I am working on an apache2 reverse proxy vhost. When the server behind apache is down, the first request to apache shows the error page of course.

But at subsequent requests it seems apache delays for some time before asking the backend server again. During all this time (which is short but in development I don't want a delay at all) only the apache error page is shown to the browser, although the backend server is already up.

Where is this setting in apache, what is this behaviour, and how can I set the delay time to zero?

Edit: I am not trying to change the timeout for a single request. I want to change the blocking time. It is my experience that apache blocks further requests for a certain time before asking a backend server again that has failed once.

Edit2: This is what apache delivers:

Service Temporarily Unavailable

The server is temporarily unable to service your request due to maintenance downtime or capacity problems. Please try again later.

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Apache/2.2.8 (Ubuntu) PHP/5.2.4-2ubuntu5.7 with Suhosin-Patch proxy_html/3.0.0 Server at localhost Port 80

After hitting Ctrl-R in firefox for 60 seconds the page finally appears.