photo credit: JoshuaDavisPhotography.COM
Keeping aquarium fish isn’t like having a dog or cat. Not only are not boarding kennels for fish typically but also the thought of moving even a small tank is a pretty scary proposition.
From the overall weight of the tank, to the risk of water clopping over the top to the potential stress and physical damage to your fish. No, an aquarium really needs to stay put. So what happens when you go on vacation?
Many people in the past have left their fish in the care of a friend or relative with basic guidance on how much to feed and how often but frequently this ends in disaster if the surrogate mom or dad doesn’t have experience in caring for fish.
A good place to start is with joining your local aquarists club or society where you can meet fellow-minded individuals who may well be willing to check on your your fish regularly while you are away – especially if you offer to do the same for them or offer up a small compensation for their help.
But let’s assume even this isn’t possible for whatever reason. A tank that isn’t being regularly watched and cared for is a potential risk and so some people may claim that you shouldn’t be taking a vacation in the first place if you don’t have someone to look after your pride and joy.
But for short periods of time (a few days) there are things you can do to minimize the risks for you and your fish and use technology to help you in your venture.
Firstly there are slow release fish blocks which one can float in the water, providing food for your fish whenever they are hungry. Indeed there are even automatic fish feeders available which will dose your tank with flakes whenever you tell it to.
Also, spreading your bets in terms of electricals can be a smart idea. For example, if you have a four foot long tank, then rather than using one pump specially designed for a tank of that size, why not use two smaller pumps so that if one fails, your aquarium will still at least have some filtration. You can even run these two pumps from two different electrical sockets to further spread your risk.
Timers can be bought to control your lights ensuring that your plants can photosynthesize during the day but your fish aren’t stressed by 24 hours of “sunlight” per day.
Incase of power cuts, it can be wise to consider insulating your tank with some bubble wrap so that if there is a problem, the water will cool far slower and hopefully when the electricity comes back on it will be less of a shock for your fish as your heater kicks back in.
Lastly, when you return from your few days away, be prepared for some serious tank maintenance. Check your fish over, carry out a water change and test the water for excess ammonia, nitrates and nitrites just to be certain that the water quality is as it should be after your absence.
