How to Feed Salt Water Fish When You're Away
Saltwater fish are beautiful but come with many hassles, including keeping salinity and pH levels, the temperature and countless other things perfect. One of the problems that many overlook, however, is how to feed saltwater fish when away. It's a horrible feeling coming home from vacation to a tank full of floating fish, but it occurs quite frequently. Luckily, there are two easy methods of feeding your fish when you're away from home: time-release blocks, which dissolve over a few days and gradually release food particles, and mechanical feeders, which use a slowly revolving chamber to release pellets and flakes.
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Instructions
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Block Feeding
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1
Appropriately measure and cut the blocks, if necessary. Most blocks feed for seven days, so if you're planning on being away for less time, then cut the block in half to avoid unnecessary or overfeeding.
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2
Rinse the block to remove any loose dust or particles.
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3
Place the block in the center of the tank, where it should sink to the bottom.
Mechanical Feeding
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4
Install the mechanical feeder on the rim of your tank so that the small opening at the bottom of the chamber hangs directly over the water.
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5
Fill the chamber with your desired food.
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6
Adjust the timer and start the feeder.
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Tips & Warnings
It is important to remember that fish are far more resilient than they are often credited for, and many can easily survive up to a week without eating. When filling mechanical feeders, use minimal amounts of food, as overfeeding can be more dangerous than underfeeding. Overfeeding can cause bloating, and any uneaten food can upset the water's chemical balance.
Because the environment of saltwater fish is more delicate than that for freshwater fish, time-release blocks are recommended only for small tanks with minimal fish. A larger tank with more fish will require more blocks, which could upset the tank's chemical balance. In this case, mechanical feeders are recommended.
