do I leave the light on or off?

[Glasstapper]

Unfortunately, I have to go on a temporary duty in New Jersey for a couple of weeks, so I have to leave my fish unattended. I don't have anyone around that I trust (they say I'm crazy to give my fish so much attention, so I doubt they would come feed them twice a day), so I got them an automatic feeder. I've heard mixed replies on how long they can survive without food, but two weeks seems like a long time.

The automatic feeder is actually set very low, so they will be underfed, but it's better than nothing. It drops a very small amount of flakes and freeze dried bloodworms every 12 hours. (NutraMatic 2x) I couldn't put any sinking wafers (for the corys) in there because they would block the feeder hole and not come out. I hope they'll be ok.

anyway, do I leave the light on or off while I'm gone? I only have a java fern in this one, and a corkscrew val and an anubias nana in the 5 gallon (no fish yet).

Here's another kicker: when i get home, I'll only be home for two days before I leave to go home in Louisiana for christmas for another 12 days.

Any other suggestions you have for me will be greatly appreciated. They are also in good health now, so no worries about leaving a sick fish behind.

??? What do you think? Only one water change (in the middle of the month) and very limited food the entire time. They'll be ok, right?

(I leave tonight)

[kimmers318]

They should be fine...do your water change when you stop home for a brief time. The fish really can go 2 weeks, but I also couldn't do that to them! The cories will be fine on the flake and dried bloodworm (if they will eat it, my fish won't touch the stuff) but they sure will be happy when you are home.
You might want to consider buying a timer for your lights just to help the plants, I don't think they will be happy with no light for 2 weeks, but I would only use it for short times so you don't have algae issues.

[Lady Hobbs]

When I went to FL I had someone stop in every other day or two and give them a bit of food but it seems you have this under control with the feeder. They will do fine feeding them less but like you, I would never leave them even a week without food. I left a kitchen light on so they wouldn't be in total darkness all that time but I don't have plants in the aquarium to worry about. If they are in pots, you can remove them and put them someone with more light but I believe you planted them?

[Glasstapper]

I've seen my corys eat a couple of flakes on the bottom before, so I guess they'll be ok if they find a scrap or two.

As for the plants, I'm really not that concerned with them. They were pretty cheap (except for that anubias - $10!). If they die, they die. I only have the one tiny java fern in my big tank that doesn't seem to be growing anyway. If it dies, I'll replace it with java moss. I like that look much better anyway. I was just curious if the fish would be ok with no light, but I guess it's not really a requirement for them. Maybe they'll just sleep more. ;)

Ok, so it's good to hear they'll be all right with minimum food and no light (well, I'll leave a nearby lamp on).

Thank you guys so much! I have to go finish packing, but I'll check in once in a while while I'm gone. I sure will miss my little guys.

[kimmers318]

Best of luck with your fish and duty...hopefully neither will encounter any probs and we will be waiting to hear from you when you get back.

[NorthernBoy]

I agree get a light timer. I think that 6 hours of light a day would be ok. (thanks to kimmers) When i left town last week my brother stopped over to check on all the pets. With a dry erase marker you can write directly on the tank any important info for you fish sitter. ie please check temp, food is located, or maybe you sat "leave my fish alone, they will be fine." I also portioned food into one of my sons to/go formula containers. its like a circle tupperwear with a sliding cover so you can preportion food.that way my bro didnt over feed.

[kufan]

I would recommend buying a cheap timer from wal-mart or your local hardware store, if you want them to still have some light while you are gone. I am going on christmas break from school here in a week and I went out and bought timers for my 3 tanks and it costed me 12 dollars to get a timer for each of them and the timers are really easy to set up.

KU

[Glasstapper]

Well, I've made it back home safely. Fortunately, all of my fish are still alive and well. Yay!! :D There was a ton of water missing from evaporation (I do live in a desert and the lid was up for the auto feeder), but no damage done.

As for my 5 gallon planted tank, oh boy. I remembered when I had gotten to the airport two weeks ago that I had forgotten that light on. I came home today to an explosion of algae. I had to take out all of the water, the plants, the thermometer, and the filter and rinse everything down. There's still some brown spots on the glass and some of that bright green kind, but I successfully removed about 90% of it. Thank goodness it was in my 5 gallon and not my 45!

I'll be leaving in a few days for the holiday vacation (12 days), but I'll be sure to turn that light off as well.

Thanks for everyone's advice. My plants and fish are all still alive!

[jeffs99dime]

i'm guessing you're in Maguire AFB, right?--jeff
i live like 40 mins from there. lol

[Glasstapper]

Well, I was at McGuire for the past two weeks. I'm back home now for a few days.

The driving in Jersey is what got me the most. So if I want to make a left hand turn, I have to turn right and go all the way around in a big circle? Weird. And the guy at the gas pump got mad at me when I tried to pump my own gas. I didn't know anywhere still did that. I thought some weird guy was coming up to me to try to ask me for money or something. Haha!

[jeffs99dime]

glad you made it back safely. driving in new jersey is an "art form" lol