Going away for the summer, need help!

[aninjaatemyshoe]

Spectrapure makes a pressure-based top-off switch: http://www.saltycritter.com/waterlevel.htm
These are much more reliable than float valves, which can be blocked or get stuck.

Regarding temperature control, if you are going to be gone during the summer, I wouldn't buy another heater for the tank. In fact if you are relying on the heater thermostats instead of a good temp controller, this would be worse than having just one. Many heaters break in the 'on' position. Depending on the size of heater, such a thing can easily nuke your tank. So, two heaters means twice the chance that this could happen. Now, if you were to replace your current heater (which I assume is enough to keep your tank adequately warm in the winter) with two SMALLER heaters, that would be better. But this is the summer we're talking about. Likely your heater will barely ever turn on unless the people in your house like to blast the AC.

The one thing you listed in your tank that has cause for concern is your RBTA. Many people have experienced anemones dislodging themselves and getting sucked into a pump intake. Often this will take out the anemone and many others in the tank with it if it is not dealt with quickly. You might want to see if you can find someone to hold your RBTA while you're gone so that this isn't a concern.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

At the beach, I am about 30mins away from OC. But I am about 1.5 hours from my house. So 2 hours away from the tank and OC, MD.

Getting two smaller heaters might be a better idea, or just replacing the one I have now, so I know it's new and still has lots of life left. My RBTA hasn't moved since he found a good spot over a month ago when I got him. I feed him every two weeks, so I'm sure he will be ok as long as I come home to feed him.

I am really considering getting rid of everything. With my busy schedule and constantly moving because of school, I don't know if having a salt tank is a good idea. As much as I love it, I have to consider what's best for me and the inhabitants.

 

[just dave]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11830643#post11830643 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DamnPepShrimp


I am really considering getting rid of everything. With my busy schedule and constantly moving because of school, I don't know if having a salt tank is a good idea. As much as I love it, I have to consider what's best for me and the inhabitants.

I think we have a winner.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

After all that hard work though, I have the tank starting to come around, finally finalized a setup. My reef is really starting to grow and mature. I may just frag everything and put it in a nano at my brothers house, who knows. I could sell everything and put that money towards the beach house and a new bike!

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

SO THINGS HAVE CHANGED!!!! I NEED NEW ADVICE!!!

Unfortunately I have to take a summer class, so it will either be on mon/wed or tues/thurs. Therefore I will be home from mon-wed or tues-thurs. Would there be a problem with me being gone for 4 days out of the week? I'll still get an ATO. Anyone want to comment now? I'd really like to keep my reef tank! Thanks!

 

[Mavrk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11849543#post11849543 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DamnPepShrimp
SO THINGS HAVE CHANGED!!!! I NEED NEW ADVICE!!!

Unfortunately I have to take a summer class, so it will either be on mon/wed or tues/thurs. Therefore I will be home from mon-wed or tues-thurs. Would there be a problem with me being gone for 4 days out of the week? I'll still get an ATO. Anyone want to comment now? I'd really like to keep my reef tank! Thanks!

I think 4 days out of the week is fine as long as there are other people around that can tell you if something is going seriously wrong. Most fish services don't come more often than that anyway. You can measure out daily food (or every other day). I still suggest the osmolator and a large Brute trashcan for ATO.

If you are really worried, then sell off your more sensitive livestock. Or all your livestock and let your pods grow like crazy

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

That's the good thing about my tank, I dont have any fish! I went from FO to reef and new I wasn't going to be around a lot over the summer. Plus I'm waiting 2 months to kill off ich in the display. I won't get any fish until I get back and they are going thru 6-8 weeks of hypo first! Oh and my tank is overloaded with pods, can't wait until I get a mandarin!
Since I'll be back every week, I can do my maintainence, feed my corals/anemones and top off the ATO. So if I get the osmolater, it looks like this will work? I do have people that are in the house who can keep an eye on the tank, if anything leaks or fails, but not if I have a coral problem.

 

[Mavrk]

As long as you are not in the need of a daily dose of supplement, then you should be fine IMO.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

I dont add any supplements everyday as it is now. Usually every few days. I only have softies,lps,zoos and anemones, no SPS. I dont run any reactors either.

 

[james37128]

You said you fixed your problem with the power outage. I think the fix probably wasn't a bigger sump. This is something to consider with the ato, if the pump gets stuck on, or the valve stuck open. With a 55 gallon brute filled full, you will have a mess. But if you are going on only need a week out of the ATO you don't really need 55 gallons. Your tank MOST likely doesn't evaporate more than 1 gallon a day. Meaning a smaller 10-20 gallon ATO reservor will be plenty, and wont overflow your sump if it gets stuck on/open (unless you are playing with fire with your water level in your sump). Also a separate heater controller as a previous poster mentioned is a VERY good investment (I know because I have experienced a heater stuck on, and didnt notice it untill things started getting real bad...)

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

I am going to set up a 10g for ATO water, I am upgrading to a 75g sump so incase all 10g of water does go into the sump, it won't overflow. I will only need it to ATO for 4 days straight out of the week. I need to get an autofeeder as well for my fish. I didn't plan on having any, but I got some from a guy getting out of the hobby. I have them in QT, my tank is over run with pods, I could keep a family of mandarins in the tank right now, it's ridiculous. I still have plenty of time before I leave for the summer, so I have more planning to do. Thanks.

 

[james37128]

My advise on auto feeders, what you pay for is exactly what you will get.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

So get the more expensive one? I have seen a couple for $20 which I will pass on, I am looking at a few that seem nice for around $50.

 

[james37128]

Individual compartments are the only way to go IMO. If you get one of the "tumbler" ones, the less food you have in the feeder the more will come out. They dont give accurate amounts of food. Something like this would be good http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4430+4464&pcatid=4464

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

I will be getting one from www.thatpetplace.com since they are near me and I can get one 30% off. I have seen ones there with individual containers, I was planning on that style. Good to know, thanks for the help.