Water Pump...Timer or No Timer

kleinhanz · #1 (**permalink**) 12-05-2005, 07:23 AM

I have an 18gal tall tank with a water feature. With all my lights on timers I was wondering if I should also put the water pump on the timer so it will turn off at night.

The frogs are fine with it running all night (it is more of a dripwall than a river) and I do not mind the sound, so my question is more directed at which option will give me the most life out of my pump. Would turning the pump on-and-off each day be more harful than letting it run 24hrs a day?

Also, my pump is not accessable (yep, live and learn) so once it goes out that's it. No more water feature. And I have no idea of the make/model of the pump is because in all honesty, the tank was given to me as-is.

Thanks in Advance!

Auhsoj27 · #2 (**permalink**) 12-05-2005, 07:44 AM

My pump sometimes has trouble getting back up to full speed after I turn it off for a period of time. I think what happens is silt other fine debris settle choke up the intake. As long as it is flowing, they pass right on through. Whenever it chokes up, all I have to to is put a tube down the outlet of the pump and blow through it. That always disrupts whatever is choking it and things flow freely again.

In short, the pump runs best and with no trouble when I leave it on.

kleinhanz · #3 (**permalink**) 12-05-2005, 07:20 PM

Thanks!! That is what I was hoping to hear. I never thought about the resettling of debris, makes sense.

Thanks Again!

rozdaboff · #4 (**permalink**) 12-05-2005, 08:57 PM

My experiences have been the opposite (before I lost all patience with water features within my vivs). When the pump would turn off each evening, the column of water still within the tubing would fall back down, and serve to flush the pump - removing any built up silt or debris. I did experience a problem with returning to full flow every morning in one tank, but that was because the height I was trying to move the water was on the edge of the smaller pumps capacity.

kyle1745 · #5 (**permalink**) 12-06-2005, 02:27 AM

Its all about testing, and after testing both the pumps I have running I only run them with the lights.

kleinhanz · #6 (**permalink**) 12-06-2005, 08:11 AM

Thanks everyone. So it sounds like one size does not fit all. It depends on the pump, the water column it has to push, the amount of sediment you may have, ect, ect

I guess I will have to see what works best for my set-up. I know when my pump first turns on it is very noisy until it fills with water and starts to circulate (which is probably normal). I just wonder it's harder on the pump starting up each day, or let the bugger run until she dies. I think I will run it for now and see if it seems "tired" over time.........

Dendro Dave · #7 (**permalink**) 12-06-2005, 10:49 AM

i cant remember the name, but he pumps that you are supposed to use with the exoterra waterfalls tend to burn out on me if i dont put them on timers...they last alot longer if they get a couple breaks a day.

defaced · #8 (**permalink**) 12-17-2005, 09:07 AM

Quote:

I just wonder it's harder on the pump starting up each day

Nope. All your pump is made of is a coil of wire with a magnet in it. It makes no difference if the magnet is spinning or not, the current though the coil is the same.

Edit: after thinking about it some more, that's not entirely true. I'll word it this way: starting and stoping is not a problem, but if the impeller is stopped that could be a problem, but only if the wire in your pump heats up too much because of induction... This is making the assumption that your pump is running on AC current. If you had a DC impeller pump then my first statement would be true.