I found some Peace of mind regarding my tank while on vacation

[pammy]

I take off for a week a couple times a year and go away for a lot of weekends. Like a lot of people, I don't have anyone that can watch my tank for me. I've left the tank on auto-pilot for a week before, and nothing bad happened, but it is a little nervewracking. I just got back from a week of diving in Dominica. Before I left, I bought a Linksys Wireless G Internet Camera (model WVC54GCA) for $119 and have it aimed at my tank. This way, I can visually check the tank from anywhere in the world, where I have internet access. I wasn't sure about the reliability of internet access in Dominica, so I gave the website address to my brother and he kept an eye on the tank for me. He kept the video up on his pc at work all day and could check it from his home as well. I told him what to keep an eye on. With the internet camera, I can at least check the water level and know that the automatic topoff is working. I can see that there is water movement in the tank so I know that my powerheads are working and I haven't lost power. I can see there's been no major catastrophe like a crack in the tank or flood. I can see all the fish so I know I haven't had a death of a fish that might cause a major spike in ammonia or something. I also left an instruction book that I typed up with labeled photos of all of my equipment and common problems and solutions (cables are also labeled) , and also left the numbers of my LFS and a person I deal with there a lot, so my brother could call someone in if something looked wrong. Have an autofeeder on there as well, and had someone come in twice during the week to feed a portioned out amount of frozen food. The Internet camera gives me a peace of mind!!! I check my tank frequently from work now too.

 

[Darth Wader]

wow, thats a smart idea. I just went on a vacation to LA and I left my flake of a roommate in charge of doing top ups and feeding my fish and I kid you not the whole time I was away I was so worried I'd come home to a pump running dry and dead fish from lack of feeding.
Sounds like you have it dialled as far as keeping your sanity when your away.

 

[buckeyegirl]

That is a great idea. It's worse than leaving kids home alone, isn't it! You can't even call home and check on the fish like you can kids. Just don't watch the webcam all day now instead of working

 

[bonerfortuna]

I do that as well. Another thing Ive begun is to pop a heater in the display and shut down the sump, return, skimmer, and top off. I also reduce halide time to reduce evaporation . With little or no feeding there is a lot less to go wrong and for a week or so I find there is no harm done and less anxiety.

 

[Kryptikhan]

I left for biz trip one time and my mom was cleaning the top glass with windex :/ after I told her don't touch the tank. It's amazing what actions and inactions people will do to your set up. I will never have peace of mind leavingit behind. Kids are much easier to care for lol.

 

[DLANDINO]

I do the IP cam thing as well for all of the same reasons even watching when I am at work to be sure all is well. I have never left my tank for any amount of time but will for one week this summer. I plan on having my lfs, who also does take maint and welfare check-ups, come in twice that week. An auto feeder will take care of food. I will have someone on standby for our cat so a daily visual will also be performed. The reduced light trick is a good one for evap reduction and will employ that as well. This is a great thread, would love to hear other ideas.The concept of leaving the tank is nerve racking.

Dave

 

[tbar]

I do the same thing too even though sister in law comes by to feed, top off, etc. You can also have temp indicator display on camera.

 

[pammy]

I did reduce the light period too. I figured that the algae on the glass wouldn't build up as much, and I was right. I had the tank all clean and looking great within 20 minutes after I returned from a week away. I reduced the T5's from 10 hours a day to 8, and reduced the MH from 7 hours to 4. Corals looked fine when I returned.

Nice to watch it at work. At least if I catch something going wrong, I can bolt out of work and run home to take care of it.

 

[heuerfan]

Great idea, how simple is this to set up? Do you need your own webpage? How does it work, i'm clueless when it comes to these things.

Thanks.

 

[pammy]

With this particular model, I don't need my own webpage. I access it through the internet with the IP assigned to the cam and the port number. I had it set up in 30 minutes. I did have to contact Linksys customer support for assistance, because there were a few steps things we had to do that weren't covered in the instructions.

 

[bonerfortuna]

heuerfan here is one that I use and can recommend. Great support and it feeds into your router. No need for the compputer to always be on. I have them also monitering a place 750 miles away so I know they are reliable. Your old green monti cap says hello by the way !
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NVSPQW

 

[pammy]

I looked at the Panasonic too. The linksys also goes wirelessly through my router, which I wanted because I didn't want to have to leave my laptop on all the time. Linksys was about $80 cheaper, so I went with it.