Vacation Feeding

bclaus · 05/16/2018, 10:30 AM

Hey everyone, I am heading out of town and would like to know the best/cheapest way to keep my fish fed. I currently feed them frozen brine shrimp, but am thinking switching to the flake or pellet food. I have seen things like the Banquet Feeder, where it is just a time-release feeding block, but it says it is mostly for bottom feeders. I have a royal gramma and Cardinalfish, plus lots of cleanup crew. Would the feeding block work? Or should I bite the bullet and go for an automatic feeder?

j.falk · 05/16/2018, 10:36 AM

You don't have anyone who could stop by and feed an amount that you have already prepared for daily feeding? That would be the best option because then you could put the correct amount into individual baggies and the person would just have to stop by once a day.

RobZilla04 · 05/16/2018, 10:36 AM

How long are you going to be outta town? If you cannot have a friend or neighbor give you a hand, an automatic feeder would be best.

I've gone a week without feeding with no observable issues. Even if a friend/neighbor is only able to come by once or twice a week, that is plenty.

bclaus · 05/16/2018, 10:37 AM

My two trusted neighbors who normally do my feedings while I am gone are also going to be out of town, so I won't have anyone to stop by.

j.falk · 05/16/2018, 10:38 AM

And don't forget to have them add top off water to keep the salinity stable if you don't have an ATO.

bclaus · 05/16/2018, 10:38 AM

Im only gone for the weekend (Friday - Monday night)

j.falk · 05/16/2018, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclaus

My two trusted neighbors who normally do my feedings while I am gone are also going to be out of town, so I won't have anyone to stop by.

Local fish store employee/owner?

j.falk · 05/16/2018, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclaus

Im only gone for the weekend (Friday - Monday night)

I wouldn't even worry about that then. Feed them before you leave and then as soon as you get back.

bclaus · 05/16/2018, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.falk

Local fish store employee/owner?

I live in a small village outside the big city, so I don't think that would be an option.

bclaus · 05/16/2018, 10:40 AM

That's kind of what I was thinking. I am considering getting an automatic feeder down the road anyway, so maybe I'll just do it now and get it over with

juanfdezdc · 05/16/2018, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclaus

Im only gone for the weekend (Friday - Monday night)

From Friday to Monday everything should be fine when you are back, nothing to worry.
Buy an automatic feeder and that's it.

thegrun · 05/16/2018, 10:35 PM

Eheim auto feeder works great.

RobZilla04 · 05/17/2018, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclaus

Im only gone for the weekend (Friday - Monday night)

Don't worry about it. Slightly over feed Thur and Fri before you leave. Add a little, and I mean a little extra top off water to account for the additional loss before you'll get back and you're all set.

scooter31707 · 05/18/2018, 09:04 AM

I agree, I would not worry about doing nothing for the feeding part. I have gone a week without feeding my fish.

Skittlz · 06/25/2018, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juanfdezdc

From Friday to Monday everything should be fine when you are back, nothing to worry.
Buy an automatic feeder and that's it.

I agree i know a school teacher who uses an auto feeder during the summer and checks the conditions once a week and everything is great when you dont touch the tank lol

Conchman · 06/25/2018, 03:42 PM

I would not worry about feeding. Maybe little extra Friday, little extra Monday. Just a little extra. Only to make me feel better....

Bill_Moorman · 06/25/2018, 10:21 PM

I was gone this past Friday to last night (Sunday). Fed them well before I left, and my fish and corals are totally fine when I got back. Just let em be and don’t sweat it. They’ll be totally fine.

Plus, you probably have pods...the fish will snack on them too!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/16/2018, 10:30 AM	#1
bclaus Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 16	Vacation Feeding Hey everyone, I am heading out of town and would like to know the best/cheapest way to keep my fish fed. I currently feed them frozen brine shrimp, but am thinking switching to the flake or pellet food. I have seen things like the Banquet Feeder, where it is just a time-release feeding block, but it says it is mostly for bottom feeders. I have a royal gramma and Cardinalfish, plus lots of cleanup crew. Would the feeding block work? Or should I bite the bullet and go for an automatic feeder?

05/16/2018, 10:36 AM	#3
RobZilla04 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: St. Augustine, FL Posts: 1,857	How long are you going to be outta town? If you cannot have a friend or neighbor give you a hand, an automatic feeder would be best. I've gone a week without feeding with no observable issues. Even if a friend/neighbor is only able to come by once or twice a week, that is plenty. __________________ 90g Mixed Reef

05/16/2018, 10:36 AM	#2
j.falk Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 632	You don't have anyone who could stop by and feed an amount that you have already prepared for daily feeding? That would be the best option because then you could put the correct amount into individual baggies and the person would just have to stop by once a day.

05/16/2018, 10:37 AM	#4
bclaus Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 16	My two trusted neighbors who normally do my feedings while I am gone are also going to be out of town, so I won't have anyone to stop by.

05/16/2018, 10:38 AM	#5
j.falk Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 632	And don't forget to have them add top off water to keep the salinity stable if you don't have an ATO.

05/16/2018, 10:40 AM	#10
bclaus Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 16	That's kind of what I was thinking. I am considering getting an automatic feeder down the road anyway, so maybe I'll just do it now and get it over with

05/16/2018, 10:35 PM	#12
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Eheim auto feeder works great.

05/18/2018, 09:04 AM	#14
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	I agree, I would not worry about doing nothing for the feeding part. I have gone a week without feeding my fish.

06/25/2018, 03:42 PM	#16
Conchman Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 56	I would not worry about feeding. Maybe little extra Friday, little extra Monday. Just a little extra. Only to make me feel better....

06/25/2018, 10:21 PM	#17
Bill_Moorman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Pueblo, Colorado Posts: 188	I was gone this past Friday to last night (Sunday). Fed them well before I left, and my fish and corals are totally fine when I got back. Just let em be and don’t sweat it. They’ll be totally fine. Plus, you probably have pods...the fish will snack on them too! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk