What do you do when you go on vacation?

[ade]

Hi guys,

Looking to start in marine, and think we've found the tank etc. But one thing I'm concerned about is when we go on vacation - what do we do?

Obviously feeding could be done via an auto feeder (that's what I do on the freshwater), but I'm guessing the skimmer isn't going to go 2 weeks without being emptied, and worried about leaving a lovingly tended SW tank for 2 weeks anyway. Freshwater tanks cope fine by themselves, but not so sure the SW would.

Do you guys get tank sitters to come visit? Do they exist? Or do you rely on friends etc?

The out-lws live close, but it's still a 25 mile round trip for them to come check the tanks, obviously not something I'd be asking them to do every day.

Any suggestions?

Cheers

 

[Great Lakes]

You just stumbled upon th elargest fear of all reefkepperes. I heard of one guy that lost a 240 gallon tank while on holiday. His friend didn't watch it the way he should have.

Have to find someone you trust to follow directions. The best thing to do is find a fellow marinist and reciprocate tank watching duties.

GL

 

[ade]

GL - fancy a vacation in Stevenage, UK? You could look after mine then while I go to Canada, someone could take a vacation to Michigan to look after yours, just think of all the fun we could have! lol

Be cheaper than renting accomodation!

 

[DrOizo]

Ade, might sound like a stupid or far fetched idea but if your going away for 2 weeks maybe you could get some one off the forums who lives near by to mind it for you. But of course this goes into the fact that it would be some one you don't know etc........... Anyway just a brain storm

 

[ade]

DrOizo,

I was thinking along those lines, but wasn't sure if that's how people did it? Or if there are "professional" tank-sitters? Maybe I should start a business doing this? He he, get to see/play with everyones tanks without spending a fortune setting my own up? lol

Well, if there's anyone out there from Stevenage, please give me a shout...

Cheers

 

[ostrow]

You can go the forum route.

Or you can get someone from an lfs to come by. Most lfs have maintenance contracts -- that's where they make the money, not the shop. But they'll cut you a break if you aren't a doctor's office, shopping mall, etc. When I was away I had a guy from the store come 2x to check on things. They are insured for this as well.

But how often do you travel? I spent $65 on a dosing pump to continuously dose B-ionic calcium and alkalinity (you could dose any 2-part system), and just spent about $120 to automate my topoff using float switches, and the Spectrapure Liquid Level Controller (LLC) so my RO/DI keeps the water level in the tank steady.

2 weeks, if it's a reef tank, the fish don't even need to be fed as long as there's algae and pods in there for them. But an auto feeder isn't a bad idea.

Then any dope can come and empty the skimmer cup a few times a week. Get a kid across the street to do that.

 

[ade]

I'll try the lfs, although the nearest lfs that I would trust are approx 16-18 miles away, so not sure that I'd be able to persuade them (or afford for them!) to come out that distance. Will certainly give them a call though and find out...thanks for the idea.

It's the little things that make the big decisions hard huh?

Rgds

Ade

 

[Landlocked]

I bought an automatic feeder at LiveAquaria.com. It's called the Rondomatic 400, and it has enough slots (It rotates around in a circle) to feed an aquarium twice a day for two weeks.

With an automatic feeder, it's not that hard to just leave the tank for a week or two.

If you do have some kid come over, make sure they know NOT TO FEED THE FISH! Even if they seem hungry, make sure to drill into their heads one point: DO NOT FEED THE FISH! If they remember nothing else of your instructions, make sure they know this point!

Lots of luck!