Leaving Tropical Fish

[costatbost]

How can I be sure that my tropical tank will be alright if I have to go away for a week . Also can I seed a new filter with old aquarium water and put it safely into the aquarium

 

[england]

Seeding a new filter,just take the old filter sponges,squeeze them into a small container,just as if you were cleaning them,make sure you use tap water only, then replace and run filter as usual,then what i do is soak the new sponges in all the filth you have just removed,prob around a half hour.
Then put these sponges into new filter and add all the filth into the sponge holder on filter and add to tank,with the exsisting filter still working along side..

As to you tank being ok,make sure all electricals are working prior to going,check heater and what temp water is at,feed daily until you go, then before you go give a good waterchange and leave, then if you can get a friend or family member to pop in and check on them,feeding,only really has to be once or twice in a week, sometimes my fish go without food for three days..

 

[Peggers]

Seeding a new filter,just take the old filter sponges,squeeze them into a small container,just as if you were cleaning them,make sure you use tap water only, then replace and run filter as usual,then what i do is soak the new sponges in all the filth you have just removed,prob around a half hour.
Then put these sponges into new filter and add all the filth into the sponge holder on filter and add to tank,with the exsisting filter still working along side..

Do you mean tank water? Surely washing in tap water would kill the bacteria.

 

[england]

lol my bad....sorry i was going to say "MAKE SURE YOU USE TANK WATER NOT TAP WATER" Then changed it trying to say just tank water,and somehow i deleted wrong bit....

so again, Make sure you use TANK WATER TO WASH SPONGE'S, NOT FROM THE TAP

 

[Corleone]

I've let all my fish go for nine days once without food. I noticed a harlequin rasbora missing afterward but that was it. It can feel uncomfortable leaving your pets so long unfed, but cold blooded animals need a lot less food than warm blooded ones. Most of the stuff we eat is burned just maintaining our body temperature.

 

[meguro]

if ur gone for 2 weeks or less, simply feed them up nicely 2-5 days before u go. do a 30-50% water change the day before u go. and they should be fine

 

[costatbost]

Many thanks for information. Very helpful. Especially filter info.

 

[reignofcheese]

I go on vacation for up to two weeks without feeding my fish, and I have never come home to a dead fish. They are cold blooded and can go long periods without food with no negative effect. Since their metabolism slows down in cooler water I turn my tropical tanks down from 78 to 72 for the trip. I don't feed anything extra before leaving because I don't want messier water while I'm gone and the fish are already healthy and do a nice water change before leaving.

FYI to seed the new sponge you need to keep it in old aquarium water for an extended period of time. I would either put old media from the old filter into the new filter and start using it, or use the old and the new filter on the tank for a few days and then remove the old one.