Going out of town for a bit

[nikkifro8994]

So, this is a little early, but I need to find a way to keep my tank alive while I'm out of town. I'm currently in Tallahassee for school, but I'll be going home for the week of Christmas. I'll also be going home for 3 weeks in May for a tonsillectomy. Definitely NOT looking forward to that recovery process! Anyway, on to the tank specs!

Tank Specs:
12 gallons tank (~10 gallons of water)
Aquaclear 20 HOB power filter with sponge, carbon, and bio-max
Modified aquaclear 30 HOB fuge with chaetomorpha and a clip on LED light
50 watt heater
2 25 watt incandescent lights
20 lbs live sand
15 lbs live rock (I think)
1 red hermit crab
1 small Occelaris clown
1 small royal gramma
Handful of turbo snails
Quite likely some pods, unless the piggie fish ate them all

I don't have a timer for the tank, but I'll get one before I go on vacation. I live with my great aunt, but she has Alzheimer's and will likely not remember to feed the fish, or worse forget that she already fed them and feed them too much. Feeding them is difficult because Nemo likes to snatch all of the food before the Royal comes out of hiding. I have to be sure that they both get enough food and the hermit has some too. They get frozen food so any kind of automatic feeder won't work for me. I was thinking maybe I could get a bunch of live food and put it in the tank a day or so before I leave. I don't know how well this will work, though. I'm worried the fish will eat it all at once and REALLY foul up the water. Plus I don't want them to be spoiled with live food and then switch back to frozen when I return.

My second problem is top off. I could leave the lights off so there won't be as much evaporation. Currently they are on for 6-8 hours each day and I add about 1/2 of a gallon each week. The week at Christmas will be alright, but three weeks in May is a gallon and a half short.

And the final issue I can think of is water quality. Again, one week will be alright, but three is too long to go without a water change. I change 3 gallons every Sunday. I could do a large one before I leave and another when I return, but I still worry about nitrates getting too high.


Any tips on how to handle these 2 trips, especially the longer one, are much appreciated!
Thank you!
Nikki

 

[dmanatee]

if you have a local fishstore, they might be able to have a tank sevice come in, or put an add on craigslist.

I know in my town there is a reputable tank cleaning/servicing company who took care of my three aquariums when I was away for an entiere summer on internship. Not a single fish missing, and not a coral lost.

 

[nikkifro8994]

I saw a few listings for tank service places when I was searching for a saltwater shop. I live about 30 minutes outside Tallahassee and almost 45 minutes from the closest fish place. I'm hesitant to put an add on craigslist, but I might if the service companies can't help me out. I think for the week at Christmas they'll be alright. It's only a week so it won't throw off my water changes. They've gone without food for 4 days and been fine. That might be my trial period to see if my aunt can handle feeding them.