What to do when going on holiday?

I'm going on holiday next Monday and coming back Friday. I dont have anyone to come and feed the fish. I was wondering whether I could put a holiday feeding block in both my tanks and they would be fine? I have a variety of fish but if I fed them on the Sunday then could they survive until the Friday? I also have live plants and I know not to keep the lights on and I don't have a timer so is it OK if I kept the lights of the entire time? My large tank is 125l and has 2 pearl gourami, 6 harlequin rasbora, 6 black neons and a honey gourami. My other tank is 60l and has 5 cherry barbs, 9 neon tetra, 2 endler guppies and 5 corydoras (in there until I get back from my holiday then will be going in the larger tank).

 

Don't have a ton of experience with the food part. I have seen people using automatic feeders, but not sure how they work or if they are the best.

For the lighting don't run them the entire time. The fish will be really stressed and you will come back to a tank covered in algae. I would go to Fred Meyers or Walmart and just pickup a cheap timer. Nothing fancy is needed I use $5 timers for both of my planted tanks and if works great. Plus, when you come back from vacation you won't have to worry about turning the lights on and off.

 

Just don’t feed them and leave the lights off. They will be fine. Plants might suffer a bit but they’ll bounce back. Preferably get a light timer from lowes or home depot but if you really can’t lights off is better.

 

Just don't feed, do not put the blocks in your tank they're terrible for them

 

Just don’t feed them and leave the lights off. They will be fine. Plants might suffer a bit but they’ll bounce back. Preferably get a light timer from lowes or home depot but if you really can’t lights off is better.

Just don't feed, do not put the blocks in your tank they're terrible for them

I thought the blocks are good for them. Why not? I doubt my fish will survive till I get home.

Don't have a ton of experience with the food part. I have seen people using automatic feeders, but not sure how they work or if they are the best.

For the lighting don't run them the entire time. The fish will be really stressed and you will come back to a tank covered in algae. I would go to Fred Meyers or Walmart and just pickup a cheap timer. Nothing fancy is needed I use $5 timers for both of my planted tanks and if works great. Plus, when you come back from vacation you won't have to worry about turning the lights on and off.

I'm in the UK and dont have Walmart. Don't know where to look for a timer and dont have time to order one. I also don't trust it to work.

 

How long are you going to be gone? I go for 14 days sometimes without feeding my fish and they're perfectly fine

 

How long are you going to be gone? I go for 14 days sometimes without feeding my fish and they're perfectly fine

4-5 days.

 

4-5 days.

Then no I wouldn't worry. The feeder blocks are terrible for your water quality and cause way more harm than good. The only time I worry about feeding when I'm gone is when I have baby fish.

 

Then no I wouldn't worry. The feeder blocks are terrible for your water quality and cause way more harm than good. The only time I worry about feeding when I'm gone is when I have baby fish.

I honestly thought the fish would need food for the time I'm gone.

 

Nope, they’ll be completely fine.

 

if you're worried about not feedin them you can always use one of these. i have one .i barely use it but i had to be out of town for like a week and it worked fine

Eheim Everyday Fish Feeder Food Dispenser - Chewy.com

 

Also, if you’re worried about the lights, you could look into a timer. I got one while I was on vacation and use it still while I’m at home. It’s good for keeping a consistent schedule to reduce algae.

 

I thought the blocks are good for them. Why not? I doubt my fish will survive till I get home.

I've never used feeding blocks, but I've heard many horror stories about them fouling the water while someone's on vacation.

I've left my entire fish room without feeding for a week or more when I've been gone, and the fish have always been fine when I got back. Fish can go weeks without food. What they can't survive is an ammonia spike, which you're flirting with if you put in a feeder block.

Fish graze on algae and microorganisms in addition to what you're feeding them.

I agree with the advice to turn off the lights, go on your trip, and don't worry about it. By far the biggest risk is an ammonia spike, which overfeeding will cause. Turning off the light will slow their metabolism. Some people dump in a bunch of extra food just before they leave, it rots, the ammonia spikes, and dead fish. Or someone steps in to feed, they overfeed, then an ammonia spike. If you're worried about your fish starving, you're worrying about something that won't happen and setting it up to overfeed.

 

For 4 or 5 days the fish will be FINE. Im the Fishlore pariah that has used feeding blocks on many occasions with no issues. Sometimes we go for like 14 days and I have no one to feed for me. I have never had a issue when you do a big water change before you leave and one when you get home. I have a 55g though it depends what size your tank is too. My water is never even cloudy when I get home.

