Can You Turn a Fish Tank Filter Off at Night?

Well, are you thinking of finally bringing your dream pet home?

If you want to a proud owner of a fish or if I may say, a shoal of fish, then you got to be ready to purchase a filter.

The work of the filter is basically; to purify your water by removing any toxins that may build up such as nitrates or ammonia, besides cleaning the water debris.

The reason for doing this is to keep your new “friend” safe and in perfect shape health-wise.

With a filter tank, you can guarantee the security of your shoal by turning off the filter and removing them to replace the water with a cleaner one.

But now, is it appropriate to do this, is it and are there any consequences when such an action is taken?

Mistakes Made When Turning Off Fish Tank Filter

There is always something new to learn after having kept fish for a long time.

However, a blunder may be made at some point because of maybe ignorance or “too much knowledge”.

Several aquarists may be caught up vis-à-vis challenges that may need to look into.

But at the same time, few individuals are doomed, making their life much more difficult by ignoring simple measures for rectification.

Below are breakdowns of few gaffs that fish keepers are prone to;

· Having Dirty Pipes

Having unclean pipes tend to develop biofilm; hence, the action of off or on for maintenance will eventually slacken it.

Clean pipes, however, will form algae in the canals hence trapping mulm. And in the end, the build-ups will impair the flow of water. It is, therefore, essential to address the case before it’s too late.

· Not Having Enough Shoals

It is advisable to have different kinds of fish to allow interactions among the fish.

This resonates with the fact that some fish are prone to do badly by constant nervousness.

Fish shoaling is, therefore, gregarious hence their entire cycle of life will depend on their interaction amongst themselves.

· Washing Foams in a Water Tap

The most prevalent victims of this are the newbie in fish keeping.

The washing of filter under the tap is a waste time of time since the form posses some bacteria that are of help because they sustain the fish. It keeps them alive as they convert into harmful wastes. It

The way should, therefore, be occasionally washed in tank water and never be exposed to anything that may end up disinfecting it.

· Sucking off the Hose Pipes

Can I surprise you? A simple action of sucking the pipes to start siphons automatically leads to an illness!

You are now wondering how to start the siphon.

Well, you may consider purchasing gravel cleaner that has no non-return valve.

With your device ready on your hand, a simple up and down bounce and the water will gush out.

Alternatively, you may as well decide to get a powered battery model to make the water flow out.

Therefore, I implore you, do not be the ugly person that blames it on the mirror, do not suck the end of the pipe!

There are, however, also these 3-minute mistakes which many aquarium owners are in most cases ignorant of, though they also have to be taken with utmost weight to prevent endangering of the fish;

1. Not having scheduled time for the maintenance of the aquarium.
2. We are introducing fish to the aquarium in an incorrect way.
3. The lack of knowledge or making out the nitrogen cycle.

Why Should I Turn Off Fish Tank Filter?

Circumstances may, however, arise where there is the need to turn off the fish tank filter

1. There may be scenarios where the tank need urgent wash-up, the urgency can occur as a result of ;

• Too much fish in the container- The fish may increase in number hence raising the need to either look for a larger filter tank or any other solution that will prevent the demise of the fish.

• Excess dirt in the tank

A case whereby there are unimportant dirt particles in the tank may raise the urge to do a thorough cleaning.

And this can be achieved through the process of filtration.

2. The filter may all of a sudden halt pumping.

This problem can be experienced in a case where are blockages in the pipe, and the solution for is all about the article.

3. Aquarium filter noise

The filter can as well become too noisy to bear.

The gurgling noise may increase because of the low water level that causes an effect of the waterfall, thus increasing the noise.

This kind of noise can be reduced especially, with some filters that contain an adjustment knob that allows the change at which water is flowing.

4. Other Circumstances

Many unexpected occurrences may take place, causing the filter tank to go off.

For instance, the loss of power may suddenly truncate the flow of water and tamper with the smooth running of the tank.

The Consequences of Turning off the Filter Tank

• The death of fish

It is not guaranteed that the fish will immediately succumb to the turning off of the filter.

The death of fish may, however, take place when you occasionally turn the filter off.

Therefore, the habit of turning the filter each night puts the microbe colonies and the fish at risk.

The reason for this is that work of the filters doesn’t only remove the waste from the tank, but they also offer essential aeration.

So, an occasional removal of the filter brings about the tanks suffering.

• “suffering” of the water

In a case where there is an occasional turning off and one of the filter, some algae blooms, snail outbreak and cloudy water will show up.

• Temperature Change

There is an importance of maintaining the quality of water plus the ideal aquarium temperature.

This gives the fish a good time since there is no interference with their environment whatsoever.

Therefore, there is always a transition in temperature when the fish filter is turned off.

Is It Okay to Turn Off the Air Pump at night?

One reason or the other may bring the temptation of turning off the filter tank.

For instance, too much noise that is constant may end up becoming a nuisance, or even the worry of paying too much electricity bill.

However, the need to turn the air pump off at night may help in dissolving oxygen for the fish to breathe.

The question of “is it a good thing to turn off the fish filter at night,” has pestered many but they end up with no accurate answer.

The answer to that question may depend as you’ll find that some tanks are integrated with filters, unlike others that are separate. That thus becomes the deciding factor over anything new that may arise.

• The Air Pump Integrated With Filter.

This is a little bit an offside story since one requires an air pump that leans on the filtration unit to function effectively.

The most appropriate case is when the air pump and the filter are connected at the same time, running the same source of power that automatically can never turn off the pump.

• The Filter Separate from the Pump

In a case where there are proper ‘aged’ pump that is separate from the filtration unit. It is at this point that allows you to turn the filter for close to some few hours.

The turning off is just okay provided the filter is still functioning with the right of water per hour.

When the air pump is turned off at night, the filtration unit in itself is capable of providing enough dissolved oxygen for the water.

So, all this means that it’s possible to turn off the filter tank at night.

Factors to Consider When Turning off the Fish Tank

Here are few considerations to be taken before the night turn off;

· Plants size inside the tank

In cases where the plants are enormous, they may take too much oxygen leaving the fish with less or no oxygen at all.

That can expose both fish and in danger.

· Agitation of water and the filtration unit

A submerged filter may not produce too much oxygen; however, the filtration unit in the likes of HOB fill will surge in enough oxygen inside the water as it drives away clean water into the tank.

With the acquisition of such filters, then you may turn off the pump at night,

· The Size and Amount of Fish inside the Tank

This is simple but important math, in that; the more fish you posses equal the number of gills that are sucking out the water.

Likewise, the bigger the fish, the more oxygen they use up.

Wrap-Up

Owing to the weight of the need to turn the fish tank filter off, it’s possible to turn it off at night, albeit under certain circumstances and considerations.

So, weather filter running or not; there ought to be enough dissolved oxygen in the water for the survival of the fish overnight.