Anaerobic bacteria - extra internal filter left off

[David F]

I have a tank with an UGF and an internal sponge filter with an air-hose
venturi.(for redundancy, the tank is not overstocked)

Sometimes I like to turn off the sponge filter to have quieter and
stiller water during the day.

It occurred to me that if either internal filter is turned off, then
harmful anaerobic bacteria may grow in the stagnant filter media (gravel
or sponge) at the expense of the beneficial nitrogen-cycling bacteria.

Is this correct and do you think that it is ever safe to turn off a
redundant(extra) internal filter?

[Zebulon]

"David F" > wrote in message
...
>I have a tank with an UGF and an internal sponge filter with an air-hose
>venturi.(for redundancy, the tank is not overstocked)
>
> Sometimes I like to turn off the sponge filter to have quieter and stiller
> water during the day.
>
> It occurred to me that if either internal filter is turned off, then
> harmful anaerobic bacteria may grow in the stagnant filter media (gravel
> or sponge) at the expense of the beneficial nitrogen-cycling bacteria.
>
> Is this correct and do you think that it is ever safe to turn off a
> redundant(extra) internal filter?
==============================
Speaking only for myself and what works for me,.... I never turn them off in
fear of harmful foul smelling bacteria growing in the media.
--
ZB....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>

[Gill Passman]

David F wrote:
> I have a tank with an UGF and an internal sponge filter with an air-hose
> venturi.(for redundancy, the tank is not overstocked)
>
> Sometimes I like to turn off the sponge filter to have quieter and
> stiller water during the day.
>
> It occurred to me that if either internal filter is turned off, then
> harmful anaerobic bacteria may grow in the stagnant filter media (gravel
> or sponge) at the expense of the beneficial nitrogen-cycling bacteria.
>
> Is this correct and do you think that it is ever safe to turn off a
> redundant(extra) internal filter?

The problem IIRC is more with turning off external filters for a long
period of time (hours) and that you could get away with turning off your
internal for a short period of time. The difference being that one is
actually in the water but with an external being turned off the water in
the chamber can stagnate....I've actually had my externals off for
around 10 hours during a power outage and they have not been a problem
when restarting (but I wouldn't recommend that)....the main PITA with
them is getting the older ones restarted (have to manually prime them)....

As for whether it is safe to ever turn one off - of course it
is.....afterall you need to turn them off to do maintenance work.....

So I would reckon you should be OK if you only turn it off for a short
period of time - and remember to turn it back on again....if you really
want to err on the cautious side empty the cannister and rinse the
sponges in tank water before turning it back on...

Gill

[carlrs]

Gill Passman wrote:
> David F wrote:
> > I have a tank with an UGF and an internal sponge filter with an air-hose
> > venturi.(for redundancy, the tank is not overstocked)
> >
> > Sometimes I like to turn off the sponge filter to have quieter and
> > stiller water during the day.
> >
> > It occurred to me that if either internal filter is turned off, then
> > harmful anaerobic bacteria may grow in the stagnant filter media (gravel
> > or sponge) at the expense of the beneficial nitrogen-cycling bacteria.
> >
> > Is this correct and do you think that it is ever safe to turn off a
> > redundant(extra) internal filter?
>
> The problem IIRC is more with turning off external filters for a long
> period of time (hours) and that you could get away with turning off your
> internal for a short period of time. The difference being that one is
> actually in the water but with an external being turned off the water in
> the chamber can stagnate....I've actually had my externals off for
> around 10 hours during a power outage and they have not been a problem
> when restarting (but I wouldn't recommend that)....the main PITA with
> them is getting the older ones restarted (have to manually prime them)....
>
> As for whether it is safe to ever turn one off - of course it
> is.....afterall you need to turn them off to do maintenance work.....
>
> So I would reckon you should be OK if you only turn it off for a short
> period of time - and remember to turn it back on again....if you really
> want to err on the cautious side empty the cannister and rinse the
> sponges in tank water before turning it back on...
>
> Gill

I would not recommend turning off any submerged filter or canister
filter for more than 2 hours. I have seen stress when filtration is
turned off for more than two hours. Admittedly you are only turning off
your internal filter while leaving the other operating, but what I have
observed that the filtration starts to loose aerobic bacteria around
this time, while when moving fish in large containers (without
filters), the stress does not start for a 4 hours (without aeration),
which tells me that part of the stress was caused by bio bacterial die
off.
You probably would not stress the fish if kept off for several hours,
but you will probably begin destroy bio bacterial colonies in your
internal filter.

My thought is to take the air diffuser out of the internal filter
during the day so as to quiet it down and lower turbulence.

Carl

[swarvegorilla]

"David F" > wrote in message
...
>I have a tank with an UGF and an internal sponge filter with an air-hose
>venturi.(for redundancy, the tank is not overstocked)
>
> Sometimes I like to turn off the sponge filter to have quieter and stiller
> water during the day.
>
> It occurred to me that if either internal filter is turned off, then
> harmful anaerobic bacteria may grow in the stagnant filter media (gravel
> or sponge) at the expense of the beneficial nitrogen-cycling bacteria.
>
> Is this correct and do you think that it is ever safe to turn off a
> redundant(extra) internal filter?


Take the stupid air venturi off (or tie not in hose to silence it)
those things are noisy and pretty much useless
just turn the internal sponge filter so it disturbs the water surface