Away for 4 months

[mcmunn93]

Hi im going away for 4 months and have no one to look after my reef tank. I have apex which feeding is ok but i more worried about water changes. What should i do sell or is there a way round it. When im away i will have Internet access . Help plz

 

[CodyRVA]

Have you tried reaching out to a LFS to see if they provide any services while you're gone?

 

[mcmunn93]

No i didn't know they did that. i could ask i suppose

 

[visioned]

do you have any reefer friends locally?

 

[mcmunn93]

No i dont

 

[CodyRVA]

Neighbor?

 

[mcmunn93]

My neighbor is a mum and wouldn't have a clue

 

[CodyRVA]

My neighbor is a mum and wouldn't have a clue

Any generally intelligent friends? My neighbor watched my system for several weeks with no prior knowledge.

 

[Breadman03]

You don't necessarily need a reefer, but you will need someone who can do things like refill your ATO reservoir. 4 months is a really long time.

If there's truly nobody who could check in on the tank every week or so, I'd suggest selling off your livestock.

 

[mcmunn93]

Ok thanks for all the comments think im just gunna have to sell up. Really gutted

 

[Maddlesrain]

Whenever we go out of town, I walk the pet sitter who's staying with the cats and dogs through the steps required to keep the tank running. I'm usually not gone for more than a month, but no one has killed anything yet! Just be very clear, and give few maintenance jobs. I tell every person who watches the tank not to clean the glass or anything, just let it look bad. I'd rather get home and have the tank look super ugly than everything be dead!

 

[mcmunn93]

True

 

[mcmunn93]

What if i get a smaller tank

 

[Radman73]

What if i get a smaller tank

Issues are pretty much the same. If anything, larger tanks are probably better off left unattended. For 4 months, your primary concerns will likely be feeding, ATO, and skimmer cup emptying. I'd call a LFS and ask. Failing that, friends or family that you can trust.

Do you know how much evaporated you get? I used an Eheim feeder and a 32gal Brute with a lid for ATO when we moved my tank down to the new house. It was left alone for about 1.5 months. I did use an iPhone so I could visibly see it. I turned off the skimmer and fed very light.

 

[CodyRVA]

Whenever we go out of town, I walk the pet sitter who's staying with the cats and dogs through the steps required to keep the tank running. I'm usually not gone for more than a month, but no one has killed anything yet! Just be very clear, and give few of maintenance jobs. I tell every person who watches the tank not to clean the glass or anything, just let it look bad. I'd rather get home and have the tank look super ugly than everything be dead!

+1 Last time i was out of town, i made a calendar for the person and gave detailed instructions on what to do each day. I simplified it like: instead of changing the carbon in the reactor, just leave it and add a mesh bag to the sump. Showed them how to change filter socks, made sure they had enough clean ones, how to empty the skimmer, fill the ATO reservoir, how much to feed, overall checks like heaters, pumps, etc. And i did the same thing in regards to the glass, told them to let it get dirty, i'll clean it when i get back lol

 

[mcmunn93]

What about water changes would i need to do this

 

[pdt7361]

Where are you located? Any local reef clubs?

 

[Maddlesrain]

What about water changes would i need to do this

No, I wouldn't do it. I think it'd be safer to let the tank get dirty. Just clean well before you leave and when you return.

 

[mcmunn93]

Ow ok if i dont have to do water change i should be fine right. Cause i have apex i can feed from apex. I could ask neighbor to empty skimmer and top up with water right

 

[CodyRVA]

Ow ok if i dont have to do water change i should be fine right. Cause i have apex i can feed from apex. I could ask neighbor to empty skimmer and top up with water right

What I would do, dumb down the process; just the essentials.