How do you feed a reef tank when you're away?

[delpni]

So I usually have some friends around to help take care of my fish when I'm out of town however, all of my local friends and I are going on vacation :thumbs: and I have no one to care for my fish. :unsure: I have an auto top-off with a 10 gallon reservoir (75 gallon tank), which will be fine for 7 days. I know I can get an auto fish feeder for flakes or pellets however, I do not know what to do about my anemones, sponge, feather dusters, and clam (maxima)? I typically feed them Microplex and DTs 3 times per week. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm leaving in a few weeks, so I need to find a solution pretty quickly! My LFS will care for them for me (a generous offer) however, my inhabitants are well adjusted in their home and I prefer not to move them.

Thank you!

 

[cr500_af]

Those inverts will be fine for a week.... I have gone three or four weeks without feeding my RBTA plenty of times. Is the clam a little one? Once they grow up some they don't require any "target" feeding. I'd be mostly concerned with making sure the fish get at least a meal or two during that week.

 

[delpni]

My clam is new and young. I have only had him for 5 days and he is about 2 inches long...a baby, which is why I'm concerned about him getting enough food. As for my fish, I'm going to pick up an auto-feeder for their flakes and pellets. I need one that will do both though because my Coral Beauty HATES the flakes! :yuk:

 

[drnecropolis]

I have had people come over to top off the tank.. That's it.. Once a tank is mature the fish should be able to forage for food for a while and be healthy..

In the case its not to that point yet, someone could feed the fish (premeasured amounts) while you are gone..

 

[brianjfinn]

How long has the tank been set up, and do you have a fuge? If you have a well established system with a good number of pods, the only thing I'd be worried about is the clam. The fish and other inverts would be fine if they have the alternate food source. Can't speak for the clam, though, as I don't have any experience there.

 

[delpni]

brianjfinn;549112 wrote: How long has the tank been set up, and do you have a fuge? If you have a well established system with a good number of pods, the only thing I'd be worried about is the clam. The fish and other inverts would be fine if they have the alternate food source. Can't speak for the clam, though, as I don't have any experience there.

I've had the tank running for about six months now. I added a bag of "PODS" about 3-4 weeks ago and recently, I have noticed white bug-like critters (I'm assuming copepods..spelling?...) fluttering around the tank. My clam is my biggest concern. It's purple, or blue depending on the lighting.

 

[schwaggs]

I measure out the feedings and put them in ziploc snack or sandwich bags. The person watching my tanks thaws one bag every other day and feeds it to the system. No risk of over feeding.

I agree with the others, the inverts can go a week without feeding.

 

[mvm]

Inverts are fine. What type of fish do you have and how many?

 

[delpni]

MvM;549124 wrote: Inverts are fine. What type of fish do you have and how many?

I have 2 Percula Clowns (I THINK they are a male/female pair), 2 blue chromis, 1 Mandarin Gobby, 1 blenny/shrimp pair, 1 (1"..for now) Hippo Tang, and a Coral Beauty. I'm going to be upgrading my tank size, as I know this will be a tight fit in my 75 gallon when the Tang and Dwarf Angel grow.

 

[delpni]

I appreciate the advice from all of you! I came across a helpful site just now that has some helpful information about maxima clams. Here are a few paragraphs and below, I'm posting the link to the web page.

"It is generally believed that giant clams do not require feeding in the aquarium. Most clams fulfill their nutritional requirements by filter feeding and absorbing dissolved organic compounds from the water. The Tridacna clams have gone even further than this, using zooxanthellae to manufacture food for themselves.
The Tridacna clams receive the majority of their nutrition from their zooxanthellae. Whether additional feeding is required is still debated. Some enthusiasts believe they should be fed, going on the assumption that they are filter feeders like other clams. If you wish to feed your clam, it is suggested that they be fed micro-foods designed for filter feeders, especially when small. A yeast-based suspension is one suggestion, unless the tank has other fish and corals that are regularly being fed, or you can offer other micro-foods such as phytoplankton or commercially prepared micro-foods like 'marine snow' or 'reef snow'."

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/reef/clams/TridacnaMaximaClam.php">http://animal-world.com/encyclo/reef/clams/TridacnaMaximaClam.php</a>

Hope this helps anyone else that might have a clam in your tank!

 

[slayer]

im constantly going back and forth from atlanta to destin. im gone up to 5 days at a time. ive never had problems not feeding the fish for long periods of time. i just make sure the days leading up to my trips i feed them a ton of food and on returning i overfeed them again for a few days.. i know im mean, but all my fish are healthy and fat and so they have more then enough reserve to go a couple of days without food.

 

[skriz]

I use an autofeeder.

Clams don't need feeding. Nor do anemones or feather dusters. Filter feeders will get what they can from the water column from your regular feeding and fish poop. The clam will get what it needs from strong lighting.

 

[delpni]

Since I'm getting so much great feedback in this thread; does anyone know what/how to feed & care for a sponge? I have a blue sponge that is growing around a piece of live rock. When I acquired it, it was firm. It has not ever been expose to air, I have it placed in front (about 4-6 inches away) from a 1075gph power head placed on top of a chunk of live rock so that it is out of the sand, and I feed it Microplex and DTs 3 times per week. Over the past few weeks, the sponge has become less firm and almost appears and feels to be 'melting'. :sad: Any ideas?

 

[smoothie]

delpni;549144 wrote: Since I'm getting so much great feedback in this thread; does anyone know what/how to feed & care for a sponge? I have a blue sponge that is growing around a piece of live rock. When I acquired it, it was firm. It has not ever been expose to air, I have it placed in front (about 4-6 inches away) from a 1075gph power head placed on top of a chunk of live rock so that it is out of the sand, and I feed it Microplex and DTs 3 times per week. Over the past few weeks, the sponge has become less firm and almost appears and feels to be 'melting'. :sad: Any ideas?

Would have to know your params to better answer that. May try turning it away from the flow. Is it in direct light?

 

[delpni]

Smoothie;549159 wrote: Would have to know your params to better answer that. May try turning it away from the flow. Is it in direct light?

Water params are:

490 Calcium, 0 nitrates, 0 nitrites, 10dKH, temp 78-81, phosphates are 2-4ppm (a little high; I just finished battling HORRIBLE hair algae), lighting is 216 watts T-5 with 4 Ice Cap reflectors. I do have the sponge in direct light and aprox. 6 inches from the powerhead. I always thought they needed a lot of flow but it would make sense that direct flow could hurt them.

 

[crewdawg1981]

I'd love to know how to keep the sponges alive. A while back I had a gorgeous red sponge that was covered with small yellow sun corals. It was truly a show piece... at least to me. Anyways, despite an area of good flow and phyto feedings (as suggested by internet and LFS)... it started turning green and I finally yanked it.

 

[gnashty]

you could just pay a sponsor store who offers maintenence to come by and feed every other day or so, check things, top of as needed - it wont be free but im sure you will sleep much better at night when you are away.

 

[drnecropolis]

With phosphates of 2-4 PPM its no wonder with the algae.. I think acceptable range is like 0.02..