I thank you for answering my end of the query...I guess that I'll follow that advice from now on. (I'm all out of vacation tablets, anyway!)
Vacation Feedings
- Thread starter srstickler
- Start date
I went on a 2 week vacation and threw a Wardley 14 day feeder into my 55 gallon cichlid tank, turned down the temperature, and did a water change before I left and when I came back everything was fine.
If you are willing to spend some extra money for it, I'd suggest getting one of the timed mechanical feeders.
If you are willing to spend some extra money for it, I'd suggest getting one of the timed mechanical feeders.
I took a 7 day vacation in March and, after reading similar threads out here, decided to just water change and go (but they'll get some spinach next time around 
). 100% survival rate, no one even out of sorts.
No predators, plenty of plants (I figured it they did start to get hungry they could always hit the salad bar). The SAE had at the algae, came home to a cleaner tank.
). 100% survival rate, no one even out of sorts. No predators, plenty of plants (I figured it they did start to get hungry they could always hit the salad bar). The SAE had at the algae, came home to a cleaner tank.
If you decide to use a mechanical feeder, I suggest to start using it a week or so before leaving. That way you can make the required adjustments in amount of food fed and be there in case of a major problem.
Dave
Dave
For an absence of less than two weeks, the risks associated with dissolving block feeders is much greater than any imagined risk one can concoct about the fish going without food. A mechanical feeder lowers the risk, but many of these are not foolproof and they simply aren't necessary, unless you have fry or very sensitive fish.
Wetman is right; if you leave your fish without food, the water will be clear and of good quality, and your fish will look healthy and happy.
HTH,
Jim
Wetman is right; if you leave your fish without food, the water will be clear and of good quality, and your fish will look healthy and happy.
HTH,
Jim
Flame-worthy question, and hijack: If I have feeder fish in with my Con already, should I remove them before I go on vacation? (This is a hypothetical, but it could be real next year...)
Depends. If the tank has the bio-capacity to the support the feeder and the con, or the waste from the con after the feeder has been processed, you'll be okay. Adding a pile of feeders and walking out the door would be a no-no, since the tank will spike, and there's the risk of a disease being introduced via the feeders.
Of course...I wouldn't add any extra feeders...just wanted to know if I could leave the ones that were already there and untouched! 
to the best of my understand the disolving feeder blocks are bad because they are made of some kind of plaster with food stuck in them...so as the plaster disolves it can mess up your water. Im sure there are high quality ones that are relativly safe...I just dont feel like trusting something that is going to be releasing *stuff* into my aquarium when im not there to keep an eye on it....hell even when I am there
