Self maintaining reef--is it possible?

I have a 95 gallon tank sitting dry (for too many years) because my wife does not want us to be "trapped" at home to take care of it. Neither does she want a company (strangers) coming in while we are away, and we have no competent (in aquarium issues) friends.

My question is, is it possible to set up a reef with enough hi-tech equipment that it can run itself for 3 or 4 weeks a couple of times a year? A mini biosphere?

My thoughts now are nothing really fancy. Buy the live rock, "cleaner creatures" from that Florida Cultured Live rock place, add a few (~5) small fish, (firefish, gobies, etc) for some movement, and wait for whatever grows out of the live rock to grow. I am mainly interested in an underwater garden, fish are not a priority for me.

I have protein skimmer with overflow container, calcium reactor, chiller, heaters, below tank sump, an aqua computer that controls things thru the AC power lines, a CO2 system, top off water system to replace evaporation. Some of this is new and some survives from my last reef of 15 years ago.

I hate to see the tank, stand (that I built-- not too bad looking) and all this equipment just sit, but every time I mention setting it up, I get the nervous look in my wife's eyes.

Thanks for any advise.

James, the would be marine gardener.

 

sure I cant see why with the gagets out their you can get away with not touching the tank for far longer periods of time.
auto top off ,auto feed, =auto tank

 

As long as you have fish that will eat flakes or pellets you are fine.... If you have a large enough reservoir or a RO unit hooked to the ATO that takes care of that business.. As far as Ca, ALK and Mg additions there are many doser pumps on the market that are really good as well. Only thing that I foresee happening is Murphys law.. You let your tank go to automation completely, what happens if something backfires or a pump is clogged or the ATO gets messed up?

 

controller with ethernet capabilities so you can monitor it while you are away

 

yup ... you can set your tank to cruise control and walk away.

Absolutely ... Do it! lol

 

If you have enough money anything is possible.

 

Exactly.

I would recommend a Calcium reactor with a kalkwasser top off versus dosing 2 part, as the reactors will better manage the nutrients if you step away for a few weeks, and want the technology to take care of the tank and not require you to test all the time to make sure you are adding enough 2 (3) part.


Some skimmers even have self cleaning collection cups.

And I would absolutely go with a PLC of some sort with ethernet connectivity. Check in on your tank's stats witha smart phone and you will be all set. The RK elite and the other aquarium ones seem to be able to do this for the least amount iof $$, and are pre programmed. No need to understand ladder logic with these plug and play reef specific PLC's.