Caring for Cichlid While On Holidays

Hi all, going on holidays for a month in November for the first time since I got my new tank + Cichlid. What is the best way to make sure I don’t come back to dead fish? I will most likely have a pet sitter look after the fish while away but probably only 2-3 days per week to feed the fish and possibly do a water change.

1. How long can I stretch out water changes + tank clean (vacuum substrate)?
2. How many days can I stretch out feeding for the fish without under feeding?
3. Any other tips for this scenario?

I have 1 Convict Cichlid who is my baby and 1 Bristlenose catfish. The tank is planted with sand substrate.

 

My own approach is to not feed them at all if I am away for up to 2 weeks. If I was away for a month I would probably get someone in to feed them once or twice a week at most. With each feed portioned out so they don’t overfeed. It should be fine for a month without water changes given limited food.

Whenever someone posts on here about coming home to disaster after vacation it’s never because the fish have starved to death but because whoever was looking after them has overfed, crashed the cycle or done something wrong during maintenance etc. Or their automatic feeder has malfunctioned and overdosed.

 

Prepared portions is important with someone else feeding them. I put each portion in a tiny envelope and instruct the person to empty one envelope each visit. Twice a week is more than enough and I wouldn't ask them to do water changes.

I trust autofeeders more than other people but it is nearly impossible not to overfeed with only two fish.

 

I left my convict for a month once. I came back to zero issues.

What I did was get an auto-feeder to feed the fish, and that fed the fish everyday. I had a potato soaking up excess nutrients.

I think that should work for you too, since you also have plants.

Really, my only concern is to make sure your water level does not drop too low after a month to expose your heater or affect the filter. You should be able to just angle your heater to prevent it being exposed. And if I am not mistaken, you have a HOB? That should be fine too.

What I'd recommend is to get the auto-feeder, and mimic a month away asap. That means no water changes, no nothing. You can test your parameters as that goes on. If everything is okay for the month, then you know you can replicate the same thing for when you go away in November and have peace of mind.

 

If significant evaporation is a possibility, I would worry about a HOB filter. If water level goes down, it will stop circulating water (at least the ones I have do that). Leaving a sponge filter in the tank would be a safe option (or backup).