Stuck in a weird situation

[rrogan]

I just got a 75g tank for $20, but it doesn't have anything with it. I have a 55g tank setup now at school with 2 convicts, 1 JD, 1 firemouth, 2 pleco, and 2 raphael catfish. All juvies, no bigger then 4-5 inches. The problem I'm encountering is what should I do with the fish during my winter break which is about 4 weeks long. I have an eheim 2217 and penguin 350 on the 55g now. So should I leave the fish here, and just put an auto feeder on for about 2 weeks and then just come and check on them, or should I bring them back with at least one filter, and use the 75g? My house is about an hour and a half trip away. I plan on putting at least a pleco and raphael catfish in the 75g, and then prolly the JD eventually like over summer break. What do you think would be best, and have the largest chance for survival of all the fish?

[silentskream]

do you have a friend you trust to come by and take care of them?

[msjinkzd]

i would hire a professional petsitter. Or ask someone you trust to feed them. Pre-bag the food and do a large water change before you leave. get a timer for your lights (couple of bucks at walmart). www.petsitters.org has a listing of licensed and insured pet sitters all over the country. I used one from the list over the summer, cost $7 a visit and they also collected my mail, tended my gardens, took care of my cats, added chemicals to my pool, and watered the house plants. I had them come every other day. It was well worth the peace of mind.

[CChase]

When I leave for vacations I put the specified amount of food to be fed every other day for each tank with the dates on each one, as well as fertilizer times (And how much to add) and have someone come by and do it for me... also put the lights on a timer.

[Eupterus]

I would use an auto - feeder and have someone check on them every week or two.
I guess it depends on your financial situation ...More if you have $...less if you don't. ..I think if you had to save $, you could get by with just leaving them if the tank was well filtered and low stocked.

ALSO a 75 gal for that price...:omg::drool::jaw:

[WeeNe858]

i went on vaca for 3 weeks to vietnam and i left my tank on timers and an auto feeder.. the tank was established and i had my uncle check on the house all together.. he doesint know anything about fish

everything was fine but the lights did go out for about 2 weeks... >.<

(click link for the story)

[doreenjoy]

I do the same as CChase. Put daily food portions in envelopes and get a trusted friend to come by the house every day. Since these are juveniles you can't let them fast. You could even call the person every day to make sure they aren't slacking off.

A petsitting service might be cheaper than you think. Also many LFS offer this service, and you know they'd do it right.

[j_chicago]

I pre-portion food in weekly pill boxes ( the long ones that have 7 compartments, on for each day). Wet ferts. I pre-measure in new travel shampoo bottles, each marked with what day they are to be dosed (I use to do this once a week, so if I was in a hurry one day I wouldn't be fiddling with syringes trying to dose small amounts of 5-7 different things.) The person can just flip the lids and dump what ever you want in there.

[rrogan]

I think someone might be around every so often, and I already have an auto feeder, so I think I'll just give the auto feeding a try. I'll have someone check on the fish like every few days if someones around. My lights are already on a timer, so that's not a problem either. The tank is heavily planted, so that should help with the nitrates when I'm gone. Thanks for the input.

[silentskream]

i really wouldn't use an auto feeder.. your fish will be fine if they only get fed every few days.

[zoowks]

I'm facing a similiar situation, I'm just using an auto feeder (that i've been using for 2 weeks now and is working just fine, so idk y other people have problems with them, it works great for me, i have it set so only a lil comes out but its enough to give them something and they really don't have to eat everyday or atleast alot) and i'm going to check on mine everyweek and a half for the 5 week break to do water changes etc, mines planted well too so i'm not concerned about anything, just as u said get someone to check on them as to watch out for a sudden algae bloom or for some reason like an illness i.e. ich or watnot