What to do for 9 days...

[Chad Hughes]

Connie,

I still add baking soda to my water to keep the Ph stable. Typically a tablespoon in 100 gallons brings the KH from 1 to 4 degrees. Works out well for a 7 day span. No waivering.

Best wishes!

[Scribbles]

Chad,

I agree with your idea of doing a large wc before you go. You're only gone 2 days longer than normal between wc so I wouldn't think that that would be a problem. If you have a spare auto feeder I would put 2 of them on the tank and feed 2-3 times daily. That's still less than usual and your water parameters are ok after a week on heavier feedings. Besides with 2 auto feeders you wont run out of grub.

Chris

[Chad Hughes]

Chris,

Good point about the double feeders. I hadn't thought of that. I can set this one for 7 feedings a day, but it would certainly run out of food in that amount of time. I may just pick up another feeder! Can't have too many of those laying around! LOL! Thanks for the suggestion!

Best wishes!

[shawnhu]

Chad,

Definately get the extra feeder if you can. I really wouldn't worry about the 2 extra days, I'd feed as normal, live on the edge!

By the looks of it, everything in your 110 is automated anyway, aside from the water changes and feeding your mix. I don't see a problem at all. In fact, I don't even think the 100% water change is necessary, might do more hard than good.

Shawn

[calihawker]

Eddie,

Good to know! Thanks for that. I'll also be asking the other contestants to do the same while I am away. LOL! Yeah right! You have to keep things fair, right? LOL!

This trip should be interesting. I'll be attending a wedding for a girl that I have known for years. The guy that she is marrying is a complete "DB". I'm curious how long it will take for me to open my mouth and say something I'll regret. I'll have to try and stay somewhat sober. LOL! I guess as long as she is happy....

Best wishes!

Well OK, to be fair I'll only do 8 feedings a day instead of ten.

Have a great time and don't get yourself in too much trouble.

[Chad Hughes]

Well OK, to be fair I'll only do 8 feedings a day instead of ten.

Have a great time and don't get yourself in too much trouble.

LOL! I'm glad you know how to joke Steve. I like that quality in people. I plant on having a great time. Haen't taken this time off work in years. Typically it's just a day or two here and there.

As for the fish, they'll be fine. I am cusrious how the growth will be affected though. I guess 9 days isn't that big of a deal.

Best wishes!

[Ardan]

I usually do a lg wc before I leave and then let the auto feeder on one or 2 small feeding per day, no wc's. I believe 8 or 9 days max in my case.

Your fish are doing very well and growing nicely. I was curious how they would do with the once a wk wc's. Looking good. (on second thought here, if you sent your fish to me, I could babysit while you are gone, but can't promise I would send them back).

take care
Ardan

[Mr Wild]

Oh Chad can;t beleive I missed this thread.

No your idea will just not work, I can tell you that straight as we are friends.

What you need to do is pay for me to come there and feed your fish. Silly thinking I wouldn't come over to help you out! Of course I would !lol

[Chad Hughes]

Oh Chad can;t beleive I missed this thread.

No your idea will just not work, I can tell you that straight as we are friends.

What you need to do is pay for me to come there and feed your fish. Silly thinking I wouldn't come over to help you out! Of course I would !lol

Hey Kath!

I wish I would have caught this before I took off for the holiday! I wold have happily had you come baby my babies while I was away! LOL!

Anyway, returned yesterday and all is well. No issues whatsoever. Well, I guess the only issue was that a couple of the sumps were about to run dry, but that's not a big deal as they are not the primary filters. Anything over the amount of time that I was gone and I would have to invest in automatic top off for the sumps.

Best wishes!

[wgtaylor]

Woohoo, good job Chad.
Hope you had a great time off and enjoyed yourself, no sense telling you
what I was doing while you were having fun.......changing water !
Really glad your setup is allowing you the extra time, that's great.
Take care, and welcome home.

Bill

[Chad Hughes]

Woohoo, good job Chad.
Hope you had a great time off and enjoyed yourself, no sense telling you
what I was doing while you were having fun.......changing water !
Really glad your setup is allowing you the extra time, that's great.
Take care, and welcome home.

Bill

Bill,

Yes, I had an excellent time. I was constantly thinking about the fish though. LOL! Anyway, I do feel a bit more comfortable about leaving for any length of time now. The discus were VERY happy to get back to their multiple daily feedings though. I had one that I swear did a happy dance when I fed them their first beefheart in 9 days. He did some sort of corkscrew maneuver when I stuck my hand in the tank. I can't say I've seen that before. LOL!

Thanks for the welcome home! I really appreciate it.

Best wishes!

[calihawker]

Welcome back Chad! Just ain't the same around here withoutya.

[rich815]

Chad, how are you fertilizing the planted tank while gone?

[Chad Hughes]

Welcome back Chad! Just ain't the same around here withoutya.

Thanks Steve!

I missed you guys as well. I love me some SD!

Chad, how are you fertilizing the planted tank while gone?

Rich,

I only fertilize the tank once a week at water changes. Speaking of plants, the tank exploded for some reason while I was away. I'll post some "before" pictures tonight when I change water. The tank is so full of plants the discus literally have a hard time swimming about. It's like a maze in there. Typically I prune at water changes, but the last time I changed water (right before I left) I didn't have time to do anything but get the water replaced.

Best wishes!

[Eddie]

Glad your back Chad and good to hear the fish are doing great + the plants.

Take care bro,

Eddie