Do You Turn Off Filter/power Head During Water Changes?

[mike_nofx]

I was just wondering if people turn their filters or power heads off during a water change?

Can the bacteria die in the time it takes to change water? as some water changes take a while, with getting the new water to correct temperature and all.

I only have a small tank and i just turn the spray nozzle/spout towards the glass so it doesnt spray everywhere.... is this ok.

I am picking up my new 75gal tank soon so i wanted to know how to properly change water without destroying bacteria and all.

Thanks

 

[ghent_3rd]

I used to turn mine off in 50 litre tank and never had any problems at all. I think I will probably turn one of my two filters off in my new tank when I do water change.

I don't think bacteria can die that quickly, what happens when you have to take them out to clean them in tank water, they muxt survive somehow.

 

[karen84]

yeah i always turn them off when im doin a water change

 

[Bloo]

Yep absolutely everything gets turned off. Sometime up to an hour or so - depends how long I fiddle with my plants.
As long as the filter media stays submerged / wet, it should be fine

 

[piatotsini]

I don't, only because the intake tube is still below water level even after taking 30% of the water out. It also helps filter out the floating debris that I haven't caught while I'm vacuuming the gravel, so...

 

[Bloo]

I don't, only because the intake tube is still below water level even after taking 30% of the water out.

Mine's just an inch off the gravel - so most certainly still below water level. No probs there

 

[morgan]

Hi, I turn it all off except the lights (Juwel lights are waterproof) so I can see what I'm doing. When I first got my big tank it took me 1 hour to do the water change and maintenance, I have got it down to 1/2 hour now. I had a 6 hour powercut and the filter bacteria was ok. It's really not worth risking an electric shock IMO. I have enough shocks from my own static electricity! I handed my husband a bowl with a metal trim and the static from me went round the trim and into his hand. Ouch!

 

[dwarfgourami]

Just done my 3 tanks- I turn it off, too. Though I prepare the clean water before I get started and bring the buckets into the room, just like to have it a bit organised so I don't feel stressed.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Powerheads get turned off, sponge filters when pulled to clean leave nothing to worry about.
 
Power filters I remove the intake tube as I prefilter them all and rinse out the prefilter weekly. So I leave them running but not circulating.
 
Canisters I use have shutofs. so when I remove the intake prefilter I then use the cutoff. So I leave them running but not circulating.

 

[attibones]

I turn off everything but air pumps and lights. Need to be able to see and I like having the air stones running in case the water change takes longer than usual.

 

[thelaw]

I turn off everything but air pumps and lights. Need to be able to see and I like having the air stones running in case the water change takes longer than usual.

i do it ever time i do a water change on my jaguar cichlids tank its fine and if you dont it can break you filter because of low water level i hope this helped best of luck to you. 

 

[Alasse]

Heaters off. Internal filters off. HOBs & Canisters, as long as intake is still going to be under water i leave it running

 

[GuppyGirl20]

I have a little 5 gallon tank and I leave everything plugged in but that's just me *shrug*

 

[attibones]

I turn off everything but air pumps and lights. Need to be able to see and I like having the air stones running in case the water change takes longer than usual.

i do it ever time i do a water change on my jaguar cichlids tank its fine and if you dont it can break you filter because of low water level i hope this helped best of luck to you.

Did you mean to quote someone else? As I've said, I turn off everything but my O2 pumps and my lights. The air stones certainly don't break.

 

[TallTree01]

I know I should, but I don't turn anything off.