To add or not to add??

[Phillydubs]

So, I have run this question by a few of my local fish friends to mixed reviews...

As some of you may or may not know, I have a "tad" overstocked 55... It currently runs an aquaclear 110, a big hydro sponge the V i believe and a 9watt UV sterilizer...

I am going away for a week in a couple days and I always stress about vacations like everyone else. I had been thinking maybe I should add some more filtration/water movement...

I was wondering what you guys thought here...

Should I add more filtration or at this point is it just unnecessary? If you say I should add... Should I add another 110 a 70 another sponge.. more air stones?

Like the inpatient man I am, a 70 and 110 arrived from amazon today, so I guess the choice is mine or I send one back or both or keep one as a spare...

Just looking for everyone's thoughts if you care to chime in...

[Neptune]

If your tank is stable and running well, why mess with it. It will survive a week on its own.

[Poppa Ryno]

I agree. A happy healthy system will be fine for a week or so, but being a worry wart like I am. I would say another sponge couldnt hurt a darned thing. for peace of mind, ya know. Adding a bag of purigen while gone would be another suggestion. Ive found purigen very effective as a safety net when leaving for more than a few days.

[Phillydubs]

How does the purigen work and how do you add it ?

[Neptune]

How does the purigen work and how do you add it ?

You can buy it preloaded in a mesh bag. Simply place it where water can flow through it. An hob is excellent.

It absorbs organic substances. When it is very brown, regenerate as per instructions with bleach.
Dechlorinate it and it's ready to use again.

[Darcon]

No food or really small piece, stable tank and everything will be ok after that. I tested the same a few weeks ago.

[Filip]

I would add purigen , extra sponge or other filter , and bump up the surface agitation for extra oxigen.
BTW . How many were they Phill ? 10 big ones in a 55g. right?

[brewmaster15]

Phil,
About the only thing I would do is "no Food". Lights off if possible or minimal. If your water is acidic or has a low Kh I would add a bag of crushed coral in a nylon stocking to your filter to prevent a pH crash.

hth,
al

[Neptune]

I'm new here....so don't know how bad I'm going to get flamed for this, but here goes...

I have to travel for work almost all of July.
I was home one day in the middle of July and did a 75% water change. Other than that, my discus are on their own for a month.

I have a big sump. run, purigen, have an auto top off and and an auto feeder. Lights are on timers, etc.
My wife is home to watch them, but she does no maintenance with the tank. She says the fish are all doing fine!
Certainly have not lost any.

I know its not the best, but if you can keep your water stable for a week they will be fine! Not optimal but they will survive.

[jmf3460]

I would do nothing Phil, other than get an automatic feeder and put some loose FDBW in it. When I go away I cut my automatic feeder back to two feedings per day instead of 3. Even 2 feedings per day is probably less than one cube with my automatic feeder because the loose is so fluffy. Set your lights on timers and be done with it. Arent your fish at work?? Have you not taught anyone to do water changes yet??

[Neptune]

Here is my bottom line on this stuff...

don't change anything that you can't be there to observe and correct.

[brewmaster15]

I'm new here....so don't know how bad I'm going to get flamed for this, but here goes...

I have to travel for work almost all of July.
I was home one day in the middle of July and did a 75% water change. Other than that, my discus are on their own for a month.

I have a big sump. run, purigen, have an auto top off and and an auto feeder. Lights are on timers, etc.
My wife is home to watch them, but she does no maintenance with the tank. She says the fish are all doing fine!
Certainly have not lost any.

I know its not the best, but if you can keep your water stable for a week they will be fine! Not optimal but they will survive.


Hi, You aren't going to get flamed for your comment here.:badmin: Theres alot of ways to do a thing. Alot of what works depends on multiple factors. The age and health of the fish, the water parameters in the tank, Stocking densities, the foods you feed, and of course your filtration all play a role in determining what works and doesn't in these situations,

hth,
Al

Ps.Welcome to SimplyDiscus!:)

[Dhavalsp]

if it is just for a week, I think you should do nothing at all....if they are all 5 inch plus then don't try to use auto feeder as well....

