Going on vacation?
What to do with Your
Aquarium and Fish

So you planned a vacation after working so hard all year long. Then it hits you. What about my fish?

You can't obviously take them with you! Now you're thinking who's going to feed them? Who's going to check the water chemistry?

You have all these questions in your head.

There are a couple of things to know. So let me try to help you get it organized before you leave. This way your vacation will be a 100% stress free.

Feeding the Fish

Fish can actually go for a couple of weeks without feeding. It's hard to believe but it's true.

Your aquarium will actually look cleaner when you're away since there will be less wastes that will accumulate from the lack of feeding.

One option is to get an automatic feeder. They are inexpensive and are of great help especially when you're away. You can even use it even if you're not on vacation.

Just fill them up with your fish flakes or pellet food. It will last for a while before you need to refill them again.

Most of the automatic feeder are fully adjustable (you can release as much or as little food as you want). They also operate on batteries and will easily attach to the top of the aquarium.

Another option is using the pill boxes that has dividers which states the day of the week it is. You can put just enough flakes on each day and have someone you can trust help you with the feeding.

The great thing about this option is that you don't have to worry about overfeeding and pollution in the aquarium water.

Other Details to Worry About

Try to do a partial water change right before you leave for your vacation.

It will let your fish to have a clean water while you're away.

It will also This also get the water level topped off. So you don't have to worry about low water level.

But it also depends on the rate of evaporation of course.

Try rinsing your filter media or replacing it.

What about your aquarium lighting? Should you leave it on or off?

My solution would be investing in an aquarium timer.

Like Coralife Power Center . It is a combination power strip and aquarium timer in one. It's great and very convenient.

If you have a friend, family or a neighbor that you can trust - then this is a plus.

Invite the fish sitter over a day or two before you leave for your vacation and walk them through your list. Show them exactly how to do what needs to be done correctly.

Also, give a phone number where you can be reached at immediately just in case an emergency happens to the fish and to the aquarium (water leak, heater broke and rise up the temperature, etc.).

Create a list of things you need to have them check while you're away. Here is a sample:

Feed the fish
Check the temperature. Normal is at 78-80 degrees.
Inspect the aquarium for anything out of the natural especially for leaks.

And don't forget to thank them for this big favor!

But what if you really have nobody to come over?

You're fish will be fine without food if you're going away for a week as I mentioned earlier. If you're on vacation for a longer period of time, you will be risking it by not having someone come over.

It will be from water evaporation and feeding. You're fish should be fine from a food/feeing standpoint. But your aquarium water may not be in the best shape after two weeks without your care.

So plan ahead! Take proper pre-cautions and show whoever will look after the aquarium the exact things to do and rest easy knowing that your fish will be fine.