vacation time...........what to do

**krisco** · 07-14-2008, 11:22 PM

So i'm going on vacation in a week and do not want to come home to any disasters. My plants are growing very well, and I have not lost any fish or shrimp but 1 otto 2 weeks ago at water change. Figure that is a mistake i made somewhere. What do you guys and gals recommend i do to make sure everything is fine in the tank.

I have somebody that is supposed to come over and fertilize the plants and feed the fish at least every other day. I have been fertilizing with the seachm line following the seacham plant chart. So it is a daily fertilizer. I also run co2. Of course, my lights are on timers. I figured i would measure the doses for the plant fertz and put them in cups so all he has to do is empty the cups into the aquarium for that days dosage. As for the fish, i figured i could show him how to feed them.

Of course, i will do my water change the day before we leave. But, what if he doesn't really come by? How long will the fish survive without food, and how long will the plants make it without their fertz?

**graceluvsplatys** · 07-14-2008, 11:30 PM

i would leave good instructions by the tank, and get measuring cups and spoons, especially fopr the food, as people who dont know much overfeed or underfeed.
i think you will be fine, you have a good thing goin!

**NanoTankGuy** · 07-15-2008, 02:22 AM

Fish will survive w/o food for 7 days easily, plants even easier. So, as long as he pops by every other day or at least twice in a 7 day period, they'll live. NOTE: it's no that you WANNA do it to them, but you can use it as a last resort.
I have an automatic feeder myself, so if I ever have to, I'll go + my plants are low maintenance :)