Going camping

[Nu2SW]

So I am going camping on Friday June 1st and coming back either Sunday the 3rd or Monday the 4th.

I could get one of those automatic fish food feeds with some dry food.

I have a Timer for my halides....

I have a big ole fan for air circulation that points to my tank.

So I am wondering a couple things...

Should I have someone come and check the tank while I am gone?

Can my Halides be off for 3-4 days or would that cause too much stress to my inhabitants?

I live in an apartment, downstairs unit and these pas few days when its been in the 90's. My wife will have all the shades closed and the air on, So its pretty cool when I walk in.

Highest my tank has been was 82.5 and that was with the fan off at the moment. ( I turned the fan on when I got home.) The fan was off for about an hour and a half, my wife said she left it was 79.5. So it raised that much in a hour and a half.

Any input is welcomed.

 

[kevin95695]

I'd automate everything you can (timer on fan, etc.) AND get a reef buddy to check your tank.

 

[Nu2SW]

I was also thinkingof putting the tank on a reverse lighting period.

Run my halides at night when its cooler.

 

[kevin95695]

Sounds smart. If you're worried about stressin' your stuff, start inching your photoperiod shorter and later day-by-day so it happens gradually by trip time.

 

[matttaylor]

Or follow the advice of this thread, and leave the lights off while you're gone. I tried it, and it actually seemed to have a positive benefit. And you won't have to worry about any accidents, or topping off as much.

 

[xinumaster]

How are you gonna do the top-off? If you don't have an auto top-off setup yet you might need some help to do the top-off.

June is one of the hottest month. You might probably need also a temp controller too that can shut off your lights when temp goes above 85F.

 

[Nu2SW]

Ive left my lights off before in the past, I do have 6 white LED lights on the tank so some sort of lighting also.

I may try that and see what happens.

No lights will really help with extra heat .


How far down do you think the PH may drop....

 

[Underwaterparadise]

I have tried the NO LIGHT thing and did not have great success. I came home to really low PH and stressed out corals. If you ran some actinic or a fuge light you may be OK but not worth the risk IMHO.

I go camping (well used to) about 6 times a year and it's always for 2-3 days. I don't do anything different except add a Lil more water to the sump and monitor it a few days before I leave to see what the temp does. If you are worried about heat I would get a fan that blows across the water not just pointed at the tank. Evap can cool a tank by 2-4 degree's IME. Also set your house AC a little cooler if possible