What Would You Do?

[Vanpire]

If you already have a 180 gallon tank/stand, lights, skimmers, rocks, sand, cooler, and a calcium reactor or two.

And you are very busy, don't have much time and travel a lot. But you still want a reef tank.

What would you do to make it as hassle free as possible other than hiring someone to take care of it for you?

Just for the sake of brain-storming, PRETEND that you can spend a lot of money to automate as much as possible.

 

[badfish]

if you have the money then keep it. You will enjoy it so much more when u come and haven't seen it in a while.

 

[ScrubberOTanky]

I would keep it, get a service guy... but then I am biased to that sort of thing Although with reactors and what not it leaves a lot of room for error if someone is not always around. Maybe consider simplifying things a bit, or a softy/swim tank?

 

[usefulidiot213]

I would sell everything "real Cheap" to this guy named Bryan in Surprise.. his screen name is Useful Idiot.

 

[Vanpire]

It's a swim tank now.

 

[Reeefer]

I'd keep it and enjoy it whenever I was in town. I'd get a controller and get the app that let's you check on your tank and make adjustments remotely.

 

[KarlBob]

Hmmm, we're starting from "plenty of money"? Why not get the DialySeas aquarium dialysis machine? I think it's pretty low-maintenance...

Then again, if "plenty of money" is one of the starting conditions, I agree with ScrubberOTanky. Automated systems and Web displays provide some piece of mind, but knowing that a competent tank-keeper will be periodically checking on the tank sounds like a great investment to me.

Speaking of the Web, why not mount one or more live cams? That way you can:
a) Keep an eye on water levels, nuisance algae, aiptasia, and your fish,
b) Double-check that the maintenance crew is really showing up on schedule, and
c) Look at your tank every day (at least the part in front of the camera).

 

[usefulidiot213]

A web cam would be a bad idea for me. I wouldn't get much work done. I was starring at my tank all day, wondering if they know I am watching them.