Vacations..

[SSpiro]

How does one handle a tank while on vacation?

I.e. 7 days..

[gws76]

I would see about getting a fellow reefer to babysit. My wife knows everything about our tank, and she still doesn't want to be responsible for it.

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12246622#post12246622 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gws76
I would see about getting a fellow reefer to babysit. My wife knows everything about our tank, and she still doesn't want to be responsible for it.

I agree--I have a reef buddy--I look after his system while he is away and visa versa.

[SSpiro]

That's it? Is that my only option?

[VeralteAquatics]

auto top off for water and an auto feeder and lots of good luck :)

[AquamanE]

i agree ATO and feeder.

[jamest0o0]

what if you don't have a sump for the ATO to go into?

[fatdaddy]

I have a house sitter. She feeds and tops offs. She also alerts me to anything unusual.

If you can distill it down to a list of things to do and check that any idiot can do, then a pet sitting service can come in daily or every other day.

Of course, you want somebody that you can call in an emergecy. I have a neighbor how is mechanically knowledgable that I can tap during emergencies.

[Roy G. Biv]

I have an ATO and auto feedr even when Im home :)

Buy an aquacontroller, it will almost do anything!

[tbar]

Train a trusted neighbor or relative in the basics. feeding, topoffs, skimmer emptying, temp monitoring etc... Lots of folks who work at LFS's have a side job taking care of people's tanks while on vacation. Have a web cam set up on your tank to keep an eye on it or on your skimmer with a termp. display attached.

[NewFish3]

I have 3 friends with saltwater tanks....I have been taking care of their tanks for 8...going on 9 years now when their gone. I now started my first BioCube for my office...and now am getting ready to set up a 90 gallon tank. So I better get the same help from them...LOL.......Pay backs are a bit*h....:dance: :dance: :dance:

[SSpiro]

This stresses me out. The one person I have that could help will have moved out of state by this time.

Hmm..

[Tswifty]

Train someone... on the basics, they don't need to know everything, just what to look for, and try and make it as dummy proof as possible.

I usually leave a large container of RO/DI top off water also, and I packaged each days food in individual labeled containers so there were no mix ups.

[EllieSuz]

Get involved with your local reef club, if there is one. It's a way to create a buddy system for absences.

[atvdave]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12249463#post12249463 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by VeralteAquatics
auto top off for water and an auto feeder and lots of good luck :)

This is what I have been doing for the last 4 years, and I always go away for 2 to 3 weeks.

I'm not saying this is the best method, but it works for me.

[atvdave]

HE HE.. just seen where your from SSpiro.

Thats where I go for vacation every year, on the islands of course.

How about you vacation in my home & I'll vacation in yours. That way we can watch each other's tank.

[SSpiro]

Ha.. Sounds like a plan

[trdofwrkin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12249549#post12249549 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jamest0o0
what if you don't have a sump for the ATO to go into?

i dont have a sump and i have ato...i use a 5 gal bucket for a weekend trip and if im gone longer i use a large rubbermaid container

[jamest0o0]

oh so you just have it go straight into the DT?

[trdofwrkin]

yep straight in.......never any problems...as fas as auto feeder i dont trust them. I know some that have dumped all the food at one time......im only gone for a week at a time so my fish wait til i come home to eat.....

[VeralteAquatics]

Or your other option is to higher a professional to come in and check things...