Tanks will not be serviced for three week. What do I have to do?

I need some advise on how to prepare tanks for a three week period that they will not be serviced, no water changes ect ect, at all, other that feeding the fish.
The tanks are as follow:
1 x 375 liters tank, filtration 2 x canister filters @ 1900l/h and one internal filter @ 700l/h
3 tanks with a sump, total volume 300 liters running at about 1600l/h
1 x 60 liter tanks, filtration 1 x canister filter @ 500l/h
Was thinking of putting the food for everyday into a pill bottle for each tank, but that ended up being 105 bottle, and that is a bit unpractical.
All the filters will be serviced prior to my absences, but not all at the same time to make sure that I don’t have ammonia problems.
I will also do 25% water changes on all the tanks the day before I leave.
The tanks are not heavily stocks, and they all have some plants in them.
Any other step that I should take, or advice that you guys have from experience will be welcome.

 

I just came back after 2 weeks, and lost 2 fish. I had one angel that was quite swollen. This has returned to normal.
I did a normal change the night before I left.
My over filtered tanks (if there is such a thing) where all oK

 

the tanks should be fine its the amount of food the person that is going to be feeding your fish that might be a problem.

 

rather less food than to much, i gues

 

The feeding is my biggest concern. Other that putting the food into pill bottles or restricting it to one feeding per day, I do not know what else to do. My other concern is the spiny eel that does not eat sinking pellets. I will have to educate the person that will be looking after the fish, as he does not have any experience at all. But at least I have some time on hand to do that.

 

I would start educating the person asap.

 

I did one feeding a day, and they all GREW, some of my fish I hardly recognised.
Did one or two runs with the person and it worked.

 

If you can get some seachem puragen, and ask your guy to only feed every other day. This has worked for me for over 3months on plenty of occasions!

 

Agree with Phil. Get Purigen and ensure that your feeding is reduced to a pinch once every 2 days.

 

good advice thus far.....

less food
less waste
less fish droppings
less pressure on filters
less is more....

 

I think they have covered all the bases so the best is to get they person in and teach him/her how to feed the way you do about a week before you leave, let him/her come in every day to do it befor you leave and that way you should not have a problem at all

 

(for interest sake, are you paying the person to house sit for you, or is it just a neighbour helping out?)

 

Mmmm, Ferryman punting for a job here LOL
How does that song of Chris Deburgh go " Don't pay the Ferryman" Hahahaha

 

Oor Ferryman is willing to help 4 free... mmmmmmmmmmh...

 

Definitely cut down on the feeding - once every two to three days will be fine, but just make sure that he doesn't 'feel sorry' for the fish and OVERFEED on the days when he does feed them. Other than that, perhaps do a 35% waterchange before you leave rather than a 25% change.

 

im asking cause the friendly neighbour isnt motivated, i lost 3 bonsai, and everything else wilted, due to such 'help'. . But if you give your help incentive, they might do a better job

 

that is so true... if the price is right they will do the job the why you want it done....

 

Are your lights on a timer? If so great - then you do not need to worry about the lights staying on all day.

If you are feeding granules consider putting them into a pepper grinder - easy to tell somebody only two grind turns, a spoon is always an issue - what exactly would you mean by feed only a 1/4 spoon tip on Wednesdays... (if that was your thing)

Any live food? (Try and avoid during this period)

Do you have allot of evaporation in 3weeks? Might need to do a water top-up - could be tricky. Depending on your water pretreatment - what about a big tub / bucket with an airstone - will that be ok to do a top-up with say in week 2?

Bigger question - what do you want this person to do if you have a catastrophe - say no power for 3 days?

Also give them a check list (if then else)
- pump working
- all fish alive (if not remove and put in freezer - ah the dead fish that is)
- water level
- temp
- ....

 

The persons looking after the tanks while I am gone are actually the in-laws (I don’t have to pay them). I do not have any neighbors nearby.
Lights will be running on a timer. Just have to find a good quality one at a reasonable price (read the thread where it was mentioned that the cheap timers can cause the mains to trip).
After some consideration I have decided to use the small container to measure out the food for each second days feeding. Just takes the guessing out of how much the fish should be fed.
The fish won’t get any live food, but they will have to get some frozen food. But I don’t see that being a major problem. ( use the same small containers)
Evaporation is not really a problem as the tanks have glass sliders. If some of them require a top up it is done straight from the tap, as we rely on a borehole for all our water. But I doubt it would be necessary.
A power failure is a bit of a concern, but we have never had one for more that a few hour. I do have the 375 liter tanks filters and air pump hooked up to a 1000w inverter with a deep cycle battery. The battery is constantly being charged and the inverter kick in automatically if there is a power failure. The lights and heaters stay on the mains, as draw they the most current, so the filters should be able to run for a good few hours off the battery. I can also hook the 60 liter’s canister filter onto the inverter, as these tanks are close to each other. My only concern is the setup with the sump. I do not have a alternative power source to run the pump off.
I am not really concerned about the temperature, as December is normally really hot. Even considering unplugging the heaters.