Hi Guys
I'm leaving for a 10 day vacation. Fish will be fed every other day by neighbor. I am pre filling small bags with food to try to keep control of the amount of food they get. My big question is will the fish be o.k. without a water change for 10 days? I have a 50 gallon tank that's been up and running for 5+ years. It's a community tank with dwarf cichlids, tetras, and rainbow fish. The rainbows(2) are about 5 inches long,2 other rainbows about 2 inches long, one other rainbow 4" long, bolivian ram is about 3" 6 tetra's about 2" each. Also a cichlid about 3 inches long. That's about 30" of fish. I've had the rainbows for at least 3 years. they were only about 1" long when I got them. Some of my tetras have been in the tank for 4 years. I have live plants as well. My normal water change(about 20 gals.) is done every 3-4 days. I do this mainly because I enjoy working on my aquarium. All my tests are always good. I think that explains the longevity of my fish. Any way what are your thoughts about waiting 10 days between water changes? I will do 50% change right before I leave. If I need to, my brother will come in and do the change for me but he is not an aquarist, so there is a chance that something could go wrong. Thoughts please.
I'm leaving for a 10 day vacation. Fish will be fed every other day by neighbor. I am pre filling small bags with food to try to keep control of the amount of food they get. My big question is will the fish be o.k. without a water change for 10 days? I have a 50 gallon tank that's been up and running for 5+ years. It's a community tank with dwarf cichlids, tetras, and rainbow fish. The rainbows(2) are about 5 inches long,2 other rainbows about 2 inches long, one other rainbow 4" long, bolivian ram is about 3" 6 tetra's about 2" each. Also a cichlid about 3 inches long. That's about 30" of fish. I've had the rainbows for at least 3 years. they were only about 1" long when I got them. Some of my tetras have been in the tank for 4 years. I have live plants as well. My normal water change(about 20 gals.) is done every 3-4 days. I do this mainly because I enjoy working on my aquarium. All my tests are always good. I think that explains the longevity of my fish. Any way what are your thoughts about waiting 10 days between water changes? I will do 50% change right before I leave. If I need to, my brother will come in and do the change for me but he is not an aquarist, so there is a chance that something could go wrong. Thoughts please.