Hmm . . . leaving tank home alone?

[knutcracker]

Hi guys,

I am leaving for vacation for about 20 days and was wondering if my tank can survive without food. I plan to catch and take out my only fish (a purple tank) and board him at a LFS. Question is whether a 26g reef tank can survive without food for 20 days. I have a torch, a hammer, a trumpet, 4 leathers, green polyp, mushrooms, and zoo's. I also have a cleaner shrimp, 4 snails, and a dozen hermit crabs. What do you guys think? Maybe it would be better if I can have a friend come over once a week to feed a capful of DT's for the corals? Will the shrimp and crabs live without solid food? Any potential deadly downfalls i am missing? What do u guys suggest? TIA

[zhenya]

I think you should be OK for the most part but I would definately have someone come in and check things out. I think from the list of corals that you listed most won't benefit from additions of DT's, although it certainly wouldn't hurt anything if tank is fed DT's. Certain filter feeding organisms will definately utilize it.

I'm assuming that you have auto top off set up in your system, otherwise that would definately need attention as well. How do you maintain your Alkalinity,Calcium? If you have a reactor I think that wouldn't present much problems than.

Also, I sincerely hope that you'll reconsider bringing that purple tang back from the LFS. I really don't think it is apropriate to keep any tang in a 26g tank, unless you are thinking of upgrading real soon. Please think about it!

[knutcracker]

I don't have a calc reactor. I use kent marine liquid reactor for calcium and alk. sometimes i use Kent marine dH buffer to increase hardness and kent marine liquid calcium to up calcium, but other than that nothing. I don't have a water top off device, just add water as it evaporates. You think i should be fine? Also, my tang is still a baby, i'll be sure to take him back when he gets big.

[Reefland]

The coral and various inverts will be fine. The corals are going to continue to feed from the water column (they're probably not benefiting much if any from the DT's) and the snails and crabs and shrimp will continue to feed from particulate matter in the tank. Other than top off water, supplements, etc., I think your tank will be fine without feedings.