Just do a big WC a day prior and don't feed on that day. cut the light time and if (big if) you want you can reduce the temp by 1 or 2 F.

[Phillydubs]

Wow... Quite a bit to tackle here! Now I am even more confused! Lol! j/k.. I appreciate the help guys...

Darcon - I tend to agree with the less is more approach and I have gone away for about this time maybe even a tad longer with no issues... a few times even such as the birth of my daughter, I wasn't even prepped so this time you would think I would be more relaxed. The fish were fed monday, lightly yesterday and will not be fed today. They have had 75%+ water changes monday and tuesday and will get another big one tonight before I go... I really do not see any issues but I wanted to be safe and it was on my mind so i tossed it out here...

Flip - yes you are right I have a tank full of big boys ;/ - I am leaning towards and interested in the purgeon. It can't hurt right? Or should I be worried, running a new item without my being here to observe? Based on your suggestions it sounds like an hob stuffed with a sponge and some purgeion can also add some more surface movement. So I would cover all your suggestions with the addition of another hob. I could add a new 70 ?

Al- I do not have acidic water that I know of, I have never done anything or used crushed coral for anything...

Neptune - thanks for the purgien info... I've heard of people who let the fish go for quite some time with no issues. A month is a long time, ucky you got to sneak in that WC...Hope they are ok and you will have some hungry guys soon!

Jacklyn - I am kind of a firm believer in clean water is better than food, I get worried about left over food pooping and all that... I am going w the one day fast big wWC and go... unless I add the 70 with some purgien... I take that look but don't touch approach w the tank at work! I have one guy here who I could prob trust to do it and I've been close to asking but then I say nah...

[Akili]

Last feeding Friday night and large water change(100% if possible) on Saturday morning with additional removal of detritus and adding water in the evening Gone for holidays on Sunday for ten to fifteen days has worked for me in the past.On returning a large water change. Once left 12 adults in 90 gallon with no extra filtration and had no problems on my return.

[Filip]

Purigen is a chemical filtration ,an organics adsorbent simmilar to active carbon but more adsorbing and specialised toward the DOCs /organics instead of the broad range that active carbon covers.
It can't hurt for sure , it may only help a bit with your overall filtration .
The same goes for an extra sponge and extra surface agitation . They can't hurt either, but may only help .
So yes , my maybe a little paranoid oppinion is that a new hob stuffed with double dose purigen and sponge would be a better option .
And I would also add the Al s idea of a blackout/ covering the tank walls combined with Dhavals idea of lowering the temp. To 1 Celsius's less, to put the discus in a hibernate mode .

[rickztahone]

Big WC before leaving, no feeding during and WC when you come back. You'll be all good. No extra filtration needed

[Willie]

Adding chemicals, then leaving right away, is probably not the safest thing to do. On the other hand, doubling the number of sponge filters would do no harm. Every tank gets cleaner with more sponge filters.

Remember the previous advice, do not have your wife feed the fish daily. They'll do fine if fed once a week. You rather come home to hungry fish then dead fish. I travel all the time, 10 - 14 days at a time, sometimes 2 - 3 times a month. When I'm gone, a trusted fellow discus keeper comes in to feed once a week. So this is nothing to worry about.

[Filip]

Just for clarification .
Seachem purigen is not a chemical , its an absorbing filter material that absorbs organics .
It either works or it just don't . But it can't be harmful in anyway , just like adding an extra sponge isnt.

[Phillydubs]

Thanks again everyone for the feedback. I took the "if it ain't broke approach" even after Ricardo informed me via text to drop in 200 grams of als worms before I left .... ;)

Kidding....

I agree... Hungry over back floating. I know it's the summer okympics and all but I don't need any floaters ...

As I said earlier no one touches my fish or the tanks and I believe in the no food approach. I did 3 big 90% changes before I left and the fish were fasted for 24 hrs proper to the final chanhe and my departure.

I almost feel silly for posting the vacation thread and I guess my little filtration question was a way around that because I do know what the correct answer is. But I was curious if adding would so much of anything. I'm all for sponge filters and love them but one in a tank is enough for me. They aren't so sexy and I can tuck one in a corner and deal but 2 is pushing it for my eye appeal