tzylak
04/10/2015, 08:18 AM
This summer I'll be away for 3 weeks and to test my setup I did a supervised 3-week hands-off experiment. All I did was feed the fish once every day and test the water each week.
At the end, the tank looked a bit dirty. As expected, there was plenty of coralline growth on the face of the DT. -Nothing that a bit of scrubbing would not get off.
Amazingly, the water parameters were rock solid: pH 8.1, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 0-5, PO4 0, Ca 360-400, Alk 6-7, 77-79F, sg 1.021-22, Mg 1200-1300
On the third week the fish seemed not hungry. One day after the cleanup and water change they perked up and gobbled up twice the amount food. On second and third day they were eating normal again. I wonder, was it my TLC that woke them up or the water change that revived them?? Or????
I made a list of tiny adjustments to make and am thinking of repeating the experiment soon. One item I am considering is putting some Mg and calcium supplement into my ATO container. My concern is the supplement's effectiveness and potential calcium precipitation. I am thinking of doing that yet "why fix it if it ain't broken?". What do you think?
Any other advise that you might have to ensure a stable system during my absence?
Thanks!
At the end, the tank looked a bit dirty. As expected, there was plenty of coralline growth on the face of the DT. -Nothing that a bit of scrubbing would not get off.
Amazingly, the water parameters were rock solid: pH 8.1, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 0-5, PO4 0, Ca 360-400, Alk 6-7, 77-79F, sg 1.021-22, Mg 1200-1300
On the third week the fish seemed not hungry. One day after the cleanup and water change they perked up and gobbled up twice the amount food. On second and third day they were eating normal again. I wonder, was it my TLC that woke them up or the water change that revived them?? Or????
I made a list of tiny adjustments to make and am thinking of repeating the experiment soon. One item I am considering is putting some Mg and calcium supplement into my ATO container. My concern is the supplement's effectiveness and potential calcium precipitation. I am thinking of doing that yet "why fix it if it ain't broken?". What do you think?
Any other advise that you might have to ensure a stable system during my absence?
Thanks!