How Long Can You Go?

[Griev]

Does anyone else love trying to automate their tanks as much as possible? I'm curious to know what's the longest you've spent away from your tank and how did it go?

I just got back from a 14 night trip and other than dirty glass, my tank is perfect. Didn't run out of top-off water. No nutrient or dosing issues. No corals or fish got knocked over or are missing. It's taken a lot of work to get my monitoring and equipment routine down to be comfortable with such a long period of the tank running entirely on its own (I'm also 2+ years without a water change), so I'm curious to see if anyone else attempts such long trips or has tips/tricks to go even longer!

 

[Reefer Matt]

Only three days for me. I have five tanks and something always needs to be done with one of them. I’m glad you can get out though!

 

[Imrahilwjz]

More than 14 days, only because I have siblings and nieces and nephews who would be willing to care for it.

 

[Griev]

More than 14 days, only because I have siblings and nieces and nephews who would be willing to care for it.

Always nice to have the help! I did have a backup if needed, but part of the challenge for me was trying not to need them!

 

[exnisstech]

0 days. I intentionally do not automate much. I don't really trust controllers and they do more than I need anyway. Plus I'm not about to automate 3 tanks lol. I also do not want to go any where overnight so my tanks are my excuse to stay home. I'll always keep at least one tank that requires daily dosing of something.

EDIT : Being retired now from a job that never required travel helps.

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

Luckily, my family knows how to care for my tank, so I'm comfortable staying away for extended periods. Although I still worry at times. :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:

Edit: I think it adds context to say that I have just a small nano with a few fish and coral, and my only automation is my ATO.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Once All my automation is completed for Hydros. I'd say I'm conformable with 7 days. Its mainly my 1G/5G tanks I worry about.

 

[PR_nano]

I did 14 days earlier this year but the new tank was cycling and the other is mostly softies and pretty established. We have a similar 12 days road trip coming up and I been working to get everything ready. My nephew just does top off. The new tank will last the 2 weeks but not the old one. I just have him stop by every couple of days to top off and see if anything looks off or if something looks off thru the cameras.

It’s kind of funny that I texted my nephew prior to this thread.



The “short trip”…

 

[jkrohn]

14 days is the most I've had to do due to travel. Between automation, remote access, and a 4k camera on the tank I feel comfortable dealing with most things that come up.

 

[Griev]

Here's how I manage 14 days of top off water with the power of science (siphons equalize the water between all the containers);

 

[Jasonak]

Its pretty much auto besides food we go on at least one vacation every year for a couple weeks so it has to be able to run by itself. I just have a friend who house sits and feeds each day.

 

[JoJosReef]

Here's how I manage 14 days of top off water with the power of science (siphons equalize the water between all the containers);

Saving that for later.

 

[kevgib67]

7 days but I always have a tank sitter come over every other day.

 

[fish farmer]

At most 14 days, but I have staff. Either my wife or coworker checks on things. I have a cat that needs pills daily so we require a sitter if we go away.

 

[jkrohn]

Saving that for later.

I've taken a similar approach but I got a second ATO that fills my ATO reservoir, lol. It makes refilling it normally easy (I just bring a 5g jug over and flip the switch rather than risk spilling in my stand or having to take everything out).

I have a 10 gallon reservoir under my stand with a low optical sensor in it (shuts off the main ATO so it doesn't burn out). If I head out for an extended period of time I'll put a larger rubbermaid tub with maybe 20 gallons of RO in it and then can use the "second" ATO to fill the primary container while I'm gone as I usually use around 10 gallons a week. Usually I leave this ATO powered off with the APEX and manually flip it once a week while I'm gone to refill the primary ATO container.

 

[jsmkmavity]

22 days away. Not much automation, but our younger daughter lives 6 miles away and grew up with this tank in the house so she knows what to do. My younger sister and nephew like to see the tank and they come feed every day and check water level. I have an ato with a 50 gallon container but sometimes it stops working and needs reset.

 

[vlangel]

My husband and I did a 23 day motorcycle road trip to Alaska. I had my son come 1 day a week and my sister come 1 day a week. The glass was dirty but the tank did fine. I have intentionally made my tank a low maintenance, easy system so I don't have to be tied to it.

 

[BryanM]

0 days for me at the moment. I suspect a year from now I'll answer with 7-14 days though.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

We left our tank two weeks before, which is probably the longest time we have ever left our tank.

 

[MindlessToxin]

I left for 6 days last year and everything was fine. Just had an auto feeder and ato. I was worried the whole time though lol. *separation anxiety* :grinning-face-with-sweat: