Advice for feeding when not home

hopperjl16 · Apr 30, 2016

So quick background - I have a biocube 29, up and running well for 4 months. My stock is one watchman goby, 2 clowns, 1 firefish, 1 blood red fire shrimp, 1 pistol shrimp, 2 nassarius snails, and handful of other cuc. I currently feed 1/2 cube frozen mysis once per day, and change up pellets/flakes/seaweed as my other daily feeding.

So my question, how long can this tank go without feeding? I'm a newbie so I have no idea. I figured a weekend is ok? But later this year I have a week-long vaca planned and that seems too long? Is there an automatic feeder that can fit a biocube?

Thanks for any help!

dbl · Apr 30, 2016

Weekend should be fine. Look at the Eheim Autofeeder. Easy to set up and use.

dbl · Apr 30, 2016

Sorry, premature post...Here is a link.

Dry food only for the week you're gone with the auto feeder.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/eheim...01Z_p8FVRoxGX2OG9xUBFzuYaUCQxkObx0aAsq38P8HAQ

Tehreefer · Apr 30, 2016

You can go a week no prob without feeding if necessary or you don't have anyone that could stop by. Most can go much longer but I wouldn't recommend it lol just feed heavier 2 days prior.

Diesel · May 1, 2016

If you have some critters in your tank like copepods you should be fine.
What I'm worried about is your ATO on your 29cube.
Small tanks are prone too crashes cause the parameters can be off large enough to cause a crash.

mcarroll · May 1, 2016

That's a pretty fair bioload for that tank and behaviors can change once fish get REALLY hungry, but IMO nobody on your list would be hurt by getting no mysis, etc, for a week. They would just be a little hungry next time you showed up with food.

My general recommendation is to not feed when you are away and NOT to have anyone try to help with the tank. Unless they ALREADY know your tank for some reason, even a seasoned aquarist is fairly likely to screw something up for your while you're out. I'm telling you from seeing it happen EVERY holiday and vacation season for years. Hands-off is a better strategy in almost all cases.

As @Diesel said, making sure your ATO is up to the task is really your main worry! (any other automations too!)
I would not do any extra feedings before you leave. Maybe a little extra fattening up for a few weeks up to the trip.
I would do an extra water change. You really want the tank to be a little extra clean since it's going to be a little extra neglected for the week.

hopperjl16 · May 1, 2016

Diesel said:
If you have some critters in your tank like copepods you should be fine.
What I'm worried about is your ATO on your 29cube.
Small tanks are prone too crashes cause the parameters can be off large enough to cause a crash.

I do have some copepods and mysid shrimp.

I don't have an ATO. Because of the hood on my tank I have very little evaporation and my salinity holds at 1.024 between weekly water changes. I do a 20% water change each week, plus add a little more to make up for the small amount of evaporation. I figured I'd do a water change and make sure I'm at max level right before I leave for a week.

Diesel · May 1, 2016

You got it well planned.
Maybe you can have a set of eyes on your tank for the week your gone.
Some ppl call it a Tank Sitter, all she/he needs to do is maybe feed the fish twice a week and you prepare the amounts you want to feed and to amount of RODI water to top off your tank, that shouldn't be more than a half gallon in your case.
You can pay that person $50 or so as your tank is worth more to you but just a piece of mind, that same person can send you a text and a pic of your tank after checking.
Many hobbyist did it before you and they can chime in as well with their experiences.

[HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]

Sabellafella · May 1, 2016

my biocube evaporates 8ounces of water a day and thats with the back lid always open so im guessthing that might not be a problem. The last chamber might evaporate down to where the return will start chopping water so before you leave, i would fill up that chamber. A weekend-a week is fine, JF feeds his tanks once a week lol. Also some large aquariums often feed 2-4 times a week so i wouldnt be worryed. Our fish always look hungry!