Ok I am leaving to go on vacation for 5 days (Wed.-Sun.) and I have seen these weekend feeders for sale that you drop in your tank and is supposed to feed them while you are gone. I have never read up on or used one of these and wanted you guys opinions on these. Do I need one? If so how many? (with 5 gold barbs and 3 cories in a 20g reg.) thanks for all opinions.
weekend feeders?
- Thread starter MXPX4318
- Start date
ad_smith
Fish Fanatic
i asked my grandad this question and he said when he went away for a week or so he would feed them and do a water change the day he was leaving then not feed them till he got back... i think fish can go for a while without food.
wait for people with an actual 'good' knowledge of fish to reply tho vecause i'm only giving you second hand information
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wait for people with an actual 'good' knowledge of fish to reply tho vecause i'm only giving you second hand information
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AquaSeaFoam
Fish Fanatic
Weekend feeders will polute your tank. Your fish should be fine without food for 5 days.
clutterydrawer
where is my mind?
those blocks may also affect your water chemistry as they're made of plaster. I once used one and my fish didnt even eat any of it.
Hi MXPX4318 
Your fish should be fine if it is only for 5 days, if your tank is cycled and you have no little fry in there.
Do I remember reading that you are a student who lives in a dorm?
If so, it might be a good idea to have one of your room mates or friends look in on them while you are away. They could feed the fish and more important, check that temperature is OK and the filter is running properly.
If you plan to take frequent long weekends, or holiday breaks, this might save you trouble in the long run.
Your fish should be fine if it is only for 5 days, if your tank is cycled and you have no little fry in there.
Do I remember reading that you are a student who lives in a dorm?
If so, it might be a good idea to have one of your room mates or friends look in on them while you are away. They could feed the fish and more important, check that temperature is OK and the filter is running properly. If you plan to take frequent long weekends, or holiday breaks, this might save you trouble in the long run.
If you do this, then I'd advise you to make pre-measured portions of food to be fed, otherwise a non-fishkeeper is almost guarenteed to overfeed the fish and pollute the tank.Inchworm said:
thanks guys for the replies, So I'll avoid the weekend feeders, I'll get my roommate to check up on them but like sirminion said I don't trust them to feed my fish so I'll get them to make sure everything is running and the temp is right, but other then that I'll feed them before I leave and let them go five days without food. The only other vacations I have are thanksgiving (another 5 day) and then winter break (1 month, but the tank will be moved back home for this time as I don't want to leave fish alone or in the care of someone else for 1 month) so I think I'll see how this five day goes and use that to judge how thanksgiving is going to go. Thanks again guys.
clutterydrawer
where is my mind?
just an idea, HIDE the fish food before you go away - if your roommate is anyhting like most people he will think "oh the fish must be hungry by now" and overfeed them if he can find the food.
hellohefalump
Fishaholic
I'm paranoid about food blocks because I got a contaminated one and all my fish got tuberculosis and it killed half of them... after only two days.
Arfie
Fish Herder
I bought a battery powered automatic feeder yesterday for £15, got to check it out yet, but basically, you fill a chamber with flakes and it turns round once every 12 hours and dumps a measure of food.
Got to test how much it releases each time though, dont want too much being released.
Also I'm gonna turn the lights on longer upto 14-16 hours a day in the lead up to going away, to help build up the algae, whilst continuing to feed algae wafers, I'm hoping this will ensure that the bottom dwellers will have some food from the algae as the dispenser can't take wafers.
I'm away a week and I know that they could survive without food, but that'd be mean and I don't trust anybody else to do it.
Arfie
Got to test how much it releases each time though, dont want too much being released.
Also I'm gonna turn the lights on longer upto 14-16 hours a day in the lead up to going away, to help build up the algae, whilst continuing to feed algae wafers, I'm hoping this will ensure that the bottom dwellers will have some food from the algae as the dispenser can't take wafers.
I'm away a week and I know that they could survive without food, but that'd be mean and I don't trust anybody else to do it.
Arfie
Cheese Specialist
Newbie
Don't do it!! Those things are evil!! I have not read all the replies so sorry if this has already been resolved.
They are made up of ash and something else that I can never remember the name of and can only be accessed by bottom feeders. They can clog up and ruin your filter and leave your water dirty.
I say just leave the fish to it. Feed them as normal before you leave and they'll be fine. They are not like us, they do not need as much energy (don't produce own heat) and they will ind food in the tank and make it clean.
If you really wanted to, you could buy an automatic feeder but in this case IMO there is no need.
They are made up of ash and something else that I can never remember the name of and can only be accessed by bottom feeders. They can clog up and ruin your filter and leave your water dirty.
I say just leave the fish to it. Feed them as normal before you leave and they'll be fine. They are not like us, they do not need as much energy (don't produce own heat) and they will ind food in the tank and make it clean.
If you really wanted to, you could buy an automatic feeder but in this case IMO there is no need.
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