Vacation Aquarium Care
When planning a vacation or business trip, it's a good idea to arrange for someone to check on your aquarium while you're away. Problems with the power going out, an overflow pipe getting plugged up, a heater malfunctioning, or other unfortunate situations can arise at any time. To make sure that your water pets are safe and happy, there are a number of things you can do before you leave.
Be sure to do any necessary maintenance tasks several days prior to your trip. A system that is in top-notch condition will need little care while you're away. Ask someone you know who is trustworthy and reliable, and who has some knowledge about saltwater aquariums, to check on your system and make sure that things are running properly.
A few of your helper's necessary tasks might include:
- Topping off the tank
- Feeding the fish
- Turning the lighting system off and on
- Adding supplements, if you have a reef tank
Some of these tasks can even be automated. If necessary, you can purchase an automatic top-off system, automatic light timer, or an automatic fish feeder. When you choose these options, be sure to run them for a week or so before your vacation just to make sure they are functioning properly.
If you decide to use a helper while you're away, be sure to go over the basics of how your system is set up. If you'll be gone for a substantial amount of time, you'll want to cover everything in greater detail. Plan ahead and have your helper spend time with you and your aquarium, showing them how to do any tasks that may need to be performed. You might even put together a checklist to make their job easier.
Be sure to stock up on any supplies your helper will need to use. Having a batch of premixed saltwater handy is always a good idea, in case of an emergency.
Why risk something going wrong while you're away from home, possibly resulting in the loss of all of your aquatic pets? Plan ahead to ensure that your tank inhabitants are safe and sound when you return!
