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JayTee 
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 Topic: Feeding while on vacation
Posted: October 16 2007 at 8:52pm |
Does anyone have good ideas or recommendations on feeding fish while their owners are on vacation? I know that the feeding blocks or cubes are available, but I fear that a lot of that food just pollutes the water and filters, but I hope I am wrong. I need a quick way to take care of this, since my fish - sitter just backed out on me - the day before I leave. Any tips would be great.
Thank you.
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Jeremy
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BobC63
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Posted: October 16 2007 at 8:57pm |
If you are going to be gone less than 8 days I would recommend not feeding while on vacation. Less than 15 days you could have someone come in 1 day to feed 1 time - you having the exact portions of food set aside so their can be no mistake as to how much food gets put in the tank in your absence...
I would, however, suggest having someone you trust check in on your tank at least once daily, if possible. Simply to prevent a major catastrophe like a sump overflow, or stuck on heater, or short circuiting light fixture from going unnoticed for any length of time. If they find something wrong you can tell them what to do about it over the phone...
It will at least give you some 'peace of mind' while you are away...
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- My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) -
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JayTee
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Posted: October 16 2007 at 9:02pm |
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Thank you, Carlos. So are you saying that if I am gone for just 5 days, that my fish should be fine without any food for that period of time?
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Jeremy
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BobC63
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Posted: October 16 2007 at 9:04pm |
Yes.
But do have someone look in on your tank just to make sure everything is alright, even if no one feeds the fish...
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- My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) -
* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: October 16 2007 at 9:15pm |
I agree. Have someone check in.
But don't feed your fish.
I only feed my tank every 10 days as it is.
Adam
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chk4tix
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Posted: October 16 2007 at 9:25pm |
 Adam Blundell wrote:
I agree. Have someone check in.
But don't feed your fish.
I only feed my tank every 10 days as it is.
Adam |
Not to high jack this thread, but I currently feed my fish twice a day. once with flake, then later in the day, I feed mysis shrimp to make sure my copperbanded gets something. I am I feeding to often? My fish always seem hungry I swear. How often should I feed them? every 2 days? every 3 days?
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ReefBones
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Posted: October 16 2007 at 9:29pm |
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Call and get a quote from Bruce (EwaldsReef) .. not sure what he charges for just take sitting ..
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140 gallon Reef
65 gallon Reef
55 gallon Aggressive
www.thesalttank.com
801-865-6074
"encourage other divers and sea enthusiasts to take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but bubbles"
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BobC63
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Posted: October 16 2007 at 9:35pm |
chk4tix wrote:
Adam Blundell wrote:
I agree. Have someone check in.
But don't feed your fish.
I only feed my tank every 10 days as it is.
Adam |
Not to high jack this thread, but I currently feed my fish twice a day. once with flake, then later in the day, I feed mysis shrimp to make sure my copperbanded gets something. I am I feeding to often? My fish always seem hungry I swear. How often should I feed them? every 2 days? every 3 days?
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It is quite likely that you are feeding too much, if not too often. Healthy fish will always "seem hungry" and some will eat to the point of harm...
I read elsewhere in this forum that you wrote you are having trouble keeping corals alive - even soft corals. This may be related to your feeding regimen and (perhaps) excessive nutrients and organics in your water...
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- My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) -
* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *
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chk4tix
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Posted: October 16 2007 at 9:50pm |
Wow, I never would have thought about that. I guess I need to do more research.
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Original Crappy Reef Club Member #2
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bbauman
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Posted: October 16 2007 at 9:55pm |
I fed my fish every day 2-3 times a day a long time ago. After asking here, I now feed once a week. Fish are still doing great and I've seen a reduction in nitrates. How many fish you you have in your tank, Keith?
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Debbles
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Posted: October 16 2007 at 10:04pm |
PLEASE have someone check on your tank. We went to a family reunion for 4 days in July and came back to about a $700 loss of coral. Our tanks overheated and killed over half of our corals. The fish will be ok without food but trust me, you don't want to walk in after a nice vacation and see half your tank melted or just plan gone. I would call Bruce to see what he charges to tank sit.
Deb
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Yes Mikey...I still have fins!!!
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chk4tix
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Posted: October 16 2007 at 10:08pm |
Inhabitants:
1 - Copperbanded
1 - Powder Blue tang
1 - Yellow Tang
2 - clown w/ host BTA
2 - yellow tail damsels
1 - lawnmower blenny
1 - foxface
1 - pink tube anenomemisc snails, hermits, stars
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Original Crappy Reef Club Member #2
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jeffras
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Posted: October 16 2007 at 10:11pm |
chk4tix wrote:
Not to high jack this thread, but I currently feed my fish twice a
day. once with flake, then later in the day, I feed mysis shrimp to
make sure my copperbanded gets something. I am I feeding to often? My
fish always seem hungry I swear. How often should I feed them? every 2
days? every 3 days?
