Going away for 6 days

[johnvic]

Title says most of it. I have a 34 gal. Solana with 3 fish, some corals, starfish and small cuc. I'll be away for 6 days.

Will the fish be okay without food?

I'm going to turn off the skimmer because it would probably fill before the 6 days are up. Make sense?

Should I remove the filter pad in the center compartment for the 6 days? I check it often and sometimes it can get a little clogged, which causes reduced flow and then ATO over fills, causing a lower salinity. I can also leave a little leak space around the edges of the pad that would make it do less filtering.

Should I reduce lighting? I have my 150 W MH on for 8 hours a day. It would reduce heat to lessen the light period but I was going to leave the AC on at 75' since it will be late July/early August and my apartment gets hot.

Any ideas? I've read that you're better off not feeding the fish than training friends to feed them.

Thanks!

 

[D1J8Z]

if you have a month to train a friend I would start asap, much better idea than leaving the tank unattended for 6 days

Just my .02

 

[Aquatic Life Direct]

they can usually last close to a week but thats really getting close to the limit. I wouldnt risk it. Why not add an auto feeder?

 

[johnvic]

I was under the impression that auto-feeders are iffy, that they are prone to breaking or over feeding, or is that an urban myth?

 

[albano]

I was going to leave the AC on at 75' since it will be late July/early August and my apartment gets hot

75' sounds a little low...78-79 should be fine, and much more energy efficient.

 

[ZANYMASTER]

I have a Red Sea Max myself.I can swing by to take care of your buddies if you want.

 

[aznt1217]

The only thing I'd worry about is feeding the fish. Have somebody feed them.

Do a water change before you leave. Cut your lighting a bit. You have an ATO so it's fine, the salinity swings won't be huge and it would be gradual fluctuations so they fish should be okay.

 

[Aquatic Life Direct]

Almost all of my clients have ehiem auto feeders. Never had any issues what so ever with them

 

[johnvic]

Thanks for all the answers. I'm going to get a feeder. I'll have a buddy stop by to check on water level in my ATO and make sure no one has passed on. Also I'll save money and set the temp to 79.

 

[albano]

Thanks for all the answers. I'm going to get a feeder. I'll have a buddy stop by to check on water level in my ATO and make sure no one has passed on. Also I'll save money and set the temp to 79.

What a pleasure it is, to give advice to someone, who is actually listening!

 

[samksy]

If you have someone come over, i would just separate several portion of the fish food aside for them to feed it when he comes by. I guess one portion each time he comes over, so he doesn't over feed. I was away for a month, my tank was fine. I had a LFS came over to do my water change in the 2nd week and someone to feed the fish every other day. Good luck!

When are you going on vacation? Try to run your tank the way it'll be when you will be on vacation and see if it's fail proof. adjust.