Vacation what are my options

[Lewjo11]

I have an eighty gal tank with 48 Discus that are 3 months old 1.5 to 2 inch. I'm going on Vacation in July 27 for 8 day. I also have 3, 29g tanks with breeding pair in each. And a smaller 10G that I'm trying to save 7 babies an inch or less in size. Looking for ideas. I can get my X to feed them but no water change options.

Thanks for all advice!

[RickMay1]

I just got back from a 8 day vacation. This is what I did and I had zero loss. 1. Change water the day before you leave, didnt feed them after the water change. 2. Leave. 3. get back home and resume normal fish keeping. Really, 8 days is not that long. Dont worry about it, enjoy your vacation.

[CliffsDiscus]

Should be no problem if your Discus are real healthy.
Cliff

[RogueDiscus]

I'd agree, that time away would be no problem for adults or near adults if they and the tank are properly prepared. fasting before the final water change might also be worthwhile. Hope others will comment on that. Does anyone else have a concern for the smaller ones without food for that time? The 48 at 2" might be pretty hungry, as will the 1". I'd question the water in the 80 also.

[Lewjo11]

Thanks! Never did this with Babie fry and yes there extremely heathy! None died since swimmer.

[Lewjo11]

Do cooler water temps work better? Now at 30C

[slicksta]

No experience or testing done but in theory yes.
Fish are cold blooded so the cooler the water, the slower the metabolism.
I've kept juvenile at 26.5 in a community tank and they didn't become the biggest fish but they were healthy

[Willie]

I'd buy a few automatic feeders and start using them immediately.

You can get away with not feeding young discus, but that's hardly optimal. Feeding something is a whole lot better than feeding nothing. Water changes are less of an issue since the feed amount will be small and nothing will be left in the tank. Reduced feeding also means reduced fouling of the water.

Good luck, Willie

[Lewjo11]

I will have my X stop by to feed and walk my dog. Maybe it's good to leave the big ones alone and get them good and fat.. I have 2 month till vacation. So the same with the fry. Then have her drop I frozen beefheat cube in on the 3rd or fouth day. I do have an auto feeder but only the fry are eating it. I trained them young just an idea. Open to more

[snxtif]

You are a warrior.

I would totally let my discuss go food-less for 8 days than gotta deal with my X lol.

[danotaylor]

I would think they be worse off feeding with no water changes for 8 days than 8 days without food...but I wouldn't really know experientially...