-12-16 05:58:09 · answer #10 · answered by greenfingers thumbs up. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