Tank unattended for a week and a half

[white_Rubicon]

So I have a new tank that finished its cycle. The only things in it it are 6 snails 2 peppermint shrimps and some hermit crabs a mini brittle star that survived the cycle that was a hitchhiker in the live rock. so have decided to wait for fish until January because I will be out of town for ten days. My question is do you think my tank and its inhabitants be ok for that long?

Tank info:
Biocube 32
No skimmer yet
Will have an ATO before I leave
Running Chemi pure elite, purigan , and filter floss
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate under 5ppm
Doing water changes every two weeks.

My concerns are: I have been ghost feeding which the shrimp and hermits have been enjoying... not sure if the shrimp will starve or if the hermits will turn on the snails/shrimp if they don't have the pellets I have been feeding with. Any insight would be appreciated.


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[pfan151]

I wouldn't worry too much as long as you have some live rock in there for them to pick at. Just make sure your auto top off is set with enough water.

[white_Rubicon]

Thanks. I know things die, and they will, but trying to not cause them too :). Especially since I had a nasty aiptasia problem, and the shrimp made it all disappear in under a week. Would like to reward the little fellas with a good life. Lol.


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[scooter31707]

You could get a 2 x 2 piece of Nori and rubberband it to a piece of rock and place it on the sandbed. I doubt there is going to be much for them to feed on just finishing the cycle.

[white_Rubicon]

You could get a 2 x 2 piece of Nori and rubberband it to a piece of rock and place it on the sandbed. I doubt there is going to be much for them to feed on just finishing the cycle.



For nori can you just get the kind at the supermarket for sushi?


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[scooter31707]

I believe you can. I have always used Ocean Nutrition brand.

[snorvich]

Hermits will kill snails.

[Sk8r]

ATO for salinity.

[farfromsea]

Make sure you have some sort of fail safe for your auto top off so it doesn't flood your house. Some people use a timer so it can only come on for a few minutes a day etc.


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[white_Rubicon]

Make sure you have some sort of fail safe for your auto top off so it doesn't flood your house. Some people use a timer so it can only come on for a few minutes a day etc.


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Good advice.... thanks!


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[Scurvy Dawg]

Good advice.... thanks!


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Most of the newer ATOs have fail safes built in. Mine shuts down of it runs for more than 3 seconds longer than the initial fill time.

[CStrickland]

i would make sure you get the ato (and any light timers etc. ) early enough to run it a week or so before you leave if possible. New equiptment has a way of going sideways unexpectedly so it will be good piece of mind to have a test run before you leave for real