How to care for tank if gone on vacation?

[spindoctor]

I still haven't pulled the trigger on starting in this hobby. One of the reasons is wondering how to care for the tank if I'm gone on vacation for a week or more?
While my friends are ok at picking up mail and making sure the automatic sprinklers have come on, they are not reliable enough to be counted on performing feedings ever day, much less in a correct manner.
If you don't have people to assist, what can you do if you're out of town for awhile????

 

[rbrockm1]

there is automatic feeders but htye don't last long and run out of food. see if lfs will do it. thats what i did and it worked out great. i was gone for 3wks and nothing died.

 

[pete159]

if you can't take care of your fish then don't get into the hobby.
read the stories of what happens when you let 'friends' take care of your fish.

 

[reefer545]

Usually the LFS offers services of this nature.
Otherwise, keep a schedule of feeding for a friend, and remind them to top off every day or other. You can always call while you are gone. I have gone away numerous times with nothing to worry about but a water change when I got home.

 

[rbrockm1]

just have them do the basics. top off and feeding. worry bout the other stuff when you get back.

 

[m0nk]

Originally Posted by pete159
if you can't take care of your fish then don't get into the hobby.
read the stories of what happens when you let 'friends' take care of your fish.
Geez, that's a rather negative statement. I agree with the others in checking with your LFS. Mine actually has two employees that have their own side business managing other people's tanks; cleaning, feeding while away, etc.

 

[spindoctor]

Originally Posted by pete159
if you can't take care of your fish then don't get into the hobby.
read the stories of what happens when you let 'friends' take care of your fish.
While harsh, I'm sure Pete represents a fierce outer element of the hobby that would rather vacation in front of their tanks than leave the fortunes of their fish to the whims of the vast masses of uneducated fish-keepers.
On the other hand, using the LFS to take care of them would still fit his requirement for hobby entry and sounds like the only other alternative.....