No vacations, 2 scared to leave tanks, can't make autofeeder work for all fish

[MissMolly]

Hi guys,

so I have a smaller tank w fish, cuc and rock + a pico tank w fish and macroalgae. Both wokring great and stable.

BUT I don't feel that I can go on a proper vacantion because I'm too scared anything will happen to the tanks and I havn't been able to setup a proper feeding system. I have been away for 4 days tops and my mom and dad has been driving 80 km each day to feed the fish. Not sustainable.

I have tried to set up the Eheim autofeeder but the problem is that if I feed a small amount, not all fish will get some, and if I feed a larger amount the flakes get sucked right into my skimmer. Sinking pellets would be much better for me due to the skimming issue but the problem is that I have a blenny that is a very slow eater and he catches flakes easier.

It has come to the point where I really feel tied down by my tanks. I love them but this is a huge headache.

Can you please tell me about your vacation routine? In details please!

I need some time off.

 

[VintageReefer]

Hi guys,

so I have a smaller tank w fish, cuc and rock + a pico tank w fish and macroalgae. Both wokring great and stable.

BUT I don't feel that I can go on a proper vacantion because I'm too scared anything will happen to the tanks and I havn't been able to setup a proper feeding system. I have been away for 4 days tops and my mom and dad has been driving 80 km each day to feed the fish. Not sustainable.

I have tried to set up the Eheim autofeeder but the problem is that if I feed a small amount, not all fish will get some, and if I feed a larger amount the flakes get sucked right into my skimmer. Sinking pellets would be much better for me due to the skimming issue but the problem is that I have a blenny that is a very slow eater and he catches flakes easier.

It has come to the point where I really feel tied down by my tanks. I love them but this is a huge headache.

Can you please tell me about your vacation routine? In details please!

I need some time off.

Mix flake and pellet in the auto feeder?
Pay a neighbor or friend feed your tanks?
Premeasure out all the portions so there is no risk of overfeeding. Put it in a daily pill dispenser. This one is 6$

Fish will be fine being fed once a day

Or use 2 timers and set the skimmer to run 23 hours a day and have the feeding timer happen when the skimmer is off

Or. Choose between vacation and tanks. If you’re stressed a vacation won’t fix anything. You’ll come back and be in the same boat. Fix the source of the issues

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

It sounds like you need more flow on the water surface. Aim your powerhead at the surface to create agitation. That way, when the feeder drops the food, there is enough agitation on the water surface that the flakes get pushed under water. Food should be dropped into a high flow area, not onto a flat water surface, food will not sink with a flat water surface.

 

[Dburr1014]

Feeding ring really helps with flake food. It stays put until it sinks.

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Another thing you can do is feed heavy for a few days leading up to the vacation. Have someone come every other day or every third day. (as long as they come). Fish will be fine if they skip a day or two.
You just have to make sure the ATO can handle that and everything is in working order for the week leading up to the vacation.

 

[MissMolly]

Mix flake and pellet in the auto feeder?
Pay a neighbor or friend feed your tanks?
Premeasure out all the portions so there is no risk of overfeeding. Put it in a daily pill dispenser. This one is 6$

Fish will be fine being fed once a day

Or use 2 timers and set the skimmer to run 23 hours a day and have the feeding timer happen when the skimmer is off

Or. Choose between vacation and tanks. If you’re stressed a vacation won’t fix anything. You’ll come back and be in the same boat. Fix the source of the issues

Thank you.

Mixing would be great but pellets fall to buttom in autofeeder

My skimmer is built in. I have a Tidal hang on by Seachem, so I can't turn off

I'm relatively new in town, and the only option I have is my parents that lives quite far away. Also they take care of my two dogs so it's a lot

Do people really choose? I work so many hours a week on the tanks and I love having them but sacrificing vacation would be a lot I think.

 

[MissMolly]

Feeding ring really helps with flake food. It stays put until it sinks.

Two Little Fishies Mag Feeder Magnetically Coupled Feeding Point for Aquariums | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Two Little Fishies Mag Feeder Magnetically Coupled Feeding Point for Aquariums at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Another thing you can do is feed heavy for a few days leading up to the vacation. Have someone come every other day or every third day. (as long as they come). Fish will be fine if they skip a day or two.
You just have to make sure the ATO can handle that and everything is in working order for the week leading up to the vacation.

Feeding ring is GREAT!!!! I HAVE NOT THOUGHT ABOUT THAT!!!! WOWOWOWOW

 

[Stang67]

I frequently travel. I have auto feeders and a timer. Fish don't "need" to be fed everyday. Regardless it may sound harsh but everything is replaceable. You and your wellbeing mentally are more important then your tanks. Truely go live your life, your tanks will be just fine.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Hi guys,

so I have a smaller tank w fish, cuc and rock + a pico tank w fish and macroalgae. Both wokring great and stable.

