Aquarium care and maintenance holiday tips

Windsor Fish hatchery Aquariums

Feeding while away!

In most cases you dont need to , short breaks less than 7 days even young fish will be ok, but maybe you just cant stand the thought of them going without. 

 Get a neighbour, family member or friend to look after the fish while you are away. Someone with fish keeping experience is best.

 Put the food that you want them to feed in a very small zip lock bag with instructions DO not feed any extra please. feed less than normal and only every three days while your away or even just once a week.

 Dont feed the fish extra food before you go, this doesn't help the fish and pollutes the tank water, and you are not going to be there to do water changes.

 Dont have anyone you can ask! , use a automatic fish feeder, we sell them at the hatchery, Remember feed light, we suggest you buy it at least one week before you go , so you know you have set it up right.

 Maintenance before you go

 Bring a cup of water into Windsor Fish Hatchery to check the water parameters, its better to head off any problems arising before you go than to come back to a problem

 2 weeks before you go check all your fish take a good look into your tank 

                         * check for any parasites on the fish such as white lifted dots (ick)

                         * Treatment: Turn your heater up 2 degrees this will normally kill the parasite, if after 3-4 days if the ick hasn't gone come in and get some treatment from Windsor Fish hatchery. For salt water i do fresh water baths only. every day till the fish is clear this can take up to a week.

                         * Have a good look at the fins and scales for fungi, mold, fin rot

                         * Treatment: Come in and get some easy life, and add rock salt from you kitchen 1/4 cup to every 30ltrs

                         * Bug eyes or lifted scales

                         * Treatment change the food to a low protein food and add more fiber, we have a medication that will help a very advanced case, come into Windsor Fish Hatchery

                         * Floating and bloated fish, normally goldfish

                         * Treatment change the food, don't feed protein or flakes for a week, feed frozen peas cut up and spirulina based food. We sell the food at the Windsor fish hatchery

 Do a water change the week before you leave. Make sure your tank is full to cover any evaporation while you are away.

 Rinse out  the aquarium filter media, and replace the filter wool, don't rinse or touch the noodles,bio balls. you dont want to wipe out the good bacteria in the aquarium.

 Put your aquarium lights on timers, this is really important for salt water reef tanks, refugium, corals or fresh water plants.

 For your saltwater tank rinse out your protein skimmer collection cup, and make sure its working correctly.

 Check all equipment you may have on your tank such as air blowers, pumps, wave makers, phosphate reactors etc

 1 week before you go check all the parameters of you salt water tank, and treat water as needed. I would do it again the day before you go, as long as they are within reason i wouldn't treat anything.

 Leave your mobile number somewhere handy in case of emergencies

Have a great time and don't worry about a thing

 Windsor fish hatchery www.windsorfishhatcery.com.au [email protected]