 

Also, if you’re worried about the lights, you could look into a timer. I got one while I was on vacation and use it still while I’m at home. It’s good for keeping a consistent schedule to reduce algae.

I don't have time to get a timer so I'm just going to leave them off.

For 4 or 5 days the fish will be FINE. Im the Fishlore pariah that has used feeding blocks on many occasions with no issues. Sometimes we go for like 14 days and I have no one to feed for me. I have never had a issue when you do a big water change before you leave and one when you get home. I have a 55g though it depends what size your tank is too. My water is never even cloudy when I get home.

My tank is 125l.

I've never used feeding blocks, but I've heard many horror stories about them fouling the water while someone's on vacation.

I've left my entire fish room without feeding for a week or more when I've been gone, and the fish have always been fine when I got back. Fish can go weeks without food. What they can't survive is an ammonia spike, which you're flirting with if you put in a feeder block.

Fish graze on algae and microorganisms in addition to what you're feeding them.

I agree with the advice to turn off the lights, go on your trip, and don't worry about it. By far the biggest risk is an ammonia spike, which overfeeding will cause. Turning off the light will slow their metabolism. Some people dump in a bunch of extra food just before they leave, it rots, the ammonia spikes, and dead fish. Or someone steps in to feed, they overfeed, then an ammonia spike. If you're worried about your fish starving, you're worrying about something that won't happen and setting it up to overfeed.

That's something I defiently want to avoid. Thanks for the advice.

 

You can get light timers at literally any larger hardware store. Only like $10. 100% worth the cost. I know you said your don’t trust them to work, but they do. I use a few kinds, one of the standard ones, and on most of my tanks i use smart outlets. You may also be able to find those In store. They were actually cheaper (for a pack of 4) then buying 4 normal light timers and I can check on my phone that they did all turn off and on. It’s just another way to do timers on lights. It’s so worth it to wake up in the morning and already have my tank lights on and ready.

I will also be away from home in like a day and I do have someone to feed normally since their home anyways, but if I didn’t, they would still be ok for a week. But since I have light timers I don’t have to worry about all the pricy plants in my tanks dyeing or an algae explosion.

 

I agree with all the people that say it's fine to leave them unfed.
A big waterchange and a good feeding the day before you leave and they'll be totally fine.

My tank is 125l.

I got an 80l tank and I do waterchanges once a week. Sunday to sunday. That's longer than you are away. They will definitely be fine.

 

You can get light timers at literally any larger hardware store. Only like $10. 100% worth the cost. I know you said your don’t trust them to work, but they do. I use a few kinds, one of the standard ones, and on most of my tanks i use smart outlets. You may also be able to find those In store. They were actually cheaper (for a pack of 4) then buying 4 normal light timers and I can check on my phone that they did all turn off and on. It’s just another way to do timers on lights. It’s so worth it to wake up in the morning and already have my tank lights on and ready.

I will also be away from home in like a day and I do have someone to feed normally since their home anyways, but if I didn’t, they would still be ok for a week. But since I have light timers I don’t have to worry about all the pricy plants in my tanks dyeing or an algae explosion.

I don't have time to get a timer. I think I'll just leave the lights of but will get one when I get back.

I agree with all the people that say it's fine to leave them unfed.
A big waterchange and a good feeding the day before you leave and they'll be totally fine.



I got an 80l tank and I do waterchanges once a week. Sunday to sunday. That's longer than you are away. They will definitely be fine.

I'll do a big waterchange and feeding.

 

I don't have time to get a timer. I think I'll just leave the lights of but will get one when I get back.

Can't imagine how you don't have the time, could also ask friends to bring one along when going shopping, but yeah, your thing.
Make sure the room is not completely dark. Many plants can work with a few days of darkness but after 5 days there might be some melting or loss in chlorophyll and it will take the plants to rebounce from that. The fish will also appreciate at least a sense of day/night. Also remember to turn off CO2 in case you have that.

 

Can't imagine how you don't have the time, could also ask friends to bring one along when going shopping, but yeah, your thing.
Make sure the room is not completely dark. Many plants can work with a few days of darkness but after 5 days there might be some melting or loss in chlorophyll and it will take the plants to rebounce from that. The fish will also appreciate at least a sense of day/night. Also remember to turn off CO2 in case you have that.

OK. There will be some light. I'll try and get it.

