Going On Holiday, Two Tanks...

[Aviici]

Right on friday I'm off on a fishing holiday until monday evening, I've got a 35L tank that houses my siamese fighter, and 5 - 2 month old pick of the bunch guppies. I also have a 200l tank that's only housing a pleco atm, because I'm going to be changing the stock when I know I'll be there to give the tank my full attention.
 
I dose daily ferts atm, and feed the betta new life spectrum, and the guppy kids have Hikari Micro Pellets. The pleco takes some bloodworm, algae wafer, courgettes, and some cory pellets. I've got timers for the lights which I hope to God will work.
 
What should I do food wise?
I'm just going to have to not be able to dose ferts to the tank?
I'll do a water change on both tanks before I go.. anything else I've missed?
 
 
Regards, James.

 

[Mikey1]

2 days is really not that long, if you cant get somebody to feed them, i wouldn't worry about it too much,
 
i have a community tank at my wife's workplace that i take care of, well meaning i clean it once a week, and she does the feeding, there is nobody there on the weekends, so the fish are not fed from friday night till monday morning every weekend,

 

[Aviici]

So they would all be alright with no food for that long? The only thing I'm really worried about is the juvenile guppies as they're growing, but there's plants in the tank, so I suppose they could just help themselves to those!
 
Thanks though

 

[fluttermoth]

Most fish (and I'm talking about adults here, not fry) can easily go without food for two weeks or so.
 
Even your fry will be fine for a couple of days, especially if you have live plants; you're quite right; they will find enough food to pick at from the plants.
 
I feel that I ought to warn you that it's usually not a good idea to keep guppies and Siamese fighters together; the fighters often mistake the flowing fins of the guppies as being from other fighters and attack them, so keep a close eye on things as the guppies mature.

 

[Mikey1]

So they would all be alright with no food for that long?

 
they will be fine,
 
if your doing a water change before you leave i would suggest to NOT vaccuum the gravel/substrate....this will leave a bit of "crap" on the bottom of the tank for them to pick at over the weekend,

 

[Joshwainwright]

Your fish will certainly be fine without food over the weekend, there will be plenty of dirt and algae around for them to eat. It doesn't really have to be visible either for just 2 days. They'd even be alright without it.
 
Just feed before you leave and maybe add some courgette for your plec?
 
As for ferts, you're just going to accept that you can't dose them and hope your plants are okay. It's only 2 days so they should be

 

[Lunar Jetman]

As for ferts, you're just going to accept that you can't dose them and hope your plants are okay. It's only 2 days so they should be

Just double dose on Friday and Monday.

 

[Joshwainwright]

Just double dose on Friday and Monday.

In that case, hope you don't end up with any nasty blooms
 
It's not likely though...

 

[Aviici]

Thanks for the replies, yeah I'll just double dose on the friday before I go then, and throw in a slice of courgette for the plec and give the juvies and betta some bloodworms or something before I go, and let some extra in there so they work their to the bottom of the tank

 

[fluttermoth]

Don't put any extra food in; it could potentially cause an ammonia spike when you're not there to deal with it.

 

[Mikey1]

Don't put any extra food in; it could potentially cause an ammonia spike when you're not there to deal with it.

 
 
i agree, just feed as you normally do

 

[This Old Spouse]

I would add to just leave the lights off over the weekend. I've left my tanks for 10 days while on vacation and everything is fine when I return. Granted, the fish are really glad to see me, but I haven't lost one yet.

 

[Mikey1]

I would add to just leave the lights off over the weekend. I've left my tanks for 10 days while on vacation and everything is fine when I return. Granted, the fish are really glad to see me, but I haven't lost one yet.

 
 
i think he wants the lights on for the plants,
 
but even for plants, they should be fine for a few days without the light

 

[Aviici]

Will be putting the lights on a timer so they're on for 6 or 7 hours a day while I'm gone, the plants won't be getting their ferts anyway so I feel it would be too much with no lights.
 
Thanks guys, and thank you fluttermouth - that could potentially be a disaster.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Actually, the less light you have the less ferts you'd need.