How are you prepping for vacation away from your reef aquarium? GIVE US THREE THINGS

[revhtree]

It's about that time again and many reefers are going to take a vacation! But owning a saltwater reef aquarium and taking extended trips away from your tank can be stressful! So let's talk about vacation tank prepping!

GIVE US THREE TIPS: How do you prepare to leave your tank for an extended time away?

@JMacedo's watching his reef from his phone while on vacation

 

[exnisstech]

Whoot Whoot first vote in! No vacations here. Not enough automation and no one to care for things if I were gone.

 

[A Young Reefer]

not an expected reply. I will be travelling for two months. calculated my evaporation rate and purchased a 20 gallon barrel for ATO. Got my dosing all sorted and dialed in. Hooked up an auto fish feeder.
Will keep a camera to monitor the tank. Reason I am doing all of this is because I cant have any one to come over. last year I ended with algae outbreaks because of inexperienced human interventions.

 

[DJF]

1) daily food portioned out in bags and labeled
2) emergency reef contacts
3) no recent changes

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

The most I have done is a long weekend away, and my 17 year old son was there to take care of the tank and the dogs.

 

[jpark457]

Dosing pump, ato, crossed fingers

 

[Sharkbait19]

Water change before I leave and after I get back, lights always on a timer, and always have someone to feed and with detailed instructions for all the pets.

 

[Reefing Reefer]

I will be taking a 10-day vacation in July.
1. 7 Gallon ATO will be more than enough for my Waterbox 20 evaporation.
2. Auto feeder
3. I’ll be monitoring tank parameters through hydros
4. I will setup one of my home security cameras to watch the tank.
5. I’ll do a standard 20% water change the 2-3 days before leaving town.

 

[flyingscampi]

Last year I went away for two weeks. Tunze ATO, Eheim auto feeder and a Ring camera pointing at the tank and temp controller.

This year I have a Yellow Goby who turns his nose up at anything from an auto feeder. Hmm, two months to find a solution...

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have a trusted experienced reefer stop daily to feed and look tank over
Precautionary, I disabled both my heater and ATO

 

[olavvk]

Going 1,5 week first time. Stresfull because my new Ato is still not working properly.. hopefully will be fixed asap. Got an simple autofeeder ( just for 2 clowns). Planning a bigger waterchange the day before. And installed a camera near the tank to watch on my phone. Light and temperature is fixed automatically with devices.

 

[jfoahs04]

I voted "up to a week." We take longer vacations than that, but that's the extent that I'm comfortable with leaving my tank "automated" at home without anyone checking on it. We're gone on weekend trips about 1-2 long weekends per month and two or three weeklong (or longer) trips per year. This is essentially what I do:

• Fill ATO Reservoir
• Set up Auto feeder
• Set AC to automatically keep temperature in the condo at a max of 78
• Water change the day before leaving (inspect tank components during change)

Beyond a week, I pay someone from my LFS to come by a few times. They do a general wellness check on the tank/livestock, refill my ATO, clean the glass, and feed frozen (straight pellets are fine for up to a week, but I normally feed a variety and prefer it if I'm gone a while), etc. It's a small price to pay for the peace of mind.

No matter how long I go away, I always get a pit in my stomach on the trip home. It doesn't go away until I walk in and see my fish swimming and living coral. A tank inspection is the first thing I do after walking in the door and putting luggage down.

 

[revhtree]

For me the top 3 would be:

1. Cameras - Cameras on the ATO, The SUMP, the vital parts of the system. Things I can look at and have peace or look at and diagnose an issue.

2. Videos - Instructional videos of how to feed the fish, how to adjust this and that if there was something vital that went wrong.

3. Topped OFF - Make sure all the vital "top off" containers are filled and will last. Water, 2 Part etc...

 

[homer1475]

Having someone watch my tank, dog's, and cat while I'm away. I would trust my niece with my life, so I trust her with my tank.

Portioned food in portion cups for each day I'm gone.
Apex alert me if something is wrong, and I can call my niece if something does come up.
Larger then normal ATO

My tank will pretty much run itself, other then feeding the fish.

 

[snorklr]

pull socks, shut down skimmer...LRS in 1oz plastic cups with covers in freezer...extra RODI for ATO (picnic jug with eshoppes float...no automation here)

 

[ShadowMan]

I've got 15 days coming up in August and tbh I'm nervous as hell! I've got all the standard automation - lights, ATO (although my rank consumes a fair amount daily, so still trying to work that one out) thermostat, auto pellet feeder... Is there such a thing as an auto feeder for non-dried foods?

 

[Tamberav]

You guys have money left over for vacations?!

 

[Sebastiancrab]

I take vacations out of the country for 2 weeks. I set things up a week ahead of time to test and do a regular water change a couple of days before I go.

* two heaters with Inkbird controllers are always running in sump but the 2nd heater and probe are moved to the DT
* automatic air bubble set up in DT
* my 5 gallon ATO reservoir switched out to a 20 gallon, I go thru 5 gal a week and more in winter
* two Eheim automatic feeders set at different times (in case one fails)

*Backup return and ATO pumps
*A Wyze camera is set to view the sump and DT. I bought an orange vinyl film to cover it but need something better because I can't make out the coral very well. Any ideas anyone?
* Saltwater for at least 2 water changes (one is for when I return).
* A reefer friend on call and a backup from the LFS for an emergency.

Last, know there is a company in England called "Three Pay as You Go". I use their SIM card for internet/phone service in multiple European countries.

 

[doubleshot00]

Gonna feed a little heavy a few days before vacation then pre portioned tupperware containers of food. Neighbor will feed every other day. Camera facing tank.

 

[Cryptocaryon]

Selling up, not possible to go 2 weeks unattended