 

You can get light timers at literally any larger hardware store. Only like $10. 100% worth the cost. I know you said your don’t trust them to work, but they do. I use a few kinds, one of the standard ones, and on most of my tanks i use smart outlets. You may also be able to find those In store. They were actually cheaper (for a pack of 4) then buying 4 normal light timers and I can check on my phone that they did all turn off and on. It’s just another way to do timers on lights. It’s so worth it to wake up in the morning and already have my tank lights on and ready.

I will also be away from home in like a day and I do have someone to feed normally since their home anyways, but if I didn’t, they would still be ok for a week. But since I have light timers I don’t have to worry about all the pricy plants in my tanks dyeing or an algae explosion.

Can you give me a link for the smart timer you are talking about? I would like to get something like this.

 

Don't have a ton of experience with the food part. I have seen people using automatic feeders, but not sure how they work or if they are the best.

For the lighting don't run them the entire time. The fish will be really stressed and you will come back to a tank covered in algae. I would go to Fred Meyers or Walmart and just pickup a cheap timer. Nothing fancy is needed I use $5 timers for both of my planted tanks and if works great. Plus, when you come back from vacation you won't have to worry about turning the lights on and off.

Where'd you get one's for $5?

 

I just got home from a 6 day holiday fish were fine. Also—do not feed them a lot before you go, this won’t help them at all. Start feeding them less as you get closer to leaving. I was nervous about this as well but I listened to people on this forum and it worked out well.

as far as the wall timers, $5 for analog, $10 for digital, $15 for a wifi smart plug. available at either amazon or hardware stores. I know you’re not in the States and strapped on time but just for reference when you get home.

Where'd you get one's for $5?

Walmart

Can you give me a link for the smart timer you are talking about? I would like to get something like this.

Kasa Smart Plug by TP-Link,Smart... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B8W2KHZ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

Thank you!

 

I just got home from a 6 day holiday fish were fine. Also—do not feed them a lot before you go, this won’t help them at all. Start feeding them less as you get closer to leaving. I was nervous about this as well but I listened to people on this forum and it worked out well.

as far as the wall timers, $5 for analog, $10 for digital, $15 for a wifi smart plug. available at either amazon or hardware stores. I know you’re not in the States and strapped on time but just for reference when you get home.




Walmart


Kasa Smart Plug by TP-Link,Smart... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B8W2KHZ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

So what am I supposed to search up?

 

So what am I supposed to search up?

Hyper Tough Polarized Analog Indoor Mini Timer, Single Outlet - Walmart.com

 

Then no I wouldn't worry. The feeder blocks are terrible for your water quality and cause way more harm than good. The only time I worry about feeding when I'm gone is when I have baby fish.

I agree. Fish don't eat every day in the wild.

 

Resist the temptation to feed heavily before you go. Remember that ammonia is determined by how much food goes into the tank. If you feed heavily before you go you might as well be pouring more ammonia into the tank.

 

Resist the temptation to feed heavily when you return as well.

 

Can you give me a link for the smart timer you are talking about? I would like to get something like this.

These are the ones I use. My only complaint is they can be a pain to plug things in next to them. Does take some working around but I still manages to make it work for my tanks.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FVST9YN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_iKkhFb00YKJKC

 

Instead of buying the cheapest timer, I would get a good reliable timer. I bought this two pack from Amazon : Digital Outlet Timer (2 Pack), FosPower ETL Listed, Digital LCD Dual Outlet Programmable Timer, 7 Day Weekly Electrical Light Switch with 2 AC Plug 3-Prong Outlets - White: Amazon.ca: Cell Phones & Accessories
They have: a battery backup to keep the time if power goes out, 3 prong plug capability, and a plug opening on both sides to make it fit on your power bar with other plugs. I use one to turn my lights on at 10 each morning and off at 9 each night. The other timer turns on a power head with sponge filter, every 2 hours for 5 minutes at a time, to kick up any debris sitting in dead spots. You should be able to find one to suit your countries plug and power needs.

 

Old thread, but for the UK folks who don't know, an analogue timer looks like this, available all over and super cheap. Mine is from Poundland for £2, saw them today so thought I'd post. Holiday starts on Friday...

 

I don't have time to get a timer. I think I'll just leave the lights of but will get one when I get back.

I'll do a big waterchange and feeding.

Absolutly no reason to do an eaxtra large water change, and overfeeding is never a good thing. Thats why you dont want to use a vacation feeder, the fish will over ete and could get bloat or worse.

 

Old thread, but for the UK folks who don't know, an analogue timer looks like this, available all over and super cheap. Mine is from Poundland for £2, saw them today so thought I'd post. Holiday starts on Friday...

Yeah i have those when i am leaving the house for business trip too, not only for aquariums.