bombproof tank

[Pip]

i need a way to keep my corals safe while i move out for about 3months before i will return to check on things.

i am shrinking my, currently, 54corner to a 20l. Equipmentlist: asmg3 skimmer, mag7 returnpump, 250w MH 72w actinic. and
powerheads 10g sump
corals: 75%sps 20%lps 5%softies. 20l will be packed

my problem is making it a barebottom or sandbed which is safer with an neglecked tank? i can see it both ways.
pack the 20l w/ liverock or just enough for the corals?
keep the fish?... tomatoe clown, chalkbass, aglae blenny
will have my sister and parents waterchange every 2weeks, as well as clean the glass for veiwing, and check skimmer cup.

edit:sorry i posted this in this channel, but maybe you guys can give your 2cents

 

[menard]

Pip, if I were U I will sell all that livestock and save your equipment.Set' em up again when U do have time for this animals.I would not leave that to my family if i were U, if things go south U cant really blame them.

 

[Sk8r]

What I'm doing for a small absence: I've got my tank demand stable. I have blind-tested it to be sure that if I buffer my topoff to x degree, all that needs be done is two heaping tsp of calcium daily, and it stays perfect.
This would work for you.
You need to teach your family to run ro/di water and buffer it.
You need to give them an absolutely adequate [but scant] measuring spoon for food, and an absolutely measurable [in cooking terms] cup measurement for buffer and calcium. Plus instructions, as if it were a recipe: stir until dissolved, then add...etc.
They can do it.
You might teach the sister how to run an alk and a cal test: sibs are usually more adaptable to new routines. Start now creating a log showing these results every day, and what you add, and tell her to look at that log, observe the trends, and report to you by phone if anything Unusual seems to be going on, no matter how slight.

I think a sandbed is safer. It has more biodegrading capability.

Fortunately the person I am leaving in charge of mine during absence has a laboratory background. This really helps.

PS: promise an extravagant lobster dinner if you get back to a living, safe tank.

 

[Bryan89]

I have ran a DSB, a plenum and a barebottom tank. IME, the barebottom is the easiest setup I have ever ran. However, it is sterile and needs a lot of food input to keep my fish and corals happy.

If you get the alkalinity needs down and can keep temp and salinity constant, any method listed above will work. A new DSB setup requires more work initially and probably is not the setup to establish for a week and promptly ignore.

Personally, I'd sell all livestock and wait to set it up later.

However, if you are insistent on keeping the setup as you described above, I would get rid of all the fish save one. I would keep the clown, the algae blenny will starve in your absence due to a lock of algae.

Every person you ask will have a different answer, but getting rid of all livestock is the best answer, IMO.

HTH

Bryan

 

[TOURKID]

dont forget evaporation. I made that mistake... it took 1 week and my tank was 1/3 empty and the salinity was 1.032

ouch.

 

[philagothos]

I'd try to frag anything important and give them to buddies with the understanding that you get a frag back when you are ready to start up again. You might try getting one of these buddies to babysit any important fish too. Then you can just have your family try to keep the liverock alive. That way you don't have to go through another cycle when you are ready to set up again; and just about anyone should be able to keep the rock alive.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Edward Smith]

How much do you have? Can't one of us baby sit the coral in our tanks?

 

[glassbox-design]

BB is great...but not if you are not there to manage it. Your rocks will shed, and shed, and keep shedding. If you're not thre to siphon it out your levels will shoot up. I would go with a DSB, let is absorb "mistakes" while you're gone and then take it out when you get back.

eric&flint

 

[Bryan89]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7624731#post7624731 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Flint&Eric
BB is great...but not if you are not there to manage it. Your rocks will shed, and shed, and keep shedding. If you're not thre to siphon it out your levels will shoot up. I would go with a DSB, let is absorb "mistakes" while you're gone and then take it out when you get back.

eric&flint

Agreed, I sort of assumed his rocks would be cooked before he left. But in re-reading his original post, I belive he probably would not be cooking before he left.

Bryan