Holiday Feeding !

[BlueBolts]

Recently went for a 3 day Easter break, and repeated my routine...

1. Cleaning my cannister filters 4-5 days prior to leaving

2. Feeding twice a day 2 days prior to leaving

3. On the day of leaving, dropped in a couple of mulberry leaves, and a food pallet.

Returned 3 days later, and all absolutely perfect. Did the same routine when I went away for 6 days, and no issues whatsoever !

Mulberry leaves is the BOMB !

[CNgo2006]

The continued Sharing of Your knowledge and experience with members of SKF is greatly appreciated BB, very helpful and informative as always!

[ineke]

What about for longer holidays several weeks or more. I can leave mulberry leaves for son to put in tank and show him how much to feed when he comes weekly but what about water changes. If the tanks are stable and water changes done before you go how long can they go with only water top ups? Don't think I can get him to siphon and mix minerals etc.

Cheers

Ineke::(

[JonX]

Im not doing water changes or top ups while im working away for 3 weeks.

See how the shrimp are in 8 days.

[ineke]

Please let us know Jonx. I guess it also depends on tank size and population that's why I was going to put all cherry shrimp in one tank and hope fully get another bigger tank to put all the Crystal shrimp in. If they interbreed it may throw some nice surprises and I can separate them all out again when we come back.

Cheers

Ineke:D

[BlueBolts]

ineke, for longer period 1-2 weeks, there'll be top ups, and if you do have shrimplets etc, they'll need their powder foods. So someone dropping in once or twice a week would be extremely helpful. There's no reason why the tank won't sustain itself for longer periods, depending on presence of bio-film etc.... When I do go away for 1-3 weeks, I actually do a strict step by step schedule of a feeding regime etc....for whomever I've picked to do it. Definitely keep it simple, i.e. Monday - 1 pallet for Tank A, 2 Pallet for tank B ....etc, half spoon of powder food for tank A.... Gotta cater it directly for the person doing it, and their capabilities.... I wouldn't get anyone to add minerals etc.....just straight RO top ups !

[JohnH]

At Christmas time I was away for nearly two months. I only had the one 3' tank with Red Cherry Shrimp at that time.

I bought one of those cheap battery operated auto feeders off ebay and set it up to dispense the right amount of pellets into the tank. I also put in a couple of IAL on the day I left.

I had a friend come by once a week to check on the tank. I had a texta mark where the water level should be and a 20l bucket of aged water for her to do a top up when the water dropped.

When I got home all the shrimp were happy as Larry.

I went away recently and had the same lady feed our cat. I didn't specifically tell her not to touch the shrimp but she decided they looked hungry each day and over fed them :(

[ineke]

BB what is a pallet? Yes I can get him to drop in twice a week and put in anything I think is needed, and I can leave enough RO Water for a while plus show him how to make more. Getting a supply of mulberry leaves is different as I don't know anyone with any but I do have IAL. Biofilm is not a problem plenty of places for that to cover- I never clean the back glass or very rarely and lots of rocks etc for it to grow on plus if I shut down the other tanks just leave the filter running I can take all the mosses out and consolidate them in the bigger tanks. Thank you for putting this thread up its just what I needed

Cheers

Ineke:encouragement:

[ineke]

Oh John that's not good. I thought about the auto feeder and probably that is a safe option as I need one for the fish tank too . My son is 38 and very reliable so he could change the batteries and top up the food as needed then if he has to work away for a week the tanks can look after themselves. There's ways and means for anything just need a bit of lateral thinking

Cheers

Ineke:encouragement:

[CNgo2006]

Just be careful with those auto feeders as they are not known to be the most reliable, especially the cheap eBay ones! There can be a lot of issues such as over feeding, not feeding at all, etc!

[ineke]

Mmm I guess they would be safer going a week with nothing then. My son doesn't work away often but he does at times. Guess I will have to have a back up person, as I said lateral thinking and trusted people!

Cheers

Ineke

[BlueBolts]

JohnH - I use to have those eheim auto feeders, but I've heard too many disastrous stories...

ineke - pallet, as in a piece of shrimp food. I can send you some dried mulburry leaves, just PM me your address.

[ineke]

Thanks BB off to pm you now.

Cheers

Ineke:encouragement:

[Squiggle]

Sweet write up dude, you always know what to write & when, great work dude :encouragement:

[JohnH]

JohnH - I use to have those eheim auto feeders' date=' but I've heard too many disastrous stories...

[/quote']

Yeah, it actually died not long after I got back from holidays. It served it purpose, but I'm not sure I would use one again.