Vacation Time

[Corey Shelk]

I'm curious on if I can leave my tank worry free for a month. My lights are on a schedule, I don't dose anything now and don't plan on starting anytime soon, my livestock are some easy softies and maybe soon some frogspawn, a clownfish, emerald crab, and a few snails. The volume is 20 gallons, no sump. If I use an auto feeder and have a large enough ATO reservoir, and there are no power outages, would I be able to leave my tank for a month? If not, what am I missing?

 

[Michael Naegeli]

A month... that’s a long time. I don’t see you swinging that without someone checking in. You could very well come home to Disaster

 

[JasonK84]

I'm curious on if I can leave my tank worry free for a month. My lights are on a schedule, I don't dose anything now and don't plan on starting anytime soon, my livestock are some easy softies and maybe soon some frogspawn, a clownfish, emerald crab, and a few snails. The volume is 20 gallons, no sump. If I use an auto feeder and have a large enough ATO reservoir, and there are no power outages, would I be able to leave my tank for a month? If not, what am I missing?

A whole lot of what if scenarios could play out in a months time. I would have friends or family tank sit.

 

[Corey Shelk]

Oh yeah I forgot to mention, I could have someone come check on it as often as needed, preferably not too often but easily once or twice a week.

 

[Corey Shelk]

She could come in more often, that's just a long period of time for her to be responsible.

 

[JasonK84]

She could come in more often, that's just a long period of time for her to be responsible.

I would skip the auto feeder then and feed the fish a couple times a week. Auto feeders are ok for short periods but can really screw things up in a hurry with small tank. Have the sitter check the top off and feed the fish. Just my opinion.

 

[Corey Shelk]

I would skip the auto feeder then and feed the fish a couple times a week. Auto feeders are ok for short periods but can really screw things up in a hurry with small tank. Have the sitter check the top off and feed the fish. Just my opinion.

How many times would they need to be fed a week? I know they can go long periods without food but I don't want my clown to become malnourished

 

[JasonK84]

How old is your tank? With a good pod population there will be food in the tank to eat between feedings. Maybe buy extra pods to stock the tank before you go and have more to add mid way through?

Remember, I'm just throwing out ideas and have never left a tank for that long.

 

[Corey Shelk]

How old is your tank? With a good pod population there will be food in the tank to eat between feedings. Maybe buy extra pods to stock the tank before you go and have more to add mid way through?

Remember, I'm just throwing out ideas and have never left a tank for that long.

It's about 3 months old. I've never specifically added pods, although I've noticed a few. If I don't add them specifically from a bottle, etc will they still be in the tank?

 

[sde1500]

My fish are fine going a week without food. I fill the tank a bit extra with freshwater, then fill the top off as full as possible. I don't think a 3 mo old tank would have any sufficient natural population to survive a month without feeding the fish. Definitely would need someone checking in 2-3 times a week for food I'd say.

 

[Corey Shelk]

My fish are fine going a week without food. I fill the tank a bit extra with freshwater, then fill the top off as full as possible. I don't think a 3 mo old tank would have any sufficient natural population to survive a month without feeding the fish. Definitely would need someone checking in 2-3 times a week for food I'd say.

Thank you! Sounds like I'll be having my friend check in to make sure everything is going smoothly and to feed the fish. I'll try and make sure I have enough water in the ATO so she doesn't have to worry about that

 

[JasonK84]

Thank you! Sounds like I'll be having my friend check in to make sure everything is going smoothly and to feed the fish. I'll try and make sure I have enough water in the ATO so she doesn't have to worry about that

I'm glad you have someone to check on it for you.

 

[Corey Shelk]

I'm glad you have someone to check on it for you.

Me too, if not I would have to pack up my tank and take it with me and set it up again. Then take it down again and move it back and that seems extremely on the inhabitants of my aquarium