I have used the weekend and the holliday feeder blocks with no problems. Did not cloud the water, the rate at which they dissolve relies on water movement and I learned the hard way not to put them right under the filter as I came home after the weekend and the holiday block I put in there was gone and it should have lasted a lot longer.
I now place them around the tank according to how long I will be gone for. I have used them both for goldfish and my guppies , no problems, no deaths. A guy in a fish store used them years ago as he had many smaller fish and he did not think they were getting any of the food and put a feeder block in there thinking it would provide for the smaller, shyer fish.
He seemed to have good luck and sold fish for years and had many repeat customers - myself included. I will say that those betta feeder blocks suck - they just kind of "melt" into the gravel and make a mess. To those of you who have lost fish due to feeder blocks, first of all I'm sorry.
I also have a question. Do any of you know the actual cause of death of your fish? Was it just high nitrates or some chemical in the blocks themselves that got to them? I'm just asking for future reference, because with the size of my tank and stocking it takes a while for nitrates to build up, and I don't really see that being too huge of a concern for the length of time I'd be gone.
I'm really just curious and trying to figure it all out so I can make the best decision for my tanks, and since every case is different, specifics would be helpful if you have time :.
I've not lost fish to them, but I've never used them. I just don't feed them while I'm gone. Fish can survive for 2 weeks without food, sometimes more if there are things to eat already in the tank. When I went away for 2 weeks, I put a bunch of ghost shrimp in the tanks. Sick fish and fry probably won't make it that long without food. Thanks, Jaysee. I'd love to do the ghost shrimp idea, but it's my understanding that they're tropical, and my tank is too cold.
I'm also worried that they'd get sucked up in the filters - how do you prevent this? Good morning. You may find the above link helpful. Have fun on your vacation and travel safely. Ghost shrimp are good swimmers - I don't think you have to worry.
As for it being a cooler tank, if you acclimate them well enough I think they'll be fine Normally the deaths are caused by the vacation blocks dissolving too quickly and making the ammonia in the tank go crazy.
Goldfish can survive pretty long without food. Last, but not the least, you need to look at the actual ingredients in the feeding block to determine if a specific block can be a better option for your aquarium or pond.
This refers to both the binding base in the block and nutritional ingredients. Most slow release feeding blocks use Calcium Sulfate plaster-type material as the binding base for the block. The only exception to this is the TetraWeekend Tropical Slow Release Feeder , which uses a unique gel-based formula that is plaster free. While almost all models claim that they do not cloud the water, you should expect some visible water discoloration, especially if you are using a feeding block.
When it comes to ingredients, most feeding blocks follow the balance feeding diet in form of pellets. This may include natural ingredients such as freeze-dried worms, algae, plankton such as Spirulina along with vitamin and mineral supplements. Check out the exact ingredients in the feeding block to determine if it would be palatable for your fish and provide necessary nutrition.
You can check the product details and manufacturer website for the exact composition of a feeding block. If you are taking a long week vacation and looking for a decent slow release fish food block to keep the fish in your aquarium well-fed in your absence, then you should consider getting the API Vacation Pyramid Fish Feeder. Each feeding block weighs 1.
Each block can feed anywhere from mid-sized 2-inch fish for days. This feeder block is suitable for almost all types of aquarium fish and is designed to meet the nutrition requirements of freshwater tropical and saltwater fish including tetras, cichlids, bettas, goldfish, and angelfish. Each feeding pyramid contains a healthy supply of natural omnivorous ingredients such as algae, shrimp, worms, plankton and more, along with vitamin and mineral supplements.
The rough breakdown of the nutrient ingredients is summarized below,. However, it can only be used with aquariums which have proper filtration and aeration. The API Pyramid Feeding Block is also available in a smaller Weekend feeding block that can last for up to three days and used in a smaller fish tank. If you would like to avoid Calcium Sulfate plaster based fish feeders and instead looking for a gel-based fish feeding block, then you can consider checking out the TetraWeekend Fish Feeding Block.
The Tetra-range of fish feeding blocks is available in multiple sizes, with the standard 1. Weekend slow release block designed to last up to 5 days and the large 2. The TetraWeekend fish feeder is gel-based that allows fish to eat through the block instead of dissolving slowly in the water.
As a result, it does not pollute water or affect the chemistry people did report reddish slime buildup due to discarded feed in some cases.
The gel blocks are inert and odorless and can be left in the aquarium when regular feeding is resumed. The Tetra feeding blocks are designed specifically for tropical fish such as cichlids, tetras, loaches and angelfish.
The feeding blocks do use a Red 3 Dye as a coloring agent. In our earlier sections, we listed out our picks for the best fish feeding blocks which are suitable for most types of aquarium fish — tropical, freshwater and saltwater. But if you are looking for the best vacation fish feeders for specific breed of fish, then you can look at the following options.
You'd be surprised at how often this happens. So what are you waiting for? Get an automatic feeder today and have the peace of mind knowing your fish will be fed and come home to a happy and healthy tank. Going away on holidays? Need someone to feed your fish? Who will feed my fish? What will happen to them? Will they be OK? Tags: holidays fish feeders fish food. Related Products. Add to Cart. That doesn't mean you should routinely skip feedings, but your fish can safely be left without food over a long holiday weekend.
However, keep in mind that food is not the only concern when going on holiday. You must be sure your filter, water heater, and lighting is also properly maintained if you are not home. Aquarium lights normally should be turned off at night and turned back on in the morning. Lighting is easy to handle by purchasing a timer. There's no need to get a fancy or expensive one, as long as it will turn the aquarium lights on and off once each day.
Put the light on a timer and leave it that way all the time. Aquarium water temperature should remain fairly constant. Fish are accustomed to gradual seasonal changes in temperature in the wild, but if the change is dramatic, the stress will make them susceptible to disease. If the holiday is during the cold time of year, be sure your aquarium heater is working and don't turn your house temperature down too low.
Tropical fish prefer water temperatures from about degrees Fahrenheit, and do not do well below water temperature of 65 degrees.
During summer vacations, set your air conditioning to kick in if the room temperature rises above 80 degrees, and your fish will be quite comfortable while you are away. If you do not have air conditioning, it is wise to arrange for someone to come in and check the fish in the event of a heat wave.
Another important factor is the physical condition of your fish. Just before leaving on your holiday or vacation, examine them to ensure that none of them appear to be sick. If you notice any abnormalities, consult a fish shop or an aquatic veterinarian before leaving. Otherwise, you risk coming home to an aquarium of sick or dying fish. Be sure to provide your fish sitter with your contact phone number, as well as the number of your pet shop.
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