Introduction
When you have a freshwater aquarium you do not need to forsake vacations just to care for it. Here is a checklist of what you need to do before you go on vacation.
Short Term Vacation
If you are going on vacation for less than five days here are the actions you need to take:
Automatic Feeder- Set your automatic feeder up and test it out for three days before you leave. Just before you leave make sure the automatic feeder is full of food.
Batteries- Ensure the batteries in your feeder will last for the time period you are gone. This may need you to change the batteries to new ones.
Lighting- Ensure your automatic timer you have on your aquarium is set correctly.
Plants- Feed your aquarium plants before you leave.
Water Replacement- Perform a 10% water replacement just before or the on the day you leave.
Mechanical Filter- Clean your filter and make sure the Bio-Wheel is rotating properly.
Remove Debris- When you do the water replacement make sure you vacuum the substrate to remove any debris.
If you are going to be gone longer than five days enlist a reliable friend to care for your aquarium on at least a weekly routine. Train your friend to do the actions you would take on a vacation of less than five days (see check list above).
Other actions you may need to train your friend to do is:
Mechanical Filter- Depending on how long you are gone, you may want to teach your friend how to clean or change the pad on your mechanical filter. Also show them how to clean the Bio-Wheel to keep it rotating.
Plants- Besides feeding your plants in the aquarium you will need to teach them how to remove dead plant material.
Testing- Train your friend on how to measure for chemicals in the water. You will also need to discuss what actions need to be taken if certain chemicals in the water are out of specifications.
Phone Number- Leave an emergency phone number where you can be reached or a phone number for your local pet store if your friend has any questions.
Conclusion
Having a freshwater aquarium does not mean you need to stop taking vacations. Following the check lists above will allow you to take both short and extended vacations without worrying about your aquarium.
If you want more information on how to keep an aquarium, download a free eBook, titled "15 Tips On Building And Maintaining An Aquarium", at http://www.squidoo.com/homefreshwateraquariums or at Your Home Freshwater Aquarium.
Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert