Going on vacation for a week...how to manage tank?

**MiamiCuse** · 08-04-2008, 02:27 PM

Hi I am going on vacation for 7 days next week.

Normally I would close all the blinds and draw the curtains, that would make the room very dark. So I think I will light the tank on a timer.

I normally set my thermostat at 78 degrees at home during the day when we are away to work, and set it lower to 70 when we return home at night. We are in Miami and so it tends to get hot here without the AC running. I was wondering what is a good temperature to set my thermostat at while we are gone for the entire week, I would prefer not having to cool the entire 3000 SF for two aquariums, I wonder if I set it at 80 whether it would be too hot, but they are tropical fish right?

Lastly is what do I do about feeding, I am trying to arrange someone to come by to feed every other day, but if that falls through, is there some sort of gadget that would dispense fish food on a timer or some other strategy I could use?

Thanks!

**Red** · 08-04-2008, 02:33 PM

is it a planted tank? if it isnt you dont have to light it... lights are just for you to watch you fish..... IMO you would have to feed your fish once in the middle of your vac. if you set it to 80 i think you would be fine

**Sharkman** · 08-04-2008, 03:35 PM

I agree with the red severum, one feeding on either day 3 or 4 of your trip should suffice given you feed them the day you leave. If the temp in the house is at 80 which is only a couple degrees warmer than what is normally at I don't think you will see a big difference in water temp. They also sell automatic fish food feeders. The can be clamped to the tank and often once you put the batteries in the feeder will feed 12 hours after that. You can put whatever kind of food you want in the auto feeder and adjust how much or how little you want to come out.

**Red** · 08-04-2008, 03:38 PM

i would not trust a automatic feeder.... you dont need it for only a week..

**Sharkman** · 08-04-2008, 03:40 PM

I'm not saying its good or bad, I was just offering an answer to his question about feeding on a timer.

**Vin** · 08-04-2008, 03:58 PM

I think healthy fish should survive 1 week without any food easily if you have no choice.

**MiamiCuse** · 08-04-2008, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by The Red Severum

is it a planted tank? if it isnt you dont have to light it... lights are just for you to watch you fish..... IMO you would have to feed your fish once in the middle of your vac. if you set it to 80 i think you would be fine

Yes it is a planted tank so I will have to light it.

**MiamiCuse** · 08-04-2008, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by Vin

I think healthy fish should survive 1 week without any food easily if you have no choice.

I have nightmares about coming home and see the smaller fish being eaten by the bigger fish if they get real hungry.

I mean right now when I get home they all come out of the caves and look at me like "here here here" and they want to be fed every day I only feed them every other day, but seven days is a long duration...

**Pearl Trade** · 08-04-2008, 05:14 PM

what about those dissolving food tabs? Wardley makes one called the Wardley Weekend Feeder. it comes in a package of 4 and each tab feeds for 3 days. i've used it before and i think it worked out alright.

**MiamiCuse** · 08-04-2008, 09:36 PM

are you talking about those white blocks that dissolves?

I am curious what is in them besides the food, someone told me plaster? That is not good for fish is it?