Vacation Feeder

nerdyguy83

nerdyguy83

AC Members
May 11, 2006
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Erie, PA, US
Thanksgiving break is coming up, and I obviously can't pack up the tank and take it with me for the 5 days. I've tried vacation feeders before (TopFin I think), and I didn't really have much luck with them (came home to a pile of uneaten food laying on the gravel). Does anyone have a preferred brand of vacation feeders, or does anyone do anything different when they go out of town for a few days. I'd buy an autofeeder, but being a college student pays surprisingly little...
 
feed them the usual amount right before you leave, turn off the lights, and don't worry about it. better to have them a little hungry when you return (they won't starve to death) than to have them sick and stressed (or worse) from dirty water.
 
I read that not feeding the fish is fine for up to 14 days, except you have fry. As you will only be gone for 5 days, the fish should be fine during that time.
 
They will be fine for 5 days without food. You may even want to stop feeding them a day or two before you leave. This will give them time to "release" what they have in their system, and will lessen the amount of waste that builds up while your away.
 
I would do a decent water change the day that you are leaving and then feed them as usual right before you walk out the door. Do not worry about the lighting unless you have live plants in which case you can put the lights on a timer. Stay away from vacation feeders if you can because they cause more problems then they solve. Usually they just pollute the water and then you have a big mess to clean up upon your return. If the water gets really bad it can stress your fish to the point of death. One more thing if the heat is normally turned down during the break, which I think that it usually is then make sure that your heater is working properly before you leave.

Marinemom
 
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