BUT I don't feel that I can go on a proper vacantion because I'm too scared anything will happen to the tanks and I havn't been able to setup a proper feeding system. I have been away for 4 days tops and my mom and dad has been driving 80 km each day to feed the fish. Not sustainable.

I have tried to set up the Eheim autofeeder but the problem is that if I feed a small amount, not all fish will get some, and if I feed a larger amount the flakes get sucked right into my skimmer. Sinking pellets would be much better for me due to the skimming issue but the problem is that I have a blenny that is a very slow eater and he catches flakes easier.

It has come to the point where I really feel tied down by my tanks. I love them but this is a huge headache.

Can you please tell me about your vacation routine? In details please!

I need some time off.

I have someone come check on my tank every other day. I divide food out into little sauce cups and tell the person watching my tank to use one cup a day.

 

[MissMolly]

Feeding ring really helps with flake food. It stays put until it sinks.

Two Little Fishies Mag Feeder Magnetically Coupled Feeding Point for Aquariums | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Two Little Fishies Mag Feeder Magnetically Coupled Feeding Point for Aquariums at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Another thing you can do is feed heavy for a few days leading up to the vacation. Have someone come every other day or every third day. (as long as they come). Fish will be fine if they skip a day or two.
You just have to make sure the ATO can handle that and everything is in working order for the week leading up to the vacation.

Then I could feed with flakes only!

 

[Bruttall]

Get to know your neighbors, chances are one of them will be willing to feed your fish for you while you are out of town, hell mine even mowed my yard while I was away once.

 

[MissMolly]

I frequently travel. I have auto feeders and a timer. Fish don't "need" to be fed everyday. Regardless it may sound harsh but everything is replaceable. You and your wellbeing mentally are more important then your tanks. Truely go live your life, your tanks will be just fine.

This almost made me tear up. You are absolutely right. I do obsess about this and I do sacrifice a lot. I'm working from home and I'm like looking at and working with these tanks so many timnes a day and it mayve has taken over too much.

 

[MissMolly]

Get to know your neighbors, chances are one of them will be willing to feed your fish for you while you are out of town, hell mine even mowed my yard while I was away once.

Not an option. I do know them quite well acutally. But unfortunaly a mix of old ladies over 80 who most def will **** up my tanks (if they make the stairs to my apartment) and some young people, sweet and fun but already think it's a MAJOR deal to grab my packages when Im away.

 

[VintageReefer]

This almost made me tear up. You are absolutely right. I do obsess about this and I do sacrifice a lot. I'm working from home and I'm like looking at and working with these tanks so many timnes a day and it mayve has taken over too much.

What is it you’re doing with them takin up so much time each day? I have a 1.1g, a 15g, and a 75g. I spend 30 min a week on them total. Maybe less

 

[MissMolly]

I have someone come check on my tank every other day. I divide food out into little sauce cups and tell the person watching my tank to use one cup a day.

Very smart. I have been doing that too with parents but they need to drive such a long way so it's unsustainable more than a few times a week. Someone mentioned that they could be fed every third day and that might be doable for them.

 

[exnisstech]

Fish can go a long time without food. I think you'll be good for a week if you feed a little heavy before. I've had an auto feeder malfunction once and did not feed fish and they were fine.

Do people really choose? I work so many hours a week on the tanks and I love having them but sacrificing vacation would be a lot I think.

I use my tanks as an excuse not to vacation. But I'm an old retired guy content to hang out with my dogs and fish with no desire to go anywhere.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Very smart. I have been doing that too with parents but they need to drive such a long way so it's unsustainable more than a few times a week. Someone mentioned that they could be fed every third day and that might be doable for them.

I don't feed my fish daily when I'm out of town. I've seen some people go almost 4 to 5 days with no fish food and still have successful tanks.

 

[VintageReefer]

Get a plank feeder that uses freeze dried, mixes with water, and dispenses underwater

I held off as long as I could because of the price but feeding anthias multiple times a day was proving difficult. The plank is great and no food gets wasted

 

[dan’s tanks]

Since we have a cat, we already hire a pet sitter, and they are pretty good with feeding the tanks.

 

[Gill the 3rd]

Ive left my fish tank for a 5 or 6 days without feeding and everything has been fine. Its not ideal, but it works. I tend to feed heavy anyway so my fish are all fat to begin with. I have an avast auto feeder now so its not as big a deal, but doesn't help with frozen food.

I also only keep livestock that I know will be able to last without frequent feeding. I no longer keep anthias for that reason.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Plank feeder.. without question. Mix the reef jerky from Avast with whatever flakes or pellets you want. They food will dispense pretty evenly.

Other than that, as others have said, your fish can go many days without you feeding them. Most will graze in the tank anyway.