What are some general tips for when you leave your reef to go away for a trip?

[Daniel@R2R]

What are some extra steps you take when leaving your tank for a trip? Here are a few things I do:

1. Avoid any major additions or changes in equipment or livestock immediately before the trip.
2. Do a significant water change (20% or more) a couple of days before leaving.
3. Fill up ATO and maybe even add some extra RODI to the DT above the normal level if I'm going to be gone for more than a week.
4. Check any dosing elements to be sure they're topped off.
5. I don't set up any feeding unless I'm going to be gone for longer than 10 days. If gone more than 10 days, I have someone come feed the tank every 3 days or so.

 

[JCM]

I avoid having someone take care of the tank. I have a good friend who is a reef guy, he will come fill up my ATO if we are gone longer than a week. I make sure the normal house sitter doesn't touch anything though, too many things to mess up for someone with no experience.

 

[revhtree]

I have cameras strategically placed as well as the ability to turn items off and on from my phone.

 

[workhz]

I have cameras strategically placed as well as the ability to turn items off and on from my phone.

That sounds like a good way to make some extra cash.

 

[Ashish Patel]

I use a amazon camera that shows the sump level, skimmer level, temperature indicator. Besides that I feel its good practice to let your tank have no human interference for 4- 7 days at a time. That way your tank wont experience any major issues in that time frame when your gone. I even stopped feeding frozens daily because of this and rely on pellets on a auto feeder. I used to feed a lot of frozen food daily but for this reason alone I had to cut it back and now feed 1-2 times per week. I've noticed the tank does better when I stopped messing with it as long as Alk is stable, nutrients are present, and trace are available.

 

[Azedenkae]

1. Avoid any major additions or changes in equipment or livestock immediately before the trip.
2. Do a significant water change (20% or more) a couple of days before leaving.
3. Fill up ATO and maybe even add some extra RODI to the DT above the normal level if I'm going to be gone for more than a week.
4. Check any dosing elements to be sure they're topped off.

I agree with all of these.

Mine to add:
1. 'Mock' going on holiday beforehand if possible. If you are leaving for ten days, preferably a month before set everything up as if you are on holiday, and see if it runs fine within those ten days. That way, there is more peace of mind when one does go on a holiday, knowing the tank managed before.