Shutting off return for Feeding?

[VicD81]

Will shutting off my return pump for 30 min everyday for feeding damage it in the long run? I've got a Blueline 55HD.

 

[AZDesertRat]

No but there really is no reason to shut it off unless you are target feeding a stubborn coral. In 30 years of reefkeeping I have never shut a pump off during feeding.

 

[frankm88]

I shut off my return here and there when i feed...i noticed if i give the food a chance to sink to the bottom and my serpent star and CUC go wild...i don't think its necessary but definitely wont hurt your pump and is fun to watch!

 

[BlueDartReefer]

Especially for 30 minutes. When I'm hand feeding LPS, I do hit the feed mode on the MP60's.

 

[VicD81]

Cool. I haven't finished my build but most likely I was going to do it sporadically to feed corals. Good to know I should have no issues with it.

 

[Squishie89]

I turn off my return and my powerheads when I feed.

 

[Singlefin]

I shut off the returns, powerheads and skimmer. Keeps the food from going down the drain and getting stuck in the filter socks.

 

[Bad Company]

I put my return and other items on a switched circuit for just that reason:

 

[EllisJuan]

I have my return, skimmer, and reactor on a seperate switch for the same reason also. I probably turn it off about 75% of the time I am feeding. It gives me a chance to check the state of my filter sock and empty my skimmer if I need to.

 

[Chris Aldrich]

I leave my return pump on during feeding, but I do put the wavemaker in feed mode.

 

[VicD81]

The way I "want to do it" is hit the feed mode on the Apex and have everything shut off. After 10min have the mp40s come on in feed mode for another 10 and then resume regular program, and after the 30 min have the return pump and skimmer back on line. Haven't looked at the programming so I'm not sure if it's possible.

 

[Sean minor]

I leave everything wide open, but i dont target feed anything

 

[Squishie89]

The way I "want to do it" is hit the feed mode on the Apex and have everything shut off. After 10min have the mp40s come on in feed mode for another 10 and then resume regular program, and after the 30 min have the return pump and skimmer back on line. Haven't looked at the programming so I'm not sure if it's possible.

I do almost that with my ReefAngel controller. I put into feed mode and it turns off the powerheads, return and skimmer. After 15 minutes (or I can turn it off manually) it restarts the PH's and the return, I have the skimmer on a 1 hour delay after feeding so it does not suck up all the food.