Vacation

[MonsterReef]

Simply can I go on vacation with a tank

 

[ruth howard]

Yes, hire your trusted friend and teach him or her what to do. We are away as I write. I have top-off water by the aquarium, we have taught him how to feed the fish, empty the skimmer if needed, and what to check (tempurature, etc). I try to make it as simple as possible like turning down skimmer production. He has our numbers if there is a problem or question. Yes, we have insisted on paying him even though he didn't want any money. Reassure him that it is okay if something goes wrong. Stuff happens no matter how hard someone tries to do things correctly. Take a vacation and try not to worry. I, also, try not to have anything in quarantine while away.

 

[andyg1960]

Go on vacation with a tank? I'd be afraid the water would slosh out in the car, or worse in the plane.

 

[MonsterReef]

That's great lol

 

[jsker]

Go on vacation with a tank? I'd be afraid the water would slosh out in the car, or worse in the plane.

:D

Yes, hire your trusted friend and teach him or her what to do. We are away as I write. I have top-off water by the aquarium, we have taught him how to feed the fish, empty the skimmer if needed, and what to check (tempurature, etc). I try to make it as simple as possible like turning down skimmer production. He has our numbers if there is a problem or question. Yes, we have insisted on paying him even though he didn't want any money. Reassure him that it is okay if something goes wrong. Stuff happens no matter how hard someone tries to do things correctly. Take a vacation and try not to worry. I, also, try not to have anything in quarantine while away.

I agree with @ruth howard if someone you can teach and put a web cam so that you can check in if the person has question.

 

[rebekwl]

There are some pretty helpful tips in this thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/vacation-time.247131/page-2

 

[Prozack199]

You Can Go On Vacation But If Something Can Go Wrong It Will Go Wrong. Just Always Seem To Happen That Way Lol.

 

[BigKid4788]

You sure can. I'm in the cayman island right now! I have an apex to monitor the essentials. I have an ato. All I need is for someone to feed

 

[CarrieB]

You Can Go On Vacation But If Something Can Go Wrong It Will Go Wrong. Just Always Seem To Happen That Way Lol.

This.

I set up my Apex, fish feeder, ATO. All worked great. Until my 150 tall tank cracked across the bottom in the middle of the night while I was in a different country. Still don't know why.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[Blitzie]

I do a few prep detail likes batch of salt water and make RODI water. I also remove filter socks and anything else that can clog or plug.

Daily I have my parents come over and feed the fish. I simply have they unplug the return pump and plug it back in 15 minutes later.
I also leave and emergency contact phone number so if they have a problem they can call.

In 5 years never had an issue.
Enjoy your vacation

 

[alyee5]

I took my first vacation "with a tank" last month. Essential equipment I deem were:
1) webcam
2) Apex controller
3) person

Two days into my vacation. I could see using the webcam that my ATO reservoir was 25% lower than it should have been.

I thought it was because I left the house temp 2degrees higher with no one at home and I was having higher evaporation so I used the apex to change the temperature at which my sump fan kicked in.

Next day, ATO reservoir was more than half empty and on pace to be empty well before I got back. From the webcam, I could see the level in my skimmer and fuge sections were high meaning my sump filter was clogging and causing less water to flow into the return section and thus triggering the ATO to go on too much. Salinity was only slightly lower as a result from 34.5 to about 34.3. The webcam was key to determing root cause.

I shut my return pump off remotely to "flush" the sump and temporarily get the levels correct again. I did this a couple of times.

Ultimately I had the pet sitter remove the sump filter which solved the problem until I got back in town. Again I used the webcam to guide the reluctant person what to do. "Put my hand where??"

I purchased the webcam 2 days before my vacation as extra security. I know some use float switches to detect Tank/sump level issues, but the comfort of actually seeing the tank and sump was key to my enjoying my vacation without extra worry.

Ps. I did a full water change/filter Change a few days prior to my vacation and monitored ATO consumption rate (and had 50% extra water in the reservoir), but Murphy's law knows no bounds.

 

[MonsterReef]

Thanks yall

 

[Waterjockey]

Simply can I go on vacation with a tank

I travel a lot sometimes for work...gone up to 3 weeks at a time. I have an autofeeder, an ATO resevoir that will hold about 5 to 6 weeks of kalk top off, and drilled my skimmer cup to put a hose running to a collection jug with a skimmer cut off switch.
If your system is stable, your parameters shouldn't be too far off your ideal numbers if left unattended for a week or three. .......Often the tank looks better than when I left because I haven't been messing with stuff while I was gone lol

Enjoy your vacation