Plants - Light - Ferts

[DreamertK]

Currently I give my plants 8 hours of light and dose with micro and potassium ferts. I'll be away from my home for a week, and I actually do have someone who will feed my fish. But they'll only be leaving the light on as long as they're there (15 mins per day).
 
Should I still continue my fertilizing regimen if they wont receive any light?
 
Or maybe I should get a timer, but I really would never use it outside of these kinds of situations....

 

[Wansui]

A timer really would be best in this situation. 15 mins just isn't long enough. Timers really arn't that expensive, and the odds are a situation like this one will come up again.

 

[daizeUK]

I would also get a timer but set it for a shorter period while you are away, perhaps 5 hours, and don't worry about the ferts.  There will be enough ferts in the water column to suffice, especially if you are not adding liquid carbon or CO2.

 

[DreamertK]

You guys really think a week-long blackout will kill my plants?

I just figured they wouldn't have grown very much.

 

[Mamashack]

I have my lights on a timer anyway as it's easy to lose track of the time and end up with algae problems.
So I'd agree with getting a timer.

 

[daizeUK]

You guys really think a week-long blackout will kill my plants?

I just figured they wouldn't have grown very much.

 
It might not kill them, depends which sort of plants you have, but like Mamashack I find a timer much more convenient and consistent for both plants and fish.  They cost peanuts.

 

[DreamertK]

I have my lights on a timer anyway as it's easy to lose track of the time and end up with algae problems.
So I'd agree with getting a timer.

The reason I dont like them is that I dont want the light to turn on while I'm asleep, or when I'm awake and have the room light on the aquarium light is off. @_@ Although my own method of turning it on and off is not the most consistent between days, I've never left it on too long to have any sort of algea.
 
I guess the vacation is justification enough to buy the timer, even if I only use it a week out of the year.