Vacation and my poor planted tank - Aquarium Advice

shawmutt · 07-11-2005, 09:25 AM

I'm going on a two-week vacation on Friday, and my wife's mother and sister will be looking after the tank while I'm gone. This is the first time away from my tank since I went fully planted. It eats through nitrates and phosphorous like nobody's business. I've been using Seachem's liquid ferts, and am wondering about keeping my plants happy while I'm away. Asking them to dose my tank my way (take measurements and add accordingly) is out of the question, and I'm trying to think of the easiest way to do it.

Do I A. Prepare estimated doses in little dated cups (I bought them for all the different fish foods I have to use, ok?) based on current usage, and have them add it that way, B. figure out a good minimum amount to maintain the plants and measure it out in cups, or C. leave the plants alone for two weeks and cut out the die-off when I come back (oh man I'm already having nightmares of algae if it's C).

madchild24 · 07-11-2005, 10:16 AM

B it pretty much idiot profe (not saying ur wifes mother or sister is stupid)

Jchillin · 07-11-2005, 10:40 AM

I agree with B...minimum is always preferable over maximum.
C is out of the question based on your note that the plants are hungry for their nutrients. Algae taking over the tank...and plant die-off is just unacceptable.

Good luck and enjoy your vacation!

PS - You can call in and ask what the condition is if possible. Babysitters are used to that...right?

Feynman · 07-11-2005, 01:48 PM

I did C when I went to Japan for two weeks. My plants hurt bad. It took me awhile to get the plants healthy again. Also, I grew a new kind of algae I hadn't seen before that is still hanging around.

But... at least as a worst case scenario it's not so bad. Your plants won't completely die... especially if they're somewhat healthy when you leave.

malkore · 07-11-2005, 03:11 PM

another option, is to reduce the amount of lighting (not duration, but intensity). 2 weeks at half normal lighting shouldn't bother too many plants, though foreground plants (esp. glosso) will grow leggy, reaching up to the light. Combine that with less fert dosing and you shouldn't get into too much trouble. If using Flourish ferts you could just use the label dosing...as it's designed for a lower light setup.

greenmaji · 07-11-2005, 09:00 PM

Could you get your lighting intensity down to 2wpg or so?

shawmutt · 07-11-2005, 10:14 PM

Thanks for the opinions, I'll go with B. Unfortunately I have 1 96W [acronym:f41307584b="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:f41307584b] bulb, so there's no way to cut down on the lights.

greenmaji · 07-11-2005, 10:54 PM

That lighting is hard to get around... will your [acronym:371f374bec="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:371f374bec] [acronym:371f374bec="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:371f374bec] hold out?

shawmutt · 07-11-2005, 11:02 PM

Quote:

That lighting is hard to get around... will your [acronym:270785a523="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:270785a523] [acronym:270785a523="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:270785a523] hold out?

I usually change a bottle once a week just out of habit, but one bottle of my mixture could last for a month if I needed it to--so it will be fine.

greenmaji · 07-11-2005, 11:16 PM

Plan B sounds good then! Good Luck!

07-11-2005, 09:25 AM	#1
shawmutt Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greencastle, PA Posts: 2,050 Images: 6	Vacation and my poor planted tank I'm going on a two-week vacation on Friday, and my wife's mother and sister will be looking after the tank while I'm gone. This is the first time away from my tank since I went fully planted. It eats through nitrates and phosphorous like nobody's business. I've been using Seachem's liquid ferts, and am wondering about keeping my plants happy while I'm away. Asking them to dose my tank my way (take measurements and add accordingly) is out of the question, and I'm trying to think of the easiest way to do it. Do I A. Prepare estimated doses in little dated cups (I bought them for all the different fish foods I have to use, ok?) based on current usage, and have them add it that way, B. figure out a good minimum amount to maintain the plants and measure it out in cups, or C. leave the plants alone for two weeks and cut out the die-off when I come back (oh man I'm already having nightmares of algae if it's C). __________________ ~Mike Shaw Shawmutt.com. Blogs and Pictures of the Massively Multiplayer Offline game, Real Life.

