Going On Vacation With A Planted Tank

[Revision17]

So, I have heavily planted tank, that I'll be checking up on once a week for about 4 weeks. The rest of the time I'll be across the state.

Specs:
2.5 WPG
Nutrafin CO2
Tom Barr's EI fertilization regimen
Dwarf Sagittaria- half the tank
Rotala Magenta- other half of the tank


Right now I don't have a lighting timer or autofeeder anything (I'm not too overly concerned about the fish.. I'm sure two good feedings in one day a week will be fine). However for the plants, I don't want to leave the lights on all the time and turn my tank into algae central . Should I buy a lighting timer? Or will my plants be fine with one day of light a week for a month (along with not being fertilized.. but then if the light is off, I can't imagine them needing much in the way of fertilizer)?

 

[Rubix]

i'd buy a timer. the best $3-4 youll spend on your aquarium. i have every tank on a timer, it's the best worry free way to operate an aquarium. no planted tank should be without one.

 

[Revision17]

Since I won't be there to fertilize, should I reduce the photoperiod?

 

[Rubix]

how often do you add ferts and do water changes?
im no expert, im just trying to ask questions to which the answers will hopefully get everyone's mind in gear on this one. im interested in this topic too, as i will be away from my tanks for 3-4 weeks soon.

 

[Revision17]

Forgot to mention that it's a 20 gallon tank.

My current regimen is the following:
Sunday: 25% water change
Thursday: 25% water change, with 1 tsp MgSO4 and 1 tsp CaSO4

Even days: 1/4 tsp KNO3, 1/32 tsp KH2PO4
Odd days: 1/32 tsp Plantex CSM+B, 1/16 tsp 10% iron chelate

16 hour photoperiods

So I'm thinking of switching it to (for the vacation period), if people deem an automatic light timer necessary:
Sunday: 50% water change, 1/4 tsp KNO3, 1/32 tsp KH2PO4, 1/32 tsp Plantex CSM+B, 1/16 tsp 10% iron chelate
4 hour photoperiods

If people don't deem an automatic timer necessary for plant survival:
Sunday: 50% water change, 16 hour photo period and dose: 1/4 tsp KNO3, 1/32 tsp KH2PO4, 1/32 tsp Plantex CSM+B, 1/16 tsp 10% iron chelate before the photoperiod

lights off for the rest of the week

 

[Themuleous]

16hr photoperiod? Thats way to much! For the holiday I would halve the lighting if you are able i.e. run the tank with 1.5WPG, that'll slow the plants down and mean they wont used the ferts so much which'll mean it shouldn't matter if the tank isn't getting any ferts for a week and get a timer so you can run the lights for 6hrs each day. That'll keep the plants ticking over while you're away. Each week when you check up on it, I'd dose one lot of trace ferts and perhaps a halve dose of P and N.

BTW Do you suffer from algae much? When you get home after the 4 weeks I would reduce the photoperiod to 10hrs max. Plants need dark almost if not more than they need the light, to recover and use the sugars they have made during the day. There is a limit to how long plants can endure constant light before they reach capacity. If you ran your lighting 24/7 I dare say the plants would die within a few weeks.

Hope that helps

Sam

 

[Revision17]

16hr photoperiod? Thats way to much! For the holiday I would halve the lighting if you are able i.e. run the tank with 1.5WPG, that'll slow the plants down and mean they wont used the ferts so much which'll mean it shouldn't matter if the tank isn't getting any ferts for a week and get a timer so you can run the lights for 6hrs each day. That'll keep the plants ticking over while you're away. Each week when you check up on it, I'd dose one lot of trace ferts and perhaps a halve dose of P and N.

BTW Do you suffer from algae much? When you get home after the 4 weeks I would reduce the photoperiod to 10hrs max. Plants need dark almost if not more than they need the light, to recover and use the sugars they have made during the day. There is a limit to how long plants can endure constant light before they reach capacity. If you ran your lighting 24/7 I dare say the plants would die within a few weeks.

Hope that helps

Sam

I think I'll do what you said and get a lighting timer with 1.25 WPG.

I actually don't have too many problems with algae (except a bit of green spot algae on the side of the tank, which a weekly brushing takes care of). Dramatically increasing the amount of fertilizer I use (which I did about a month ago), decreased algae growth to near nothing (except green spot algae). The 16 hour photoperiod is mainly because I flip on the lights when I wake up, and turn them off when I go to sleep .