Poll: Pumps off when feeding?

bobman · Mar 8, 2016

For me it depends. I have a automatic feeder and it feeds a little when I am not home so the pumps will be on. I feed a little pellet sometimes whan I get home and will shut off the return pump so the food dont go into m overflow as it is plumbed directly into my skimmer. Sometime I like to spot feed my corals so I will turn all pump off for that or I will just skim it all out.

ndz98 · Mar 8, 2016

I usually just turn off the circulation pump but not the return pump. The return pump doesn't create enough flow for it to really matter if I turn it off or not. The fish get all of the food no problem.

radar_17 · Mar 8, 2016

I have an auto feeder dropping Hikari pellets right into my pump intake in the sump 3-4 times a day. Somehow the fish seem to know when it's going to come out of the return nozzles because they all gather about a minute before it happens. I don't think it's the sound of the feeder, because they gather before it starts to turn. Definitely creatures of habbit! I dump frozen food for the fish in with the pumps on (they eat a cube within 20 seconds... no time to go into the overflow). I turn pumps off to target feed corals once a week or so.

Sounds Fishy · Mar 9, 2016

I turn off the return pump and skimmer on my 210 for 15 minutes to keep food out of the filter socks, but I leave the RW15s on for dispersion. Rod's Food herbivore blend for the fish, coral and CUC.

dacianb · Mar 9, 2016

I just turn off the return pump, but leave the flow pumps on - otherwise most of food get into sump.

rossco · Mar 9, 2016

Depends on what I am feeding. Normal feeding I just leave it alone. If I am feeding cyclopeeze or something else really small I will put the Reefkeeper on a half hour standby so the small stuff doesn't go down the overflow, but the vortechs keep going. If I am spot feeding, the vortechs all go off until I'm done, with the return again on standby. When finished, the return gets re-cylced for another half hour standby along with the vortechs on feed mode for a half hour as well. Then back to full automatically on when the half hour times out.

Bruce Burnett · Mar 9, 2016

if I am just feeding the fish nothing is off if I am spot feeding or using aminos or hufa the wave pumps, return and skimmer are off 30 mins skimmer is off 2-3 hours

Jason edwards · Mar 9, 2016

I use a feeding dish for mandarins so pumps off, I use a 45 min feed timer on my apex. Ten minutes prior to main pumps kicking on my jebao kicks on to stir up any left overs for coral and column feeders.

thehammer1985 · Mar 9, 2016

Press 2 buttons one on my mp10 for feed mode and one on my ro dc pump and turns off for 15 min. They both pop back on and bean animal takes over from there

jt17 · Mar 9, 2016

Return pump stays on and mp40s in feed mode when I feed LRS. Auto feeder goes 3 times a day with new era algae pellets while all pumps are on.

Wy8tt_Earp · Mar 9, 2016

I use the apex app on my phone to put the tank in feed mode. This shuts off the return pump for 30 minutes and the skimmer for 35 minutes. All internal circulation remains on. By shutting off the return pump I figure more food remains in the tank and not the overflow.

JoeIII · Mar 9, 2016

I put one of two return pumps into feed mode, as I have the controller on the side of the tank and it is easy to access. This allows the wavemaker to distribute it around the tank but prevents going,down the overflow.

When target feeding or trying to get some food to sink for the mandarin, I will put the wavemaker in feed mode as well so food generally stays where I put it.

I don't turn off my second return because it does not have a feed mode. It is a pain to get down and reach it and I am afraid of forgetting it

s2nhle · Mar 9, 2016

I do not turn off my pumps when I feed my fish or corals.

d2mini · Mar 9, 2016

I used to have everything shut down when I fed the tank, now I let it disperse throughout the tank.
But if my current setup has too much food going into the overflow, then I'll shut down the return pump. But leave the powerheads going.

mfinn · Mar 9, 2016

I leave the pumps on. I make my fish chase down their food.

TCFletch · Mar 9, 2016

FarmerTy said:
I leave them on so the food gets scattered better. That way all my fish have a chance at some food flashing by. Otherwise, my dominant eaters will bogart the food.

Agree on this one.

MPSchenck · Mar 9, 2016

I voted other.

The Jebao RW-4 I was using was completely off for 10 minutes in feed mode. I left the return pumps on.
I just switched to a MP10QD and in feed more it runs very slowly. I still leave the return pumps on.

I haven't been turning my skimmer off when feeding phyto to corals but I'm about to start doing that.

TCFletch · Mar 9, 2016

With one hand I put thawed food in a large fish net and make them come get it right in the net. And with my other hand I feed my Gramma who doesn't like crowds, I feed him with a turkey baster in his little corner (I spoil him). I don't like the idea of turning power off and on causing wear and tear and possible electrocution.

rainydave · Mar 9, 2016

I turn off my return pump and the RW-8s. I leave two Koralia 1s on to give the food some motion.

Jonathan blackwood · Mar 9, 2016

revhtree said:
Some people like to leave their pumps ON when feeding to distribute the food to all the inhabitants of the tank including corals. Others turn the pumps off so that most of the food is for sure to be eaten.

What about you?

Please vote!

Amazing pic