How to keep an Aquarium while being on Long vacation

You can take your dog with you on a vacation, you can take your cat with you on a vacation. But fish? Not that easy and feasible. Even bringing one golden fish in a fishbowl will not work for flights, trains, and long-distance buses.

Besides, the water vaporing from an Aquarium can make the house in high humidity, which is not good for the house and other furniture or equipment at all.

Leaving a big Aquarium at home without attention is also a big risk, what if there is a glass broken accident?

So the best way to keep an Aquarium at home when being long vacation like 1 or 2 months is to first migrate it to a safe place.

Ideally, your bathtub would be the best place, because if something wrong happens, water can find its way out of the house without flooding the entire floor. But fish cannot live in the bathtub, therefore you need a big water bucket to place inside it. How about 150 liters if you have a 60 liters Aquarium?

That’s right, using a big water bucket like this you provide a more stable environment for the fish and plants to continue living without the need for water change for your absence time.

Of course, that’s only the first step to ensure safety. You then need to provide your fish with a good filter, good automatic lighting, and feeding. But these become easier when you have the first step done right.

Here are some more tips to make Aquarium work while you’re on a long vacation:

1. Automated Feeding: Invest in an automatic fish feeder that dispenses food at scheduled intervals. Make sure to test it before leaving to ensure it’s working correctly and delivering the right amount of food.
2. Tank Sitters: Enlist the help of a trusted friend, family member, or neighbor to check on your aquarium periodically. Teach them how to feed the fish and perform basic maintenance tasks like topping off evaporated water and cleaning the glass if necessary.
3. Vacation Feeders: Consider using vacation feeding blocks or slow-release food products designed to gradually dissolve over time, providing sustenance to your fish while you’re away. However, be cautious with these as they can sometimes pollute the water if not used properly.
4. Tank Preparation: Conduct a thorough cleaning of the aquarium before leaving to reduce the buildup of waste and algae during your absence. Perform a partial water change to maintain water quality.
5. Lighting Timer: Set up a timer for your aquarium lights to mimic the natural day-night cycle. This helps regulate the fish’s circadian rhythm and prevents excessive algae growth in the tank.
6. Temperature Control: Ensure your aquarium heater and thermostat are working correctly and set to maintain a stable water temperature. Sudden fluctuations in temperature can stress fish and disrupt the aquarium ecosystem.
7. Backup Equipment: Have backup equipment on hand in case of any malfunctions while you’re away. This includes spare heaters, air pumps, and filters.
8. Reduce Fish Load: Consider reducing the number of fish in your aquarium before leaving to minimize the bio-load and the need for frequent feeding and maintenance.
9. Test Water Parameters: Before leaving, test the water parameters such as ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and temperature to ensure they are within acceptable levels. Adjust as necessary and perform a water change if needed.
10. Emergency Contact: Leave contact information for yourself or a trusted individual in case of emergencies. This way, if any issues arise with the aquarium, someone can reach out to you for guidance.

By taking these precautions and planning ahead, you can ensure that your aquarium remains healthy and your fish are well cared for while you enjoy your vacation.