Loading ...So raise your hand if you skipped going away to somewhere abroad because you were unsure if your tank can handle 2-3 weeks of unsupervision. Now raise the other hand if you contemplated getting a tank babysitter for the duration of your time off. If right now you have both hands up, you would look like someone who does come from a vacation only to find his/her tank’s contents on the carpet. Hands in the air with disbelief on their face.
As I am embarking on my vacation, a mini one albeit, I want to share with you what I have done to help myself easy my mind while vacationing.
- Automate everything. Everything is on timers, so all you need to do is a quick check to see if they all work.
- Overfeed your fish 2 days and the day before. What I do is feed them 3 times a day for 2 days before I leave.
- Fill your R/O storage container and make sure that your Automatic Top Off (ATO) works. Test whether it can pump water into the tank by touching the water level sensor on your ATO (I own a Tunze Osmolator, which I highly recommend).
- Check your parameters. Check for all, PO4, NO3, SG (specific gravity), ALK, Ca, Mg. Adjust as needed.
- Clean your pumps and your skimmer 3-4 days before you leave. Usually clean pumps will move move water and may create some problems (such as spills). You want to make sure you catch them all (problems) with enough time before you leave. Also with a clean skimmer, it may overskim, so you need to re-tweak it for a few days.
- Finally, make sure you have a battery backup for your system. I would test it to see if it can hold minimally 8-10 hours of water movement. Ideally air pumps or MJ modded pumps are the best bang for the buck. Air pumps could last you almost a day, while MJs could 10 hrs. I personally endorse and use APC UPS power backup.
- This is for those who are really anal and want to do make everything right, complete a 20%-30% water change two days before you leave.
Now that you know what I do, now it is your turn to let us (and the fragd.it readers) know what tips or secrets you have!
Trained by the thirteenth ring master of the Sian Xiuang Coral Temple. Currently is apprenticing the art of Acropora shaping in the ancient tradition of Ninja Fragging. Known as the SPS hero!
Both hands way up high! Good info, i will work on that so that I too can re live the joy of a vacation!
Hi Vlad…
let’s check!
1. Automate everything.
Now I’m using aquatronica http://www.danireef.com/2007/05/16/laquarium-controller-di-aquatronica/ (ita) and limulus http://www.danireef.com/2008/06/10/aquasmart-by-limulus-english-version/ (eng) aquarium controller
With limulus I’ve sms module, so I’m up to date with tank value two times a day, 8am and 8pm with pH, redox, Temperature and the problems from tank. And if there is some power problems, it send me an sms. It’s not perfect but it’s good.
2. Overfeed your fish 2 days and the day before. What I do is feed them 3 times a day for 2 days before I leave.
I do it for about one week… but the real problem isn’t food for fishes, but for corals, I think
3. Fill your R/O storage container and make sure that your Automatic Top Off (ATO) works.
perfect
And I add to have ready to use many liters of RO water, for problems during the assence (for friends) or when we come back. I usually prepare about 60lt (the tank is about 400)
4. Check your parameters. Check for all, PO4, NO3, SG (specific gravity), ALK, Ca, Mg. Adjust as needed.
I don’t care so much… I didn’t check my parameter so often… Bu t I think you’re right!
5. Clean your pumps and your skimmer 3-4 days before you leave.
I prefer to do everything 10 days before… but to clean cup of the skimmer 5 minutes before going away
It’s also important not to change any equipments before leaving home… because we don’t know how they works.
6. Finally, make sure you have a battery backup for your system. I would test it to see if it can hold minimally 8-10 hours of water movement. Ideally air pumps or MJ modded pumps are the best bang for the buck. Air pumps could last you almost a day, while MJs could 10 hrs. I personally endorse and use APC UPS power backup.
I used apc for a lot of times http://www.danireef.com/2007/08/18/luso-di-un-ups-in-acquario/ (ita) but now I’ve switched to Zeus by Ocean Life… 26 hours of my return pump… great!!! http://www.danireef.com/2008/07/01/zeus-by-oceanlife/ and http://www.danireef.com/2008/08/13/zeus-conto-alla-rovescia-count-down/
7. This is for those who are really anal and want to do make everything right, complete a 20%-30% water change two days before you leave.
I’m not so sure about it!
Great post Vlad!!!
Danilo
That Zeus backup looks mean. Is it sold in the North America yet?
1. Automate everything.
(Check)
2. Overfeed your fish 2 days and the day before.
(I have bro in law come feed 2x / week, pre measured amounts)
3. Fill your R/O storage container and make sure that your Automatic Top Off (ATO) works.
(Check – almost, still need to make 10 more gallons)
4. Check your parameters. Check for all, PO4, NO3, SG (specific gravity), ALK, Ca, Mg. Adjust as needed.
(This I never do. I only check water ~1x / month or unless I see something out of wack. Only kH do I check every couple days)
5. Clean your pumps and your skimmer 3-4 days before you leave.
(I just shut my skimmer off for long vacations)
6. Finally, make sure you have a battery backup for your system.
(Check, at least enough power for a pump and so that my AC3 will email my bro in law and text him so he knows he needs to come check something)
7. This is for those who are really anal and want to do make everything right, complete a 20%-30% water change two days before you leave.
(I do the opposite – I make enough for a change on my return)
Fingers crossed – going on 2 week vacay in 10 days….
Forgot to add – in addition to RO top off, make sure your 2 part reservoirs, if you dose it, are filled and ready to keep dosing as well.
I just went through this about a month ago.
I’ve found that no matter how much you automate things, there’s still a chance that something will go wrong. So, I like that human touch. Make a list of things for a tank sitter to do. And check your email while you’re away. A lot.
While I was gone a few things went wrong, but because my sitter did such a good job, the damage was minimized.
Hi Vlad,
Good stuff. My personal opinion is it’s also good to reduce the chances of bad things happening by eliminating them as much as to try and automate.
For instance, is it possible to put cover glasses on the tanks and skip the auto-top up (if only going for a few days?). Perhaps a light could be switched off too, if heat is an issue.. Can anything external and temperamental (i.e. prone to leaks/floods/mishaps!) be switched off?
I appreciate some will say these will cause certain problems, but in the short-run they’ll be small known issues you can deal with on return, compared to equipment failure.
I’ve gone awry cleaning pumps/skimmers just before leaving as well… a good 3-4 days ahead is good advice, but I wonder whether it’d be good to leave well alone. It is uncanny how often a piece of equipment will run fine for ages and screw up after maintenance!
It is truly weird how often tanks go wrong the moment you leave. I don’t think I’ve ever had a tank go seriously wrong when I’ve been there, but when away…
Anyway, great list and enjoy your vacation!
Owain
Vlad as far as I know the Zeus isn’t sold in USA. But if you’re interested I can ask to OceanLife. Please write me in email.
Saturday we have checked with oscilloscope the wave form… perfect sinusoidal!!! In a couple of days (I hope) I’ll write something about…
Danilo
http://www.DaniReef.com