Water changes and vacations

Hi all, I’m going on vacation for 11 nights, I’m not concerned about feeding as I will put the measured foods into tubs, however I am concerned about the water changes. I have one goldfish in a 30g tank and currently when I do a water change it’s cloudy again 2 days later so worried about my fish when I’m away. My goldfish also poops a lot but I have a fluval waste remover so I will have my mum remove as much poop as possible. Do you think he will be ok while I’m away, I’m thinking of cancelling my vacation. Thank you in advance.

 

The day before you leave, do a large water change.

Feed only half as often or half as much as usual while you are away. I leave my tanks for 2 weeks every summer during vacation. I do a 50% or larger WC before I leave and do another one when I get back.

Have your mom send you videos of your buddy while your away so you wont worry about it.

 

Just have your Mom feed him like every 3 days then he wont poop as much. He will be perfectly fine for a few days without food.

 

dont even worry about food lol, my ive got over 25 goldfish in my 850gal pond and temps get to 60F/15C during winter, the ponds at my holiday house so i only go there like 1 time a month, they just feed on algae, dead plants (and alive plants too) and mosquito, frogs, tadpoles....

 

If your water is cloudy after two days seems like other issues. What kind of filter do you have? Is tank cycled?

 

When I leave for 10-12 days I don't feed at all. The fish are usually fine. If I have anyone feed I have them feed very little. I don't do water changes when I am gone. I do one the day I leave and then the day I get back.

If your water is cloudy that quick you have an issue going on that likely isn't going to handle you going away very well.

 

Thank you so much for all of your replies, I use the Fluval U3 filter, I have been using the sponges and the carbons but I read that you don’t have to use the carbons if not medicating so I removed 1 ( didn’t want to remove both incase it started a mini cycle) I am due to change half of the biomax so I have bought some of the Fluval clean and clear cartridges which go in the same compartment as the biomax, has anybody used them? Should I put both carbons back in as I do have replacements? Im trying to get the tank as clear as possible before I go.

The day before you leave, do a large water change.

Feed only half as often or half as much as usual while you are away. I leave my tanks for 2 weeks every summer during vacation. I do a 50% or larger WC before I leave and do another one when I get back.

Have your mom send you videos of your buddy while your away so you wont worry about it.

Thank you, I have a web cam on him so I can watch him while I’m away

 

Is the biomax disintegrating? You don't need to change it if it's not.

 

Thank you so much for all of your replies, I use the Fluval U3 filter, I have been using the sponges and the carbons but I read that you don’t have to use the carbons if not medicating so I removed 1 ( didn’t want to remove both incase it started a mini cycle) I am due to change half of the biomax so I have bought some of the Fluval clean and clear cartridges which go in the same compartment as the biomax, has anybody used them? Should I put both carbons back in as I do have replacements? Im trying to get the tank as clear as possible before I go.

Thank you, I have a web cam on him so I can watch him while I’m away

You should never have to replace the biomax unless its falling apart. Filter companies want you to keep replacing things as that's the best way to keep getting your money. The only thing that ever HAS to be changed is carbon. Carbon doesn't have to be ran in tanks so the only time anything has to be replaced (if you're not running carbon) is when something is falling apart.

Replacing the filter media takes away the bulk of your beneficial bacteria colony.

 

When you say carbon do you mean the little black, pebbley type things that goes in the cartridge or the black sponge that fluval call a carbon sponge ?

If you have other sponges just take them both out and add another regular sponge in its place .

 

When you say carbon do you mean the little black, pebbley type things that goes in the cartridge or the black sponge that fluval call a carbon sponge ?

If you have other sponges just take them both out and add another regular sponge in its place .

It is the black sponge, so I took 1 out and didn’t replace with an additional sponge but I will, I thought taking this out may be why the tank was cloudy.

Is the biomax disintegrating? You don't need to change it if it's not.

It’s not disintegrating no just thought I had to change it every 6 months, thought this may be why the water was going cloudy so quickly. Is it worth putting the clean and clear cartridges in? Have you used them?

When you say carbon do you mean the little black, pebbley type things that goes in the cartridge or the black sponge that fluval call a carbon sponge ?

If you have other sponges just take them both out and add another regular sponge in its place .

Thank you I will do this.

 

The black sponges are fine to leave in too ! Even though they are called carbon I doubt they provide much difference other than just being a sponge… but now I’ve said it I’m going to check my answer. Yes that’s backwards but hey Ho

 

It is the black sponge, so I took 1 out and didn’t replace with an additional sponge but I will, I thought taking this out may be why the tank was cloudy.

It’s not disintegrating no just thought I had to change it every 6 months, thought this may be why the water was going cloudy so quickly. Is it worth putting the clean and clear cartridges in? Have you used them?

Thank you I will do this.

No I don't know what a clean and clear cartridge is. Sorry.

 

I believe these ones are not activated carbon. They are “carbon impregnated sponges” and are recommended to be changes every 2-4 weeks ! Nope. Absolutely not happening in my tank , I’ll tell you that much !

Now the question is in my head though I think I’ll email fluval for an actual definitive answer. They’ll still say change it 2-4 weeks but that’s not the question I want answering

edit. You have the white insert pads ( the clean and clear ones ?) not the black sponges I was mentioning. If you’re not removing meds take them out and replace with a normal sponge.

 

I believe these ones are not activated carbon. They are “carbon impregnated sponges” and are recommended to be changes every 2-4 weeks ! Nope. Absolutely not happening in my tank , I’ll tell you that much !

Now the question is in my head though I think I’ll email fluval for an actual definitive answer. They’ll still say change it 2-4 weeks but that’s not the question I want answering

edit. You have the white insert pads ( the clean and clear ones ?) not the black sponges I was mentioning. If you’re not removing meds take them out and replace with a normal sponge.

I have taken out both of the black carbons and replaced with sponge so now I have double sponge in each outer compartments and the biomax in the middle, I’ll see how that goes and I will only wash the sponges in the tank water when doing water changes until they start to break up. I am currently having to do a water change every week which is why I was concerned about leaving him for 11 nights. Thank you

No I don't know what a clean and clear cartridge is. Sorry.

Ok thank you, I just look at everything Fluval because that’s what my filter is and I just came across them.