How Long Can A Tank Go With Out A Filter (Studying For An Exam)

[kevingrods]

Hey everyone.  I am studying for my real estate license and all my tanks are in my office.  Can i turn off the filters and the pumps for air for a few hours at a time or will that hurt the fish?  Would it be OK to leave them off for 5 or 6 hours at a clip then turn them back on in the evening?  I can't handle all the noise when I am studying.  Please advise.
 
Kevin

 

[ech0o]

Lol what kind of equipment are you running that makes so much noise?   I have never found the need to turn my filters off, occasionally I will turn the bubbles off because the compressor makes a bit of noise, but all of my filters are dead silent.

I'd say try not to leave them off for more than a couple hours at a time

 

[Meeresstille]

If it is a waterfall-type filter you can raise the water levels to reduce the splash of the water, which will then reduce the noise. Turning the filters off for a few hours should be OK, as long as you keep the filter media wet. I think you could view it like a power-outage so it's probably a good idea to check your levels afterwards to ensure you're not causing any mini-cycles.

 

[betta fish]

You can turn off the air pumps no problem but I wouldn't turn off the filters, they are designed to be run 24 hours and what if you forget to turn them back on may be a catastrophe! my guessing is the air pumps are the one's making most of the noise anyway

 

[kevingrods]

i see.  yeh i think im just going to raise the water levels and turn off the pumps.  thanks for all the advice.  last thing i want to do is have to recycle the tanks.
 
kevin

 

[ech0o]

OHHHH the splashing i'm sorry lol, I understand now sometimes I am dense.  I keep my tanks all full to the lip of the filter so I never hear that splashing sound.   Sounds like a good plan though!