going to be gone for 5 days. fish/plants

[skjl47]

Hello; I use timers on my lights and have for decades. Timer for lights work well.

Some years ago I was away from home for five days a weeks for a total of two ten month stretches. Home only on the weekends. I used a battery powered feeder with good results during these times.

May I strongly suggest setting up such feeders at least a week before you leave. It takes a few days to make sure all is functioning well. I had to try different mixes of dry food untill I found one that worked good enough. There are also adjustments that control the amounts dumped that need to be worked out. I also found that I had to move a feeder a bit as it was dumping the food onto the tank cover. I suggest if you do not have several days to work this stuff out, that you just let the fish fast and put a timer on the lights.

Also tiger barbs do not eat plants in my experience.

 

[xraycer]

May I strongly suggest setting up such feeders at least a week before you leave. It takes a few days to make sure all is functioning well. I had to try different mixes of dry food untill I found one that worked good enough. There are also adjustments that control the amounts dumped that need to be worked out. I also found that I had to move a feeder a bit as it was dumping the food onto the tank cover. I suggest if you do not have several days to work this stuff out, that you just let the fish fast and put a timer on the lights.

Also tiger barbs do not eat plants in my experience.

^^^^THIS^^^^^

 

[syddakyd]

Yeah, chances are the fish and plants will survive the absence. My concern is; why subject the system to that stress after all the regular maintenance that was done to get it to a condition it is enjoyed? Add to that the personal stress of worrying that the tank is, in fact, fine. For the cost of a trip to a fast food joint you can add a timer to the light and a simple battery-operated automatic feeder. These piddling little items will help keep the system going as if you've never left. And, provide you one less thing to worry about as you're traveling.

I lost my job due to fibromyalgia. I never travel but my sister is getting married. other than that I would definitely not risk anything.