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I must be in the minority with respect to feeding.
The question of feeding really depends on what fish you have. I feed my
fish at least twice a day if not more. According to Scott Michael most
fish in the Marine Fishes book should be fed two to three times a day.
I spoke with Anthony Calfo briefly the last time he was here and he
mentioned that lack of feeding may be why I had seen little to no
growth with my tangs. Ron Shimek is also a big fan of feeding a reef
tank.
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Jeff Rasmussen
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Mike Savage
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Posted: October 16 2007 at 10:16pm |
Feed as often as you want them to eat. They will eat every time you feed them. I feed mine daily.
Mike
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cl2ysta1
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Posted: October 16 2007 at 10:24pm |
jeffras wrote:
chk4tix wrote:
Not to high jack this thread, but I currently feed my fish twice a day. once with flake, then later in the day, I feed mysis shrimp to make sure my copperbanded gets something. I am I feeding to often? My fish always seem hungry I swear. How often should I feed them? every 2 days? every 3 days?
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I must be in the minority with respect to feeding.
The question of feeding really depends on what fish you have. I feed my fish at least twice a day if not more. According to Scott Michael most fish in the Marine Fishes book should be fed two to three times a day. I spoke with Anthony Calfo briefly the last time he was here and he mentioned that lack of feeding may be why I had seen little to no growth with my tangs. Ron Shimek is also a big fan of feeding a reef tank.
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We feed our fish very frequently. With a lot of algae grazers in our tank we always have romaine available. Also have an automatic fish feeder that feeds 3x a day small amounts and we supplement with frozen also. It is great food for the corals. feed your fish well and your corals eat well. As long as you have sufficent skimming and water change routine you shouldnt worry about feeding too much
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BobC63
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Posted: October 16 2007 at 10:25pm |
Jeff / Mike:
I think that he may have an issue with the quantity of food he is feeding rather than the frequency alone. And I agree that there is nothing wrong with daily (or even multi times a day) feedings -
as long as you are not overfeeding on total quantity.
Which IMO may be the case here...
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- My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) -
* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *
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JayTee
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Posted: October 16 2007 at 10:27pm |
Thanks for all of the input. I thought everyone fed daily, and I thought that maybe I have been underfeeding. Fish are healthy though. But, I do have a nitrate issue that I have never been able to resolve. Maybe my feeding habits are to blame.
Can I ask, without holding anything against anyone, will I be fine if I go 4-5 days without feeding the fish? Its a swin only tank, and I only have 3 fish - sailfin tang, regal tank (pretty big guy), and a six line wrass, along with a cleaner shrimp. Will my fish starve?
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Jeremy
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BobC63
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Posted: October 16 2007 at 10:30pm |
cl2ysta1 wrote:
jeffras wrote:
chk4tix wrote:
Not to high jack this thread, but I currently feed my fish twice a day. once with flake, then later in the day, I feed mysis shrimp to make sure my copperbanded gets something. I am I feeding to often? My fish always seem hungry I swear. How often should I feed them? every 2 days? every 3 days?
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I must be in the minority with respect to feeding.
The question of feeding really depends on what fish you have. I feed my fish at least twice a day if not more. According to Scott Michael most fish in the Marine Fishes book should be fed two to three times a day. I spoke with Anthony Calfo briefly the last time he was here and he mentioned that lack of feeding may be why I had seen little to no growth with my tangs. Ron Shimek is also a big fan of feeding a reef tank.
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We feed our fish very frequently. With a lot of algae grazers in our tank we always have romaine available. Also have an automatic fish feeder that feeds 3x a day small amounts and we supplement with frozen also. It is great food for the corals. feed your fish well and your corals eat well. As long as you have sufficent skimming and water change routine you shouldnt worry about feeding too much |
Crystal:
I think the last 2 words in your post should not be "too much", but rather "too often"... If you feed too much food at one feeding a week than that 1 feeding is 'too much'. If you feed sparingly 5 times a day, everyday, plus have nori or lettuce for grazing... those 5 a days feedings may not neccesarily be 'too much'...
See my point? 
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- My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) -
* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *
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jeffras
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Posted: October 16 2007 at 10:31pm |
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No, The fish will be fine.
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Jeff Rasmussen
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BobC63
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Posted: October 16 2007 at 10:31pm |
JayTee wrote:
Thanks for all of the input. I thought everyone fed daily, and I thought that maybe I have been underfeeding. Fish are healthy though. But, I do have a nitrate issue that I have never been able to resolve. Maybe my feeding habits are to blame.
Can I ask, without holding anything against anyone, will I be fine if I go 4-5 days without feeding the fish? Its a swin only tank, and I only have 3 fish - sailfin tang, regal tank (pretty big guy), and a six line wrass, along with a cleaner shrimp. Will my fish starve? |
I think everyone will agree that you CAN go 4-5 days without feeding on occasion - with no harm to your fish 
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- My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) -
* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *
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