Ok I am leaving next week for a little less than two weeks. I am going to Florida. I will be spending time in the keys (if anyone knows a good place to go for scuba or snorkeling let me know) I will be gone for two weeks so the thing I am worried about is the water evaporating in my sump. My tank is biologically run by my live rock only and protein skimmer. My tank has 2500gph in a 150 gallon tank. My sump only makes up for 800gph of that total. So if I don't want to have someone comingto my house can't I just shut off my sump while I am gone??? I would still have roughly 12 x turnover in my tank with only the powerheads in the tank. The skimmer can be off for two weeks I am not so worried about that. (people run their tanks forever with no skimmer mine will be fine without for two weeks). Is there any problems with doing this???? Like there will be some water sitting in the sump will that water go bad or anything??? like should I have a powerhead circulating the water in the sump as well??????
Vacation need help
- Thread starter Chago09
- Start date
crhis
New member
i think that's insane.....lol
your water is going to evaporate regardless ...weather it be from the sump or the main display....i know i top off at least 1/2 a gallon per day if you do the math that would not be good .
i am curios of your aversion to having someone coming over and checking on things? i have 1 person i have trained for every "worse case scenario" possible to watch my tanks when i go out of town. what about feeding,dosing, topping off etc?
how often and how much do you currently top off your tanks?
I'd say you'd be venturing into risky business by leaving your tanks unattended for 14 days.....just my $00.02
your water is going to evaporate regardless ...weather it be from the sump or the main display....i know i top off at least 1/2 a gallon per day if you do the math that would not be good .
i am curios of your aversion to having someone coming over and checking on things? i have 1 person i have trained for every "worse case scenario" possible to watch my tanks when i go out of town. what about feeding,dosing, topping off etc?
how often and how much do you currently top off your tanks?
I'd say you'd be venturing into risky business by leaving your tanks unattended for 14 days.....just my $00.02
On a much smaller scale, but a lot the same, I just got back from florida myself after leaving my tank for 17 days unattended. What you need to do is this:
-purchase the JBJ auto top off system and set it up with a large tank to hold fresh RO/DI water for the top offs. I use a maxijet 1200 connected to some soft 1/2 inch tubing to link it to the tank...or in your case the sump. be sure that the holding tank for the fresh water is big enough so it will last 2 weeks without having to be refilled
-use an auto-feeder for the fish and/or corals
-keep all pumps running along with the protein skimmer
the JBJ auto top off is really nice and i am really glad that i got one.
you'll come home to glass that has a lot of algae on it but other than that, everything will be working perfectly. if you have to worry about your skimmer cup overflowing, i just connect my drain tube to an ice creme bucket and let it go.
you may still want to have somebody stop by and make sure that all the pumps and everything are working after the first week or so
-purchase the JBJ auto top off system and set it up with a large tank to hold fresh RO/DI water for the top offs. I use a maxijet 1200 connected to some soft 1/2 inch tubing to link it to the tank...or in your case the sump. be sure that the holding tank for the fresh water is big enough so it will last 2 weeks without having to be refilled
-use an auto-feeder for the fish and/or corals
-keep all pumps running along with the protein skimmer
the JBJ auto top off is really nice and i am really glad that i got one.
you'll come home to glass that has a lot of algae on it but other than that, everything will be working perfectly. if you have to worry about your skimmer cup overflowing, i just connect my drain tube to an ice creme bucket and let it go.
you may still want to have somebody stop by and make sure that all the pumps and everything are working after the first week or so
drummereef
Team RC
Chaco, you really need to get your auto top off in order before you leave. Two weeks of evaporation on your tank will not bode well for the inhabitants. Most likey your system will have a total failure. My top choices for auto top off devices are the Tunze Osmolator and autotopoff.com if you are on a budget. Either will get the job done. Please don't disregard this because I do believe you will come home to a sad mess. 
As for snorkeling/diving in the Keys, the two places I snorkled was Sombrero Reef (access via boat off Marathon (Vaca Key).
The most elaborate reef I saw down there was Looe Key. If you do a google for Looe Key, it will give you all the information you need on how to get there.
Good luck, and stay safe.
The most elaborate reef I saw down there was Looe Key. If you do a google for Looe Key, it will give you all the information you need on how to get there.
Good luck, and stay safe.
Key Largo, the first key is home to pennekamp (sp?) state park which is the largest marine sanctuary in the lower 48 i believe. It is home to some very nice wrecks, including the spiegle grove which claimed 3 lives about a month ago due to poor planning. A good shop in Key Largo if you're going to be there is Quiescence who limit their boats to a max of like 6 people. Great people and excellent service: www.keylargodiving.com
crhis
New member
there's an awsome sunset snorkle cruise you can get out of the marina in Malory square (end of Duval st. Key West)......it's about $45.00 per person but you start by motering out to a reef on a 55' cateraman.. snorkle for a couple hours then sail back as the sun sets and enjoy a cold beer or a glass of wine whatever your liking may be..
barngeatbayman
Premium Member
how about the dry tortogas. Its off the coast of key west.
