Everyone needs to get away at some point, be it for business or pleasure, and as aquarium keepers, our first thought in these situations is will my aquarium be ok while I’m away?
Just that thought can cause considerable stress but we are here to help you find the best way of caring for your aquarium while on holiday.
Even if you have a partner or a friend who is knowledgeable about the hobby it’s still best to plan ahead and take certain steps that will make it easier for them to look after your aquarium while you’re away.
If you don’t have someone who is going to look after your tank in your absence there are still things you can do to make sure everything is fine when you get back.
Table of Contents
Aquarium Care Before You Go Away
Lighting
The fish, plants or corals in your tank thrive best with a settled lighting schedule and it’s important to keep this consistent while you are away for any length of time.
If you leave your lights on the whole time you are away this will cause undue stress to your fish and almost certainly lead to algae problems. Conversely, if you leave your lights off the whole time plants and corals will not be able to photosynthesise and will suffer as a result.
Instead, you should use an automatic plug timer set to turn your lights on during the day (9-12 hours) and off at night.
Of course, you may have lights that are programable and allow you to set a 24-hour light cycle in which case let the cycle run as normal while you are away.
Temperature Control
If you have a good heater for your aquarium it should keep your water temperature stable while you are away but we also recommend using a temperature controller on your aquarium for added peace of mind.
General Maintenance
It’s a good idea to look ahead and see what general maintenance tasks may fall due while you are away and decide whether to bring them forward or delay them until you get back.
Water Changes – Depending on your schedule, decide whether it would be best to do one before you go away or can it wait a few days until you get back. If you do decide to do one before you go, do it a couple of days before to allow the tank to settle again.
Don’t be tempted to do a huge, abnormal, water change just before you go as this could cause big swings in your parameters.
Testing – It might be a good idea to do your normal tests a few days before you go away in case anything has gotten out of kilter and you still have time to take action.
Equipment Maintenance – Again, decide if the equipment that requires regular maintenance or cleaning should be attended to before you go.
When was the filter and pump last cleaned? etc.
For a saltwater aquarium, the following routine tasks also need to be considered carefully.
Skimmer – Empty and clean the cup. Will it need emptying while you are away? If so, have the drain pipe empty into a separate container and make sure it has enough capacity.
Filter socks etc – Replace them with fresh ones and consider whether they will last the duration. Perhaps filter cups with floss would be longer-lasting.
Auto Top-off – Make sure it’s well maintained and you have sufficient capacity of replacement RODI water to cover the period you are away.
Pumps / Wavemakers – It might be a good idea to strip these down and give them a thorough cleaning if you haven’t done so recently.
Dosing – If you are dosing a reef aquarium with chemical elements or coral food, then you need to plan ahead to make sure your dosing schedule is maintained while you are away.
Don’t be tempted to dump several days’ worth of your dosing solutions all at once before you go.
If you are manually dosing, make sure your fish-sitter has clear instructions on what to do, how much to dose and how often.
A far better solution would be to get a good dosing pump and automate the process. Just be sure that your dosing containers have enough solution in them to cover the duration of your absence.
All the above steps should be taken in good time before you go on holiday or on a business trip. They will give your aquarium and its inhabitants the best chance of stability in your absence.
Using a Fish-Sitter
If you are lucky enough to have someone who will act as a fish-sitter while you are away then great. It has to be the best option, even if they have no knowledge of aquarium keeping.
However, you must take careful steps to ensure that they have clear instructions on what to do and when.
Provide a simple, clear to-do list and try to make it consistent throughout the period. Avoid tasks that are only done on Tuesdays for example.
Don’t use jargon. It might make sense to you but will be double-dutch to them. Walk them through the list and preferably have them do the tasks for a whole day before you go. This will give them, and you, more confidence.
If your fish-sitter can’t come every day, adapt your to-do list so that it matches the days they can come in.
Give your sitter set amounts to feed by using small plastic bags or a weekly pill-box with the right amount in each compartment. (Pill boxes work very well for small chunks of frozen food wrapped in cling-film. Just keep the pill-box in the freezer.)
Feeding Your Fish While You Are Away
Feeding is perhaps the biggest concern most people have about caring for their aquarium while on holiday but it need not be…
Do Not Feed Your Fish
If you are only away for a few days, a long holiday weekend perhaps, your fish will be fine with no feeding at all. Some species even benefit from a period of fasting.
Fish in the wild don’t get the regular meals we give them so don’t worry about not feeding them for a few days.
However, if you are away for a week or more then you may wish to look at alternatives if you do not have a fish-sitter.
Automatic Feeders
Automatic feeders are a great way to feed your fish while you are away. Pre-loaded before you go on holiday, the feeders will dispense a set amount of food at the times you set.
They can only be used for flakes, granules, pellets and freeze-dried foods though so don’t add frozen cubes of brine shrimp!
Test them thoroughly before you go and be sure to get a good branded one. We recommend the one below:-
 | Fluval PF2 Fish Feeder | Check pricing on eBay >> *Free UK Delivery |
Holiday Food Blocks
At first sight, food blocks look like a great idea. A solid block of food that you put in the tank that slowly dissolves over time releasing quantities of food each day.
Except they don’t really do that. They are far more likely to dissolve too quickly or be attacked by fish until they disintegrate, usually leaving a cloudy mess in the aquarium and a rapid rise in nitrates and phosphates.
Don’t use them.
As you can see, caring for your aquarium while on holiday just requires careful thought and planning. Do that and you can go away knowing your aquarium will be just fine. Enjoy your trip!
Caring for Your Aquarium While On Holiday FAQs
How do you maintain an aquarium during vacation? – Feeding your fish is the main issue when on vacation. If you are only away for a few days, the fish will be just fine. If longer, arrange for someone to feed your fish or get an automatic fish feeder.
Look to do any major maintenance tasks before you go, like water changes and filter cleaning
How long can you leave an aquarium unattended? – Provided your tank is well maintained you can happily leave it unattended for a few days, even up to a week.
After that, you will need to get someone to feed your fish or use an automatic fish feeder. Don’t be tempted to get a holiday food block as these can deteriorate prematurely and poison your tank.
Should I leave my fish tank light on while on holiday? – Yes, you should leave your lights running at their normal schedule.
Use an automatic plug timer set to turn your lights on during the day (9-12 hours) and off at night.