Thanks for all the responses. The tank will not be alone, there are other people in the house that if they see anything going wrong, they can call me and I can either come up to fix the problem or walk them through it. It's not like the tank is going in the dark for 3 months. Regardless, I'd like the tank to be fine on it's own for at least two weeks, until I periodically come back.
Also, I've gone a few days without even seeing the tank. Since I only have really hardy corals, LPS, softies, shrooms, zoos, palys couple clams etc, everything has been doing great with minimal maintanence. The tank has only been set up for 2 months, but it came from my tank from my old apt, so in reality, the tank has been set up for over two years. So my tank is really taking care of itself, I just top of the water every few days and add some calcium or whatever I feel like.
useskaforevil, the osmolater uses a infared laser instead of float valves. Heres a link:
http://www.tunze.com/149.html?&L=1&C=US&user_tunzeprod_pi1[predid]=-infoxunter036
jjmg, my brother is also in the hobby, but maybe comes over once a week, and that's usually because I am here. He really isn't good for much. I've mentioned him coming over and checking things.
drama, I've had at least 1 fish tank for over two years, so I am not about to get out of the hobby just because I won't be around that much for the summer. Especially when I finally have a good set up going, I've switched many many times (reef to FO etc).
aninjaatemyshoe, you make very good points and thank you for the detailed reply! My tank does not have any SPS in it, and really it wasn't that expensive to set up, coral wise. I got a lot of really good deals, most of my corals for free or dirt cheap, nice live rock for a buck a pound, etc etc. Regardless, I don't want to lose anything or have any problems. To me, I think my system is just as important/nice as other SPS systems that cost thousands, that's why I like my system, I'm not a fan of expensive twigs, haha.
I definitely will be getting an ATO, I was thinking the tunze since it is bullet proof but you mentioned an air pressured one. Have any links or more details? Never heard of that, I only knew about float valves until I found out about the tunze. My tank does not demand a whole lot, especially crazy additives. Everything seems to do great with just adding bottled additives (liquid calcium, coral accel, and zooplex) which I don't even know if that does anything at all. I have my corals growing out of control, my colts are going crazy, rics are splitting, RBTA getting bigger and bigger, mushrooms and zoos multplying like pods! So I think my system is pretty good, especially as far as adding any kalk or Ca reactors etc.
Temp will have to be monitored, I will get another heater and probably set it lower then the other heater and maybe even put it on a timer. The lights are already on a timer, so that is set. My main concern is the ATO. I add about 5-8g a week of water. So I want to get at least a 20g ATO container just in case, I'd prefer a 55g drum just incase I don't make it home some times.
Really, all I have been doing, is topping off water, I haven't done any testing in months, a water change in about 3 weeks (that's because I acclimated a new coral). My skimmer stopped working and I haven't hooked up my new octo200. Since I don't have any fish, and my tank is literally undisturbed, it takes care of it's self so to say. I just really need to get the water top of thing squared away, that's my main concern and I feel my only problem.
Anyone else have any thoughts/opinions? Especially after describing my system a little better? Thanks for everyone's help so far, keep it coming everyone!
