Table of Contents
How long do you want to go on vacation?
Before we go into the preparatory measures, we want to classify the length of the vacation where you are absent more precisely. We propose 3 different categories here:
- Short breaks up to 7 days
- Normal vacation up to 14 days (Easter vacation, Pentecost vacation, summer vacation, holiday vacation, Christmas vacation)
- Long vacation or absence of 14 days or more
Depending on which category you are in, there are other things to consider and do before you go on vacation. But more on that in detail.
General preparations before the holiday - care measures before a holiday
Before every holiday, unless of course you are only away for one night, you should do and consider a few things. Of course, these depend on the different aquarium species. Here it plays a major role whether you have a freshwater or seawater aquarium, a species tank with sensitive and high-quality fish, a breeding facility or simply an uncomplicated community tank. However, many things are universal. We list them as follows:
- Feed the fish well again
- Checking the temperature and the heating system: is everything still running correctly and are the values correct?
- Control of the filter, regardless of whether it is an external or internal filter. In the case of a longer absence, say more than 2 days from category 7, it must also be cleaned beforehand. The filter media may need to be replaced.
- Checking the lighting: Are the tubes or LEDs still OK?
- Does the control and the timer of the lamps fit?
- Is the temperature control correct?
- Check the water parameters and carry out a water change. How it works and what it all is you can find out more about this here.
- Vacuum up the substrate
- thin out plants
- Check CO2 fertilizer systems and fill up any gas tanks
- Prepare, fill and check the automatic feeder
- Check and inventory fish
- If necessary, install a monitoring system / smart home monitoring
- Write down an emergency phone number
- Prepare replacement parts, such as the second heating rod, new filter media and replacement lighting
- Precise instruction of holiday care / holiday help
- Put everything important in writing
Short breaks up to 7 days
Anyone who is only away for a few days will usually get by without special holiday help or another person. (There are also exceptions here, see below)
An automatic feeder can be used to feed the animals. This is already available for less than 100 euros and should be taken into account for the first holiday. Or you can even get by without feeding them at all. See also the feeding section further down in the article.
Filters, heating and lighting normally do not cause any problems in this short time and do not require any maintenance.
If you have made the preparations mentioned above, then nothing should actually go wrong here.
Of course, always assuming the measures are all positive. This also includes the water values.
Normal vacation up to 14 days
If you go on a somewhat longer holiday, you will not be able to avoid a caregiver or support. Be it to feed the fish or to fill up the automatic feeder. This does not have an unlimited capacity and sometimes becomes empty. Without feeding it will usually not work in such a time frame.
care measures like that Filter cleaning or caring for the plants and the substrate are also not necessary for up to 14 days.
You won't need a water change either. This can usually be postponed to the 14 days.
Nevertheless, the electrical devices should also be monitored and controlled. Is the temperature still right? Is the filter reliable?
The water parameters do not usually need to be checked in a well established aquarium. Nevertheless, certain values may need to be checked. A system like this might be useful here JBL Proscan which is especially easy when it comes to handling.
Long vacation or absence of 14 days or more
If you go on vacation for a longer period of time, someone who maintains aquariums himself or at least has maintained them is absolutely necessary. You won't get along here without it. Even just an acquaintance will not be enough. Too much can happen in the time it takes experience. Be it when changing the water, which you can no longer and should not pull out, or when checking the water parameters.
Exceptions breeding facilities and high quality fish
As already described above, there are of course exceptions where, for example, the fish cannot only be fed with an automatic feeder, but where much more care is required. This includes, among other things, discus tanks or breeding facilities. Frozen food and live food cannot be fed via an automatic feeder. Here you will need someone who will help you even if you are absent for two days.
You shouldn't go on holiday at home without competent support if you are either caring for juvenile fish or if you have only recently set up the tank and stocked it with fish.
Even if the water values are currently causing major problems, you should think twice about whether you are going on vacation or whether you have someone competent on hand who can help you as a vacation replacement.
How long can fish go without food?
This question cannot be answered in principle, because it depends very much on the age and also on the type of fish. But fish are very frugal and persistent if you don't feed them for a long time. Often the cause of early death is overfeeding rather than underfeeding.
Adult fish come well and happy up to 14 days !!! without food. Of course, this is not the case with young animals. Some of them have to be fed up to 5 times a day.
So if you take a closer look at the top three categories, you quickly realize that there should be no problem not feeding the fish at all for up to 7 days.
Don't be afraid. Fish can withstand this without any problems !!
Where can I find support and competent helpers for the holidays who take care of my aquariums?
We also want to answer this question briefly. Anyone looking for support during their vacation will first look for it in their family environment. However, most of these people are not well-versed in aquaristics. Nevertheless, this will be sufficient if you do not want to be away for more than 14 days.
Everything about it requires a person or people with experience in the field of aquaristics and aquarium care.
Either Facebook is a good choice here. Here, for example, we also have a group and page with lots of aquarists who would certainly be happy to help if they live in the area. You can also look for support in our aquarium forum or in other aquarium forums. Aquarium associations and clubs are also very suitable for this. Look for help at the Aquarium Stammtisch or through classified ads. There is certainly a possibility.
Instruct your temporary workers well !!
It is very important that the people who are helping are instructed in detail. Take your time here and explain everything step by step. Above all, non-professionals when it comes to aquariums are quickly overwhelmed. As a result, mistakes such as feeding too much and the like quickly happen. We certainly don't need to tell you what can happen then. Be it that the nitrite values are skyrocketing or the filter is failing. This can even result in large fish kills. Again and again, there is an increase in algae formation during holiday replacements.
In addition, she should write everything down exactly. Step by step what needs to be done. Be it the care and control and also the feeding. You should also have your phone number and possibly a second one ready for emergencies.
Monitoring systems and remote control – smart home
Today there are more and more possibilities and technical devices to monitor certain controls electronically. Be it measuring the temperature or checking the flow of the filter. Also controlling the Lighting can be monitored remotely. Alexa, Siri, Google Home and Homematic always make it easy for us to implement controls via Smarthome. So you have access to the aquarium temperature or other important values even on vacation.
Water values such as PH value, conductivity or others can now be easily monitored with probes. Aquarium computers record the values and monitor them. Alarms can also be sent quickly if there are any irregularities. Of course, these systems also cost a lot and it is certainly not needed in a 200 liter community aquarium. In a seawater or freshwater aquarium with high-priced fish, it can be worthwhile. Electronic measurement and monitoring is also advisable in breeding facilities.
Cameras can also be switched on at any time. This would give you the opportunity to observe the behavior of the fish. Above all, the high-resolution cameras in 4K allow the assessment of the water (turbidity, algae blooms...). If there are any questions, use our forum. When it comes to video surveillance of aquariums, we are experts.
These could also be switched on remotely.
If you are looking for a high-quality system for discus cymbals and the like, you will find a lot of know-how with the products from GHL. There are aquarium computers which, in addition to controlling the light and temperature, can also control the PH value and CO2. The measurement of the conductance and the humidity as well as the oxygen enrichment can be measured. Forwarding of the programmed alarms and a query is possible via SMS, email or, of course, via the app.
We are not affiliated with GHL nor do we receive any commission for mentioning it.
We answer questions in our forum
After returning from vacation – what do I have to do then?
Basically, all the work that you should do before you go on holiday usually falls there. Check water values, filter and Heating check, change the water, check and count the fish, suck off sludge...etc. Get your aquarium back in shape.
And not to forget. Give your help a little something and say thank you. This is the only way to have a helper by your side on your next vacation!