Vacation Tank Care Ideas/Automation

[mapn4reef]

Besides the obvious ideal situation of having a fello "reefer" check on your tank during a week long vacation, and aside from an auto top-off setup, what do you do to make sure everything stays functional, alive, and no disasters while you're gone? Do you not worry about dosing (if you dose manual), what about feeding fish and corals, general daily stuff...then what about emergency stuff like a snail plugging drain pipe or something, do you go as far as put in a float switch to turn off pumps for that remote chance? Looking for tips and tricks to give me peace of mind during a week away from the house (or even when I travel and the wife is caring for the tank solo).

Thanks.

 

[MVlk]

Honestly I would not consider being away for a week without a fellow reefer coming over once a day to feed and check on things. My RKE has plenty of bells and whistles to let me know there is an issue, but I only trust technology so far. Just my opinion.

 

[ameares8]

Same here. I like to have a ton of cool gadgets to keep things automated, but the "buddy system" works the best. You could spend a small fortune and be fully automated though. ATO system, controller with sensors, switches, etc.

 

[tkimmons85]

Hey Buddy

 

[NeveSSL]

I actually just leave it be. I don't even feed my fish usually. I don't have any "spiffy" fish that have to be fed 3 times a day at even intervals, so I just make sure there's plenty of ATO water and head out. I've not had any issues in about 2 years. I used to have Norman come by, but I just don't think its necessary.

But that's just me.

Brandon

 

[sandalscout]

My sister is a bum, basically, so I pay her peanuts (well, sorta) to come to my house when we go on vacation, she is good at keeping up with the tanks, the fish are always fatter when we get back, and she watches our two dogs and cat. Plus, the house has someone in it every night. She considers it her vacation, otherwise she'd just stay at home.

 

[andywe]

Definitely have someone check in now and then. Maybe not every day (depends on your critter types) but still wise to have someone take a look for you.

 

[Mikeyjer]

I would definitely have someone staying over to watch the tank. My ATO got stuck one day and fill my tank full of freshwater. Skimmer pump broke and kept running. Tank pump stopped working. Just some stuffs to name.... I had all those happen recently that I had to fix. Awhile back I bought a Won Pro Titanium Heater from someone on here. It worked for awhile then it wouldn't stop heating the tank, it got to like 88 degrees. For the feeding part, if you got your fish trained to eat flakes, I would get one of those automated feeder. I have Tangs and Foxface so someone needs to drop in a algae sheet per day. I don't need algae clip cause they all learned how I feed by just drop it in at the surface. The new comer fish learn from the older ones to eat like that....Plus I've got 3 dogs, a kitten, and 4 birds....So I HAVE to have someone staying over....lol