If unattended, what would be the first system to cause an issue on your tank?

[DarkSky]

While preparing my tank before I go on vacation, I started thinking about what part of my tank would potentially be the first to cause an issue if left unattended. Everything in my tank is pretty much 100% automated, feeding, dosing, top offs - but I'd have to say it'd be my ATO system. I have a large enough reservoir for about 8 days of evaporation. Shortly after that my skimmer cup would overflow, and as I have a HOB skimmer it'd dump skimmate all over the inside of my stand.

How long could your tank last before something would go south?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Fish-food. ATO would run dry around the 8-10 day mark.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

My first issue would be an empty ATO reservoir. Fish can go without food for quite a while (plus, there's at least pods and stuff in the tank they can munch on for a bit).

 

[Midrats]

My fish are very needy and really can't go a day without hearing me talk to them in a baby voice so the first thing to go would be their sanity. The second would probably be the ATO but even if it did it wouldn't really flood anything as it only holds 3 days worth water. The skimmer would just overflow back into the sump.

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

ATO. It's on the house sitter's instructions to make sure the bucket has water in it and that all the switches are flipped on. I did a water change before leaving last Thanksgiving and forgot to turn the ATO back on got home to the pump running dry and the tank was at 1.035 and 65F. Amazingly didn't lose anything. Still feel so awful for my clowns.

How long are you gone for? If you've got everything automated, are you able to check on it remotely? You're probably good if that's the case.