Going out town what to do???

Alex482455 · 01/04/2012, 02:21 PM

Im going out of town for about a week. I wanted to know how to do i go about feeding my fishes. Any alternative to someone coming over to feed my fishes?

tebstan · 01/04/2012, 02:31 PM

sorry double post

tebstan · 01/04/2012, 02:32 PM

Do you have an ATO? That's a big concern too.

I feed frozen, but do some coral foods and flake and pellet too. If the fish are already used to processed foods they should be fine on that for a week.

I have an automatic feeder I love, the FishMate.

Alex482455 · 01/04/2012, 02:43 PM

I dont have one. Is that the only way? my butterfly doesnt like any of the frozen foods i give him but he is always grazing the rocks and he looks healthy and happy. As far as the wrass i guess i can add couple bottles of pods and since i have plants in DT he should be ok. My main concern is my clown, Anemone (Clown doesnt like it

) and maybe Firefly. any ideas?

yh1185 · 01/04/2012, 02:48 PM

I use an eheim automatic feeder, works really well, and you can set it to feed throughout the day. Since you said your butterfly doesn't eat frozen, if you feed it pellet/flakes the auto feeder would be perfect. I've seen it at petco and most other fish stores, so if you can't wait for delivery i'd just check out some local places. Here's a link so you know what it looks like:

http://www.marinedepot.com/Eheim_Fee...FDFEAF-vi.html

tebstan · 01/04/2012, 03:06 PM

The eheim is a good one too, and easier to attach to the tank than the FishMate. The Fishmate allows me to feed coral food at night and fish food during the day, but I had to make a special box to mount it to the tank.
Any automatic feeder will do, but make sure to test it before you go. For a few days, not just once. Some don't do well with moisture, and it's easy to pack too much food in there. Play with it a bit to make sure you know how much is too much so it won't clog.

bamf25 · 01/04/2012, 03:14 PM

I went away for 8 days over the summer and the tank was just fine. This is what I did.

1. ATO run through a Neptune Apex
2. Auto fish feeder with pellet food

Really that is all that was needed. Granted my lights, temp, heat all run off my controller, but you do not nned one. Most fish can survive of what is in the tank for at least 1 week.

billdogg · 01/04/2012, 03:40 PM

I would be more worried about the water level also. If it is an established tank, it should be easily able to support your fish on the organisms already there. When I go away, I have a neighbor's kid (and the neighbor) come over to check the tanks daily, but only to top off if needed. If I will be gone longer than a week, I will put out (DIY) pre packaged pellets with clear labels for the days they are to be used so that over feeding does not occur. I have never trusted either auto feeders or ATO's - I prefer the manual method - slightly more labor intensive, but failsafe.

sslak · 01/04/2012, 03:44 PM

Top off would concern me more than feedings.

Most fish should be fine for that period of time, I leave mine for 3-4 days at a time with no problems.

Maybe you can find someone to feed and top-off at least once in the middle of the week?

ntswift · 01/04/2012, 03:54 PM

I wouldnt worry about your anemone either. It should be getting plenty of "food" from the light. I hardly ever feed mine. It gets what ever is left over in the water column from feeding the fish. It will be just fine. I agree, the water level should be your main concern. Get an auto feeder and find some way of keeping it topped off.

Alex482455 · 01/04/2012, 04:43 PM

Ok, awesome advises. This tank has been running for around 5 month. Lights, heater is on controller. Top off is not my concer at all as once I top of my tank take at least a week before needs a little top off. So I guess I can over feed the day im leaving and they should be ok. I don't really don't want to spend money on a ATF. I have been feeding my fishes every 2-3 days so I guess they will be ok. I'm glad to know that my anemone wont need feeding. So I guess feed them well and I will buy a bottle of pods in case to be safe. Oohh btw I have a rock some Green polyp and dragon eye. Would that be ok with just light?

01/04/2012, 02:21 PM	#1
Alex482455 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 304	Going out town what to do??? Im going out of town for about a week. I wanted to know how to do i go about feeding my fishes. Any alternative to someone coming over to feed my fishes? __________________ Equipment: Koralio 425gph, Polario 4M, Marine Land 350, seaclone 100 SKimmer, 24Watt UV, MH & PC Light 280W Stock: Purple Firefly, B&W Ocellaris Clown, YLW Corris & Red Head Wrasse Current Tank Info: 40G Breeder FOWLR

01/04/2012, 02:31 PM	#2
tebstan Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 961	sorry double post __________________ Washington's Rule #110: Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience. Last edited by tebstan; 01/04/2012 at 02:37 PM.

01/04/2012, 02:32 PM	#3
tebstan Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 961	Do you have an ATO? That's a big concern too. I feed frozen, but do some coral foods and flake and pellet too. If the fish are already used to processed foods they should be fine on that for a week. I have an automatic feeder I love, the FishMate. __________________ Washington's Rule #110: Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.

01/04/2012, 02:43 PM	#4
Alex482455 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 304	I dont have one. Is that the only way? my butterfly doesnt like any of the frozen foods i give him but he is always grazing the rocks and he looks healthy and happy. As far as the wrass i guess i can add couple bottles of pods and since i have plants in DT he should be ok. My main concern is my clown, Anemone (Clown doesnt like it ) and maybe Firefly. any ideas? __________________ Equipment: Koralio 425gph, Polario 4M, Marine Land 350, seaclone 100 SKimmer, 24Watt UV, MH & PC Light 280W Stock: Purple Firefly, B&W Ocellaris Clown, YLW Corris & Red Head Wrasse Current Tank Info: 40G Breeder FOWLR

01/04/2012, 02:48 PM	#5
yh1185 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 279	I use an eheim automatic feeder, works really well, and you can set it to feed throughout the day. Since you said your butterfly doesn't eat frozen, if you feed it pellet/flakes the auto feeder would be perfect. I've seen it at petco and most other fish stores, so if you can't wait for delivery i'd just check out some local places. Here's a link so you know what it looks like: http://www.marinedepot.com/Eheim_Fee...FDFEAF-vi.html __________________ 40b, bh2000 skimmer, 48X3w Cree LED Eshine Systems with a sun-rise/set controller. 2X750gph koralia evolution powerheads

01/04/2012, 03:06 PM	#6
tebstan Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 961	The eheim is a good one too, and easier to attach to the tank than the FishMate. The Fishmate allows me to feed coral food at night and fish food during the day, but I had to make a special box to mount it to the tank. Any automatic feeder will do, but make sure to test it before you go. For a few days, not just once. Some don't do well with moisture, and it's easy to pack too much food in there. Play with it a bit to make sure you know how much is too much so it won't clog. __________________ Washington's Rule #110: Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.

01/04/2012, 03:14 PM	#7
bamf25 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central NJ Posts: 1,419	I went away for 8 days over the summer and the tank was just fine. This is what I did. 1. ATO run through a Neptune Apex 2. Auto fish feeder with pellet food Really that is all that was needed. Granted my lights, temp, heat all run off my controller, but you do not nned one. Most fish can survive of what is in the tank for at least 1 week.

01/04/2012, 03:40 PM	#8
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I would be more worried about the water level also. If it is an established tank, it should be easily able to support your fish on the organisms already there. When I go away, I have a neighbor's kid (and the neighbor) come over to check the tanks daily, but only to top off if needed. If I will be gone longer than a week, I will put out (DIY) pre packaged pellets with clear labels for the days they are to be used so that over feeding does not occur. I have never trusted either auto feeders or ATO's - I prefer the manual method - slightly more labor intensive, but failsafe. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

01/04/2012, 03:44 PM	#9
sslak Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,705	Top off would concern me more than feedings. Most fish should be fine for that period of time, I leave mine for 3-4 days at a time with no problems. Maybe you can find someone to feed and top-off at least once in the middle of the week? __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 58 Oceanic/20g Sump/250w XM 20k/2x39w T5 True Actinic 03/2010 Reef Octopus NW Cone Skimmer

01/04/2012, 03:54 PM	#10
ntswift Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Spokane, Wa Posts: 10	I wouldnt worry about your anemone either. It should be getting plenty of "food" from the light. I hardly ever feed mine. It gets what ever is left over in the water column from feeding the fish. It will be just fine. I agree, the water level should be your main concern. Get an auto feeder and find some way of keeping it topped off.

01/04/2012, 04:43 PM	#11
Alex482455 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 304	Ok, awesome advises. This tank has been running for around 5 month. Lights, heater is on controller. Top off is not my concer at all as once I top of my tank take at least a week before needs a little top off. So I guess I can over feed the day im leaving and they should be ok. I don't really don't want to spend money on a ATF. I have been feeding my fishes every 2-3 days so I guess they will be ok. I'm glad to know that my anemone wont need feeding. So I guess feed them well and I will buy a bottle of pods in case to be safe. Oohh btw I have a rock some Green polyp and dragon eye. Would that be ok with just light? __________________ Equipment: Koralio 425gph, Polario 4M, Marine Land 350, seaclone 100 SKimmer, 24Watt UV, MH & PC Light 280W Stock: Purple Firefly, B&W Ocellaris Clown, YLW Corris & Red Head Wrasse Current Tank Info: 40G Breeder FOWLR