Leaving My Tank...

[cnoel08]

By the time I actually get my tank set up it will be around thanksgiving time and i will be going home, since i am a college student. I am planning on starting off with some live plants and probably holding off on the fish until after the break. Would it be ok to leave the tank a week by itself, only plants and no fish. I will have a 29gal long with sand, maybe some river stones mixed in with it.
If it is not ok to leave it then how would you suggest to transport the tank and maybe some fish also. I live about 1hour and 15 min away from my school.
Thanks,
Cameron

 

[cassharper]

hold off till after break for fish... moving them sucks and is dangerous. You could probably just leave it as is. To make it do some work for you while you are gone... however. Put the lights on a lamp timer (like $3-4 at walmart) and toss some fish food in (don't over do it!). The decaying fish food will create ammonia->nitrite->nitrate while you are gone 1) to help cycle it 2) get the plants roots anchored and maybe get a big of growth action.

 

[cnoel08]

Ok thanks! do i need to put any snails or anything in the tank? And will i need to have the filter running?

 

[cassharper]

run the filter, and add snails if you like. They will add to the bioload, but if they're the only things in the tank that won't be too large of a problem.

 

[cnoel08]

ok, sounds good! any suggestions for getting the tank/fish home for xmas? lol

 

[cassharper]

How long are you going to be gone? There are very viable options other then breaking the tank down. Trust me, you want to avoid this if possible.

 

[cnoel08]

it is just around a month....

 

[cnoel08]

no more advice?

 

[badisbadis101]

timer for lights automatic feeder for fish should be okay

 

[cnoel08]

timer for lights automatic feeder for fish should be okay

what do you think about throwing a few snails in the tank, no fish yet?