"Vacation" help needed

jpappy789

jpappy789

Plants need meat too
Feb 18, 2007
26,364
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Gainesville, FL
Real Name
Josh
Going to be gone for 3 weeks for the holidays and not exactly sure what to do with my 15 gallon dorm tank. I have the option of keeping the electricity to my room on, so no problems there. However I am still concerned given the fact that the longest I have left an aquarium alone was close to two weeks. It was also a much lower maintenance tank than my current one. Obviously the best case scenario would be to take the fish home and set up a temp tank for the time being, but since I do not have a vehicle of my own it might not be an option.

Opinions? I hate vacation feeders but would be willing to take the risk if need be. Still worried about water changes. Even though it's pretty well planted I would hate to see the entire tank foul up and then have to deal with (expensive) fish deaths.

Another issue would be the plants. Over the past week when I was gone I did a larger than normal dose of Excel and ferts before I left. Everything is still alive but I can tell that the lack of nutrients was a problem. The lighting is already on a timer for about 8-9 hours/day. I'm not nearly as concerned but still would hate to take a step backwards, and rotting plants would not be good for the tank.

So really, is it even an option or should I just plan on packing up the tank inhabitants?
 
JMO - I would leave the timer as is, get an auto feeder and do 50% (ish) water change the day before you left - I think you will be ok (as long as the power stays on)

This is what I have done without any casualties to date (knocks on wood)
 
I'm also going away for three weeks ( most of the month). Making sure they have pristine water conditions( meaning extra water changes before I leave) and automatic feeders.

Sources of emergencies should be eliminated as much as possible.
Main concern is to compensate as much as possible for a possible dead fish. Most fish sitters don't even remove dead fish so no solution there either.
So the way I see it, if it's a stable tank with healthy fish who are rarely sick, things should go well pending a disaster like a tank springing a leak.
 
hmm...large water change before the trip home. 4 hour photo period. hope.

my college always did work and testing on the electrical systems in all the dorms during winter break and a few times through the summer. find out if your school will do this...also, if your school has a power outage will your filtration start back up?
 
BoCoMo said:
JMO - I would leave the timer as is, get an auto feeder and do 50% (ish) water change the day before you left - I think you will be ok (as long as the power stays on)

This is what I have done without any casualties to date (knocks on wood)
Click to expand...

Any recommendations on reputable auto feeders?

RDTigger said:
I might lower the temp and dial back the amount of time the light stays on.. This should slow the fish metabolism...making less waste.
Click to expand...

Temp is set around 80 so a few degrees shouldn't hurt.

Eupterus said:
I'm also going away for three weeks ( most of the month). Making sure they have pristine water conditions( meaning extra water changes before I leave) and automatic feeders.

Sources of emergencies should be eliminated as much as possible.
Main concern is to compensate as much as possible for a possible dead fish. Most fish sitters don't even remove dead fish so no solution there either.
So the way I see it, if it's a stable tank with healthy fish who are rarely sick, things should go well pending a disaster like a tank springing a leak.
Click to expand...

No diseases yet (knock on wood) and the tank has been very stable since it was set up in August.

DoctaQ said:
what kinda fish do you have in there?
you could get a bunch of cherry shrimp, which will eat anything that dies and if they spawn thatll provide some food too
Click to expand...

Stocking is in the sig...adult cherry shrimp wouldn't last very long, even with the plants. The sids are maniacs. Getting a hold of some would be an issue given my location so not something I'd like to deal with.

coach_z said:
hmm...large water change before the trip home. 4 hour photo period. hope.

my college always did work and testing on the electrical systems in all the dorms during winter break and a few times through the summer. find out if your school will do this...also, if your school has a power outage will your filtration start back up?
Click to expand...

I plan on a very large wc.

The newsletter we received said to email housing if you have an aquarium so they know to leave the electricity on. I assume this means that everything is constant.

Regarding the power outages, that's something that I completely forgot about. With the likelihood of getting lots of snow in a more secluded area, that could be a big problem. I'm currently using an AC 20 but never dealt with one so not sure if it will prime itself on its own. Anyone have experience with this?
 
jpappy789 said:
Any recommendations on reputable auto feeders?



Temp is set around 80 so a few degrees shouldn't hurt.



No diseases yet (knock on wood) and the tank has been very stable since it was set up in August.



Stocking is in the sig...adult cherry shrimp wouldn't last very long, even with the plants. The sids are maniacs. Getting a hold of some would be an issue given my location so not something I'd like to deal with.



I plan on a very large wc.

The newsletter we received said to email housing if you have an aquarium so they know to leave the electricity on. I assume this means that everything is constant.

Regarding the power outages, that's something that I completely forgot about. With the likelihood of getting lots of snow in a more secluded area, that could be a big problem. I'm currently using an AC 20 but never dealt with one so not sure if it will prime itself on its own. Anyone have experience with this?
Click to expand...
I have heard people say their AC's will restart however NONE of mine ever do.
 
Is there no one who can watch the fish while you're gone? Even just to check on them once or twice a week?
 
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