07-11-2005, 10:16 AM	#2
madchild24 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ontario canada Posts: 165	B it pretty much idiot profe (not saying ur wifes mother or sister is stupid) __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~FRESHWATER~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ my new site www.tetraworld.us.tt ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #1) 10 [acronym:e2b85492ae="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:e2b85492ae]- 2 mollies and 3 tiger barbs ~~~~All tanks below are planted~~~~ #1) 10 [acronym:e2b85492ae="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:e2b85492ae] - just ferns #2) 10 [acronym:e2b85492ae="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:e2b85492ae] - a pleco and 3 neon tetras #3) 30 [acronym:e2b85492ae="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:e2b85492ae] - empty #4) 20 [acronym:e2b85492ae="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:e2b85492ae] - qaurtine #5) 50 [acronym:e2b85492ae="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:e2b85492ae] - mature plants with cichlids

07-11-2005, 10:40 AM	#3
Jchillin Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York, NY (The Big Apple) Posts: 12,970 Images: 47	I agree with B...minimum is always preferable over maximum. C is out of the question based on your note that the plants are hungry for their nutrients. Algae taking over the tank...and plant die-off is just unacceptable. Good luck and enjoy your vacation! PS - You can call in and ask what the condition is if possible. Babysitters are used to that...right? __________________ _________________________________

07-11-2005, 01:48 PM	#4
Feynman Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 108	I did C when I went to Japan for two weeks. My plants hurt bad. It took me awhile to get the plants healthy again. Also, I grew a new kind of algae I hadn't seen before that is still hanging around. But... at least as a worst case scenario it's not so bad. Your plants won't completely die... especially if they're somewhat healthy when you leave. __________________ 38 [acronym:11fd5fdd00="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:11fd5fdd00] planted 8 rummy nose tetra 2 kribs 1 upside-down catfish 1 [acronym:11fd5fdd00="Siamese Algae Eater"]SAE[/acronym:11fd5fdd00] 10 [acronym:11fd5fdd00="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:11fd5fdd00] planted 1 female betta 1 african brown knifefish 1 [acronym:11fd5fdd00="Siamese Algae Eater"]SAE[/acronym:11fd5fdd00]

07-11-2005, 03:11 PM	#5
malkore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nebraska, USA Posts: 6,540	another option, is to reduce the amount of lighting (not duration, but intensity). 2 weeks at half normal lighting shouldn't bother too many plants, though foreground plants (esp. glosso) will grow leggy, reaching up to the light. Combine that with less fert dosing and you shouldn't get into too much trouble. If using Flourish ferts you could just use the label dosing...as it's designed for a lower light setup. __________________ Visit my aquarium pages - see specs on my tanks, and photos of how they've evolved My other passion: TheNinja 500R - updated 9/18/05

07-11-2005, 09:00 PM	#6
greenmaji Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 5,937	Could you get your lighting intensity down to 2wpg or so?

07-11-2005, 10:14 PM	#7
shawmutt Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greencastle, PA Posts: 2,050 Images: 6	Thanks for the opinions, I'll go with B. Unfortunately I have 1 96W [acronym:f41307584b="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:f41307584b] bulb, so there's no way to cut down on the lights. __________________ ~Mike Shaw Shawmutt.com. Blogs and Pictures of the Massively Multiplayer Offline game, Real Life.

07-11-2005, 10:54 PM	#8
greenmaji Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 5,937	That lighting is hard to get around... will your [acronym:371f374bec="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:371f374bec] [acronym:371f374bec="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:371f374bec] hold out?

07-11-2005, 11:16 PM	#10
greenmaji Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 5,937	Plan B sounds good then! Good Luck!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Going on vacation... tank has fry	erica	Freshwater & Brackish - General Discussion	8	11-09-2006 09:25 PM
My poor poor ADF T___T	Puriti	Freshwater & Brackish - General Discussion	1	07-02-2006 02:05 PM
Suddenly Fish tank poor!!! LOL	Ricky@3rdshift	New Acquisitions	5	08-29-2005 11:21 PM
my poor poor hubby.....	Melody	The Lounge	18	11-18-2004 01:45 AM
My poor poor cleaner shrimp :)	Doan	Saltwater & Reef - Archive	13	12-31-2003 03:39 PM