Summer's here, are you ready for vacation?

I recently went away for 5 weeks, with short notice. Because of this short notice, I wasn't able to prepare my tank, the way I should. I also hired a aquarium maintenance man who was recommended by a lfs. I think that since my tank was in great condition before I left, that even with the list of mistakes made by this hired worker, it wasn't a complete disaster.

My system has probably a total volume of 150G, so one thing I don't need to worry about when on vacation is a water change. I do have to worry about top off, and supplementing Ca and Alk, since I have 99% stoney corals. What I needed to worry about was the supplementation, and this was where there was a failure. Well the worker failed miserably, but if I was prepared, he wouldn't have needed to touch the thing.

I have seen many tanks crash when the owner went on vacation, usually it's a relative, who is trying to do something they shouldn't and it ends up in disaster. What I can tell you, is that the less someone has to do, the better for your tank. If you need someone to show up everyday, then I think you chances of having some failure, at least doubles. If at all possible, have them only come by once a week, just to have a look at the tank, and fill your top off reservoir. But even there can be confusion, such as the time, my ex used mixed saltwater as my top off. :


I have a real basic controller, its an ACJr. I also use a few digital timers. The ACJr. just turns on the lights, and monitors the temp and Ph. Timers are used to operate my CaRx at two hour cycles. I have a Rancho Dual stage temp controller, for my heaters and chiller. I set those, and never touch them for months, even years. In my case, my maintenance guy decided to reprogram my timers for my reactor, causing the reactor to under perform. He also changed out the CO2 tank, and forgot to open the needle valve. This was after I told him not to change a thing.

Not sure what I am trying to convey, other than I recommend you to automate your system as best as you can, so if you have to leave town for a week or more, you don't have to send in a rookie to do a job, that has taken you "the length of time you have had the tank" to learn.

Now my top off, comes straight from a 35G Brute Can, no way it will run out. I now have a 15lb. CO2 tank, so as long as it's 1/2-3/4 filled, it will last several months. Everything else is on auto pilot. I will buy a Eheim feeder, but the fish I have could live on what the tank naturally grows, for a month.

Hope everyone has a great summer, and here's to hoping we don't have to read more "returned to a dead tank" threads. I know the next time I want to leave, that I can for a few weeks, and not even have anyone stop in to work on the tank, it will be fine on it's own.

 

i left my roomate $20 to buy RO water and simply make sure the water was at the line i DREW on my tank everyday. she took the $20 bought a gallon of RO water stuck it in the fridge and didnt do SH*T. i came home a day early my tank was 10 gallons low full of algae and my skimmer was sucking air and no water. i didnt say anything but lesson learned

 

Oh yeah, you definitely can't depend on the roomates.....at least she bought RO water, some would have pocketed that 20.00 and said they bought it, and used tap.

 

Yikes!

Why i have a friend that is semi local that is on call so the family member can call or have the "experienced" person come over to look whats going on and knows what to do.

An after thought from someone who has been there...hence the importance of local networking.

 

Im working on doing just that a fully automated system including feeding.water changes done automaticly ro bucket refilled,ato,dosing the hole shibang....only thing that will need to be done is buy the supleiments/salt every few months and refill the food hopper once a month. Cleaning the glass will have to be a snail operation I suppose lol. Make sure to add battery back ups to your check lists!!!

 

Great writeup. Ill add to it.

My system is 90% automated. Medusa dual temp controller, Pinpoint PH controller for the CaRx, Auto top off switch connected to a 55 gal drum of RO. timers on all the lights, 6 gallon skimmer funk bucket. Basically just put food in and thats it.

we had a NON reef person watch our animals while we traveled last month. she was told where thigns needed to look like and how to feed them. she did a PERFECT job till the power was out for 24 stinking hours! Had a reef buddy come over and drop off a battery backup. then the next day mother in law came with generator (we were 1000 miles away). power had come back on and the temp alarm was screaming. sadly she could not understand the difference between the black box on one end and the grey one on the other. she read off my CaRx monitor as the temp. I Freaked. 66.5!?!?! wowza. fortunately, a buddy who was helping found the correct box as we were only at 74 so that was lucky. then when she went to count the fish, she had toruble finding the 8" naso swimming right in her face.. Ugh.

Never let your mother-in-law watch the tank.

 

Thanks for the writeup BTowned. I too, like many reefers, am nervous to go on vacation. I have everything automated to where it can be left for about a week with no routine work, but I suppose my goal should be a bit longer.