Nontraditional tanks

[10 Tanks]

Hello. A few weeks prior to vacation, it would be a good idea to feed the fish a little more and more often. They'll build up a little fat prior to their fast while you're gone. Continue with your larger water changes and then a day or two prior to leaving, change the water and make that change a little larger than normal. Fish can go many days without food, but three weeks is a little long. Zoo Med has a feeding block that's good. It won't foul the tank water and it will help keep your fish nourished while you're gone.

I totally agree with changing a lot of water and changing it often. I change half or more of the water in my tanks every week.

10 Tanks (Now 11)

 

[Endlersendlers]

Hello. A few weeks prior to vacation, it would be a good idea to feed the fish a little more and more often. They'll build up a little fat prior to their fast while you're gone. Continue with your larger water changes and then a day or two prior to leaving, change the water and make that change a little larger than normal. Fish can go many days without food, but three weeks is a little long. Zoo Med has a feeding block that's good. It won't foul the tank water and it will help keep your fish nourished while you're gone.

I totally agree with changing a lot of water and changing it often. I change half or more of the water in my tanks every week.

10 Tanks (Now 11)

Hi, I do have auto feeders for everything and have worked to tweek them with taping part of the opening so it’s almost or about what they normally would eat. I trust it because I still feed them extra and they eat it but don’t act desperate. I have been fattening them up and think that could be ok.

The betta might be a problem because he’s in a community tank, not on the same diet, too slow to compete, and just doesn’t get the idea of the auto feeder. I might take him on the road trip with us in a big jar with air space, daily water changes when we get there. Three day drive 8 hours a day, long stops (taking a camper). Is that crazy to take him? Crazy to leave him? Or both?

I believe the biggest risk is water quality and evaporation. Some have submersible and sponge filters (in case airlines pop off). One has a SunSun canister and I wish there was an extension to lower the spray bar so it would stay submerged and not worsen water loss once exposed. I haven’t found such a thing. I’ll put a submersible in there, wondering if I should stop the canister, maybe put the media in the main tank? An outdoor tank has an HOB but I need to change it to submersible with sponge filter or the HOB might run dry if it doesn’t rain. The big pond should be fine.

My husband doesn’t get this “obsession with fish” so I would definitely not get away with altering vacation lengths for them.