Going away for 11 days, how do i maintain tank???

Discussion in 'General Reef Topics' started by ghost, Jun 30, 2007.

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  1. ghost

    ghost Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    May 19, 2005
    Messages:
    47
    Location:
    CT
    Hi, need some suggestions on how to take care of my tank when travelling for 11 days. Don't really have people I can trust to come over religiously and maintain the tank. Please advise.
     
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  3. omard

    omard Gnarly Old Codfish

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2003
    Messages:
    4,745
    Location:
    Silverdale, Washington
    Without having someone you trust, best option is finding someone you don't.

    All kidding aside...you might consider an automatic feeder, although fish can probably be ok for 11 days without being fed if you have a well established tank. (I would not let my fish go hungry for that long)

    But bigger problem (assuming you have your lights all on automatic timer) is making sure you have enough excess water in sump to cover topoff water while you are gone.

    I could not go that long...so I built a simple auto top-off system with a large container raised next to tank and a float switch to control it.

    Something like this (different kinds) Float Switch

    Worked great, but I did not sleep well entire trip.

    Good Luck!
     
  4. amcarrig

    amcarrig Super Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2004
    Messages:
    9,219
    Location:
    CT
    You should check out CT Area Reef Society and, once you get to know a few of the club members, you could ask them to help you out in the future. In the meantime, I would do everything that omar has suggested. Unless you have some very specific feeders, such as seahorses or frog fish and the like, you could set up an auto feeder.
     
  5. coral reefer

    coral reefer Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2006
    Messages:
    4,860
    Location:
    Wonderland
    Great suggestion Annik!
    Timers are very important and so is the water top off to add evaporated water back into your tank, to maintain proper salinity and water levels!