Will my fish be ok for 2 weeks with a holiday block? Its just that i have no alternative but will it be ok for pleccys and cories as well or is there a special one for them? Im planning on doing a water change before i go and normally do 20% weekly so would i do 40% before leaving? Any advice welcome.
Holiday Blocks
- Thread starter fish mad
- Start date
Qays
Fish Herder
Good question, Im leaving for 2 weeks in december.
I've had bad experiences with feeding blocks, and I know others have too. I was only gone for 6 days, and when I came back, they had wreaked havoc on my tank. My pH was swinging, and the water stats were completely off. I don't think they actually gave the fish that much food, either.
Some people opt to just not feed their fish for those 2 weeks. That can work, but it depends on what fish you have. And if you have lots of live plants, it's more likely that will work, since they can feed off the organisms on them. Are you sure there is no way you could get someone in to feed them? Have you checked out automated feeders?
Some people opt to just not feed their fish for those 2 weeks. That can work, but it depends on what fish you have. And if you have lots of live plants, it's more likely that will work, since they can feed off the organisms on them. Are you sure there is no way you could get someone in to feed them? Have you checked out automated feeders?
Arnt they supposed to be really bad for the fish to?
Saedcantas
Fishaholic
Mmmm plaster of paris...
While I might work in Trade, I never recommend anyone actually use these pieces of rubbish. I think it is a far better idea to make sure you have a fair amount of green foods in the tank as plants unless you have an automatic feeder and simply leave them for the 2 weeks. Maybe lots will disagree with that, but I've always found it works much better than the pollution caused by the holiday blocks.
While I might work in Trade, I never recommend anyone actually use these pieces of rubbish. I think it is a far better idea to make sure you have a fair amount of green foods in the tank as plants unless you have an automatic feeder and simply leave them for the 2 weeks. Maybe lots will disagree with that, but I've always found it works much better than the pollution caused by the holiday blocks.
smurfyy_2k3
it's a shame stupidity isn't painfull
either look in to a automated feeder or give them a big feed before you go
Teelie
Fish Aficionado
I've left my fish for a week without feeding and they all did fine. Give them a moderate sized feeding and more importantly, a good sized water change before leaving.
Snick
Fish Crazy
ive actually left my fish for a week on a 14 day block, and they did fine, except for the fact that there was no food left! But they survived, and of course the water stats did change.... but they where fine.
I have automatic feeders and have used them on long 6-week holidays. I don't like them much either, but they are far better than food blocks. Feeders have a tendency to dispense too much food, and I dislike that. You can't do much about it though when you're gone for 6 weeks. I wish there was one that dispensed food every other day, as that would be much better for fish while people are away, but most dispense twice a day. This amount is too much, IMO, even when set to the lowest setting, and can lead to water problems as well and algae build up due to excess nutrients. I don't ever feed my fish twice a day, and sometimes I'll skip feedings if nutrients are too high. Sorry, but it's an aspect of timed feeders that you should know about. Still better than blocks.
llj
llj
dwarfgourami
Fish Connoisseur
If you are going to get an automatic feeder, go for a more expensive one with separate compartments so that you can decide how much goes into the tank at each feed. You can buy them online. I had a disaster with a cheepo one that fed far too much; I actually did better with the tank that had tetra sticks (seem to contain less plaster than the feeding blocks).
My preferred option now is to put portions into a pill box from the pharmacy and bribe a neighbour to pop in every 3 days. If the feed is divided in portions, all other fish food hidden, and the pill boxes and tanks clearly numbered (in case of multiple tanks), even a non-fishkeeper or a 10-year-old can do this job reliably. This has the advantage that they can also fish out any dead ones before they foul the tank and ring you in case of absolute disaster.
My preferred option now is to put portions into a pill box from the pharmacy and bribe a neighbour to pop in every 3 days. If the feed is divided in portions, all other fish food hidden, and the pill boxes and tanks clearly numbered (in case of multiple tanks), even a non-fishkeeper or a 10-year-old can do this job reliably. This has the advantage that they can also fish out any dead ones before they foul the tank and ring you in case of absolute disaster.
THAT is the best method by far, and what I did for my last holiday! Thanks for thinking of it, dwarfgourami, I was sleepy last night. I have two of the super complicated pill boxes, excellent choice.
Thanks everyone but i think im considering not going lol
THAT is the best method by far, and what I did for my last holiday! Thanks for thinking of it, dwarfgourami, I was sleepy last night. I have two of the super complicated pill boxes, excellent choice.
Thanks everyone but i think im considering not going lol
THAT is the best method by far, and what I did for my last holiday! Thanks for thinking of it, dwarfgourami, I was sleepy last night. I have two of the super complicated pill boxes, excellent choice.
Dude im sure they would be fine as long as your carefull of how you do it
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