bigfoot-daniel

I know this is a little premature, but I am going away for 3 weeks over Christmas and New Years. Does anyone have any advice for what I should do to make sure my tank is ok for these three weeks?

I have an 85 litre tank with an internal dual chamber Tetra Intec 600 filter, every 2 weeks I vacuum the gravel and change about 20-25litres of water. Then wash one chamber of the filter aswell as clean the impeller in the removed water. I use API Stress Coat to condition the new water and API Stress Zyme (weekly) to maintain a good biological filter. The lighting is controlled by a electronic timer that has a radio controlled time signal, so even if the power fails when it comes back on the time will be correct.

I also have an API liquid test kit to check my water parameters.

I feed TetraMin fish flakes twice a day from a Hydor auto feeder and some blood worms 2-3 times a week as a top up.

I know the feeding situation wont be a problem because with the current feeding regime from the auto feeder it will last well over 3 weeks with a full tank. However, the whole Family is going away at Christmas and there isnt really anyone I know who is "fish friendly" who could do any sort of maintainance. At a push I have a friend who has agreed to look in once or twice a week and check for any losses I may have suffered (which I hope is none).

So basically what I am asking is what should I do to prepare my tank and what steps should I take to maintain a safe quality of water for the 3 weeks I am away?

Jess

I have left my Discus for a week without feeding. I wasn't happy about it. But was afraid someone would overfeed and result in poor water quality which is way worse than being a little hungry. There were a few wild threads about "friends" caring for fish and. . . killing them in the process.
I wonder if you could back off the feeding to once a day or every other day to get around a water change?
I'm going to stay posted, very curious to see what people here will suggest.

pinkfloydpuffer

I'd make sure to do a large water change just before leaving and reduce the feeding to keep water quality higher. The thing I'd be most worried about is power failure while you're gone. If it's out too long it could be very bad for the fish, and if it comes back on, the filter may burn out from running without water in it. I'm not familiar with your type if filter though. I'd just make sure that my friend could come over and take care of your fish in case of a power outage.

bigfoot-daniel

Jess:
What youve described is exactly the reason that I now have an auto feeder. I often go away for the weekend to see friends. Even though I left instructions with my family to ONLY feed the same amout of flakes as you could fit on a 2p, I would still come back to a cloudy tank. So I then said to only feed that amount every other day - but it just doesnt seem to sink in that thats all they need. I think the only people that really understand how much a fish needs, is other fishkeepers themselves. Hence I invested in a Hydor auto feeder - I'd highly recommend one, especially if your tank has a feeding platform with hole built in.

pinkfloydpuffer:
Im hoping my filter wont suffer from a power outtage because its an internal submersed filter? Though you've worried me a little there as I switch it off and on without a second thought when im doing a water change etc.

Would it be safe to do say a 50% water change?

In terms of power outtage problems, we are lucky in that where I live we have few power outtages and when they do occur they last 2-3 hours at most. Heres how I figure it would go if there was a power outtage:

Lighting - controlled by digital timer that updates via time signal and stores the lighting program for upto 2 weeks on battery backup (made the mistake before of having a rotary timer that stopped when the power went off and restarted 3 hours later when the power came back on. Consequently my lights were on 3 hours later than they should have been, until 1am - oops!)

Aeration - has an anti siphon valve and is for decoration as much as real aeration - tank could survive without it in honesty.

Filtration - filter would start again once power was restored.

Auto Feeder - runs on batteries that last couple of months so unaffected by power outtage (plan to change batteries before leaving to ensure it continues to run fine).

Heating - my room has a stable temperature and my heater only really clicks on during the night. Although saying that I have never had this tank during December/January temperatures. During the last 3 hour power outtage, the temperature dropped less than a degree. Hopefully there wont be too much detriment there.

Jess

Thanks for the information. I looked up the Hydor auto feeder. I think I need one I have an automatic feeder that didn't work well for me. The food got sticky with moisture and wouldn't dispense and actually fouled the food. Also mine only has an option of feeding every 12 hours. But I think this could be a nifty solution to weekends away.
I would do a water change as pinkfloydpuffer suggests. I often do a 40% to 50% change anyway. My guides are the Rummynose. If they fade in color I've changed out too much.
Hope you figure out something for your Christmas vacation.
Jess

Fishies-for-me

I think daily water changes for a few days of about 30% to try to reduce nitrates as close to 0 as possiblebefore you go ... then when you come back the same...no huge water changes after just frequent 25-30% unless there is a problem....good luck

bigfoot-daniel

Jess:
The hydor one has a 1, 2 or 3 per day feeding regime, its a little annoying to get started with as it works on its own internal 24hours, so when you press start it will dispense its first feed. If you have it on 1 feed it will wait 24hours and dispense again. If you have it on 2 feeds it will dispense, then wait 8 hours and dispense the 2nd and then wait until 24hours from the first dispensing has passed, then the cycle starts again. I cant remember the timing for the the 3 feed phasing, but its something like two 6 hour gaps instead of a single 8hours. Once you have that sussed its a doddle. (I made the mistake of setting it on 2 feeds but starting it at 9pm when i got in from work, woke up to it clicking and turning at silly o'clock in the morning). Plus it has an air inlet for you to connect an air pump to. I have had mine sat on my tank for a good few weeks and there has been no spoilage at all. Well none visable atleast.

Thanks everyone for their input

I forgot to mention, but I have an API Nitra-Zorb pouch from when I had a major nitrates problem (80-100mg) that water changes werent helping with. Could I get my friend to toss this into the tank after a couple of weeks and hopefully drop the levels? It has an approximate 5 day working life and i think it can remove upto 6mg amonia, 10mg nitrite and 30mg nitrate. It worked brilliantly when i had it running in a spare filter i have, but im not sure my fish minder would be up for installing my spare filter into the tank. But the Nitra-Zorb pouch says it can be used like a tea bag in the tank. lol.

As you can probably tell Im very aprehensive about coming home to find a tank full of floaters

Jess

Thanks bigfoot-daniel : ) lots of great information for me.
The API Nitra-Zorb pouch sound like a great safety thing to fall back on and easy for your friend to drop it. I personally haven't used it. But let us know if you do after your extended vacation, would be wonderful to have another option.