Time-away plan
Leaving your aquarium for up to a week: feeders and checks
Up to a week away: what feeder makers say about capacity, batteries and portions, why no reliability data exists, and the water checks to make first.
Also listed as one week away, 7 days away
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Short answer
For up to a week, many owners use a feeder, but no independent reliability or failure-rate data exists for any model. Know your feeder's limits: EHEIM's autofeeder shuts off about three days after showing "LO", and Fish Mate's F14 dispenses each meal gradually over about two hours. Test it at home and ask someone to check in.
Key facts
- Feeding plan
- A feeder you have run at home, set to small portions; plus a person if you can[1]Merck says overfeeding causes health problems as well as a dirty tank.
- Feeder test
- Fresh batteries and a home trial; Fish Mate advises 14 days for a new F14[2][3]EHEIM: after "LO" appears, the feeder keeps going for about three days, then shuts off.
- Aeration backup
- A battery-backup pump if outages are likely[4]Aquarium Co-Op's pump switches to its built-in battery when power fails. See the power-outage plan.
- Water quality
- Do a water change and test a few days before you leave[7]Merck lists water-quality monitoring and regular water changes as preventive care, and says new water should be dechlorinated.
- Sitter check
- Fish, temperature, equipment, uneaten food, and whether the feeder turned[8]
Watch out for
- No feeder has published reliability data. We found no independent repeatability or failure-rate figures for any consumer aquarium feeder.
- Capacity is not trip length. Aquarium Co-Op says its feeder holds about 200 ml and feeds up to four times a day; how long that lasts depends on your portions.
- Battery claims are the maker's. Aquarium Co-Op says a charge lasts 3-6 months depending on use; that is not an independent measurement.
- Gradual dispensing. Fish Mate says the F14 releases each meal over about two hours, so do not expect it all at once.
What fits
Product details below are the seller's own description unless a source is shown. Pick the variant named for each item.
Battery feeder
Fish Mate F14 automatic aquarium feederChoose the F14 feeder. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' names Amazon.com or the brand before you buy.
Runs on one AA alkaline battery. Fish Mate's manual says to sit it over a 30 mm (1-1/4 in) hood hole or on its two supplied clamps, and to supervise a new unit for 14 days while you are home. That is the maker's advice, not reliability data.
Check price on Amazon Opens amazon.comSmart plug for the light
Kasa Smart Plug Mini 15A EP25P4 (4-pack)Choose the EP25P4 4-pack. On Amazon, check 'Ships from / Sold by' before you buy; TP-Link's own page links to an Amazon search, not a named seller.
For lights and other noncritical loads. TP-Link rates it 15 A but only 1/6 HP for motors, for non-condensing indoor air, so keep it away from splashes. TP-Link does not say whether it restores its state or runs schedules without the cloud after an outage.
Check price on Amazon Opens amazon.comLiquid test kit
API Freshwater Master Test KitChoose the Freshwater Master Test Kit. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' names Amazon.com or the brand before you buy.
API says it measures pH, high range pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, with seven test solutions.
See how to test a feeder before a trip and the vacation checklist.
Questions
Will an automatic feeder cover a week away?
No source can promise that. We found no independent reliability data for any consumer feeder. Fish Mate's own advice is to supervise a new F14 for 14 days while you are home, so start testing well before the trip and ask someone to check in.[2]