Going away for a night and day- Advice?

[Submariner]

I'm going to be away from home from this Sunday afternoon until Monday night. No one will be in the house. I need some advice about what I should do- I haven't left my fish alone yet. (hard to believe)

Just changed the water yesterday so all set there. What about food? I'm sure they aren't going to starve over a night and a day, but my buggers are spoiled- I'm very regular with their feeding (first thing A.M. and right after work) Should I get one of the vacation feeders? You know those white things that look like snail shells? Or just give them a little more food than usual before I go?

Also should I just leave the light off the whole time? Maybe open some curtains for some natural light during the day?

My wife says they'll be fine just the way they are, and she's probably right, but its my first tank and I love it, you know?

 

[NoDeltaH2O]

your fish could be fine left for a whole week. Don't sweat it.

 

[Lotus]

Your fish will be fine for several days without food. Don't bother with a vacation feeder... they usually foul the water anyway. You can leave the lights off.

 

[Submariner]

Thanks so much- hearing that from you guys makes me feel SO much better!

*thumbsups

 

[charleyevette]

I am so glad you asked this question!! I am in the EXACT same situation and wasn't sure what to do about the fish! I guess I'll just feed mine a little extra on sunday, and defiantly right before I leave, them feed them as soon as I get home monday night? And they get to 'sleep' all day!! hehe

 

[SkwidsLair]

I am so glad you asked this question!! I am in the EXACT same situation and wasn't sure what to do about the fish! I guess I'll just feed mine a little extra on sunday, and defiantly right before I leave, them feed them as soon as I get home monday night? And they get to 'sleep' all day!! hehe

You shouldn't need to feed them any extra. Just feed them normally. They'll be fine, really.

I worried about that, too, but I was away for a couple days, came back and they were fine.

Mind you, the cat wouldn't talk to me...moody bugger...

 

[charleyevette]

Ok! Thanks!!

 

[Orion]

I would sugest getting a timer to put the lights on. The smaller ones are cheap, around $5, and save a lot of headache in the long run. Plus I tend to be on the lazier side too

 

[Submariner]

Would it be alright to just leave the curtains open so they'll get some daylight? I'm not worried about algae, my Pleco keeps the tank spotless and I'm sure he wouldn't mind some more food.

On another note, just got my AP master test kit, everybody told me to ditch the strips, and its great! Here are my parameters:

pH - 6.6
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 6-7
Temp- 84 F

Do those seem ok? I know my pH is low- most likely the driftwood's fault, because my tap water is 7.2, but its stable and the fish seem to be doing ok.

 

[MortiferousSoul]

temp is a little higher than normal. Usually you want to keep it around 78 or so unless you got a sick fish or something.

 

[Submariner]

Well, I did have some Ich but its clearing up now. If I lower it the temp, I should do it very slowly, right? Like a degree a day?

 

[MortiferousSoul]

they should be more than fine if you lower it 2 degrees or so a day. Even that might be a bit on the safe side, but better safe than sorry i'd say ^_^