Vacation food

[JoaniePA]

Hi everyone!

Has anyone ever used those vacation food blocks? I was wondering if they work. We are heading out for a week and I thought I might try them -- throw in a couple when we leave, and have my daughter throw in a couple a few days later. I worry that they'll sit in the bottom and rot while the fish get hungry.

Joanie

 

[Waterbug]

My vacation instructions were always "Don't put anything into the pond...don't go near the pond...don't go in the backyard". The biggest threat to fish imo are well meaning people who don't know much about ponds. Fish are fine not being fed for a few weeks...maybe better for them. I could lose a few pounds myself.

 

[addy1]

Mine don't get fed, when we are gone, they do fine. Lots of natural stuff to eat

 

[j.w]

With goldfish one can go w/o feeding them at all. They will fend for themselves on bugs, worms, algae, plants etc. I didn't feed mine for the first several yrs and they are still alive but now I feed them a couple times a week just so they will come to me and be friendly.
I don't know if you can not feed koi forever tho but a few wks would be fine.

 

[Puddles]

It is also the same with aquarium fish .. it dont hurt them to not eat for a few days/week we dont feed ours ..and we always come back to fish alive ... and it is true that ppl who dont know better and mean well can over feed and harm your fish ..

Marion

 

[addy1]

Less fry that way too! they scarf them up

 

[don't ask]

I do agree, they should be fine

 

[HARO]

My vacation instructions were always "Don't put anything into the pond...don't go near the pond...don't go in the backyard". The biggest threat to fish imo are well meaning people who don't know much about ponds. Fish are fine not being fed for a few weeks...maybe better for them. I could lose a few pounds myself.

Maybe your pond should take a vacation and leave YOU at home. :wink:
John

 

[JoaniePA]

Okay, I won't stress then. I think I will have someone just come by and look at it to make sure the water doesn't get to low. It almost went below the skimmer last year and I really don't want to lose the pump. Otherwise I will take everyone's advice and let them eat algae.

thanks!

 

[don't ask]

good catch there Joanie, water level is important

 

[addy1]

Okay, I won't stress then. I think I will have someone just come by and look at it to make sure the water doesn't get to low. It almost went below the skimmer last year and I really don't want to lose the pump. Otherwise I will take everyone's advice and let them eat algae.

thanks!

put your hose an a slight drip into the pond. Test it out before you go, the rate you need to keep xx water in the pond. Then just leave the hose at a slight drip, low water problem solved.

 

[Frankp]

Hope this isn't a dumb question, but would leaving the hose on a slow drip cause a problem with getting chlorine in the water?

Frank

 

[j.w]

I don't think a slow drip would hurt anything even w/ the chlorine as not enough of it getting in at one time and the stuff dissipates after awhile............just make sure it's only a drip and not a gusher!

from the net:
If you use CONSTANT FLOW feedline technology to replace up to 25% of your water per week, you do NOT need dechlor. When you replace 25% "all at once" you DO need dechlor, unless you're on a well or have a "whole house" water treatment system.

 

[Waterbug]

Drip water changes.

 

[Frankp]

Wow, he makes it sound so simple, thank you Waterbug, great video. Off to Lowes I go LOL

 

[addy1]

I had auto fill on my pond in arizona, not a drip water change, but just a keep it full. Never had to add dechlor.

 

[HARO]

I had auto fill on my pond in arizona, not a drip water change, but just a keep it full. Never had to add dechlor.

It would depend on the system you use. Something that would replace water once it dropped a quarter of an inch probably wouldn't be a problem, but if the water had to drop 2 or 3 inches before it turned on, you may have a problem!
John

 

[sissy]

I have that drip irragation system for my plants on the front porch and got it here for 6.48 at lowes as home depot was more money .The cheap one works great .

 

[j.w]

Hi Ho Hi Ho it's off to Lowes you go................have fun shopping and glad you have a good plan now Frank :moped:

 

[addy1]

It would depend on the system you use. Something that would replace water once it dropped a quarter of an inch probably wouldn't be a problem, but if the water had to drop 2 or 3 inches before it turned on, you may have a problem! John

Had a few issues where it dumped water in, but it was a big pond 14k gallons. Even had the renters turning off the water flow, it would drop 8-10 inches, they would then turn the water back on. No issues thankfully. Finally tore the pond down to many issues to maintain across country.