HELP, Deploying soon for 6+ months

[Reab]

As the title says I am up for deployment soon and would like any input on how to best make my reef self sustainable while I am away. Before you freak out, I will have someone come by once a day(minimum) to feed and keep an eye on everything. Short of selling everything and starting fresh when I come back, I want to know what you think! Thanks in advance!

 

[-Logzor]

Does your system require dosing of calcium / alkalinity?

The biggest issue will not be providing a live body to feed and/or watch stuff but rather to trouble-shoot equipment failures and maintaining top-off water, dosing chemicals, etc.

I think having a robust top-off with a large reservoir is a must. Also reliable pumps that can withstand 6 months without a vinegar bath.

 

[Reab]

As of now I am dosing a 2 part, have 1 small frag of sps and a few pieces of lps. and only dose a few ml of each a day

 

[Naiad]

Is your tank sitter a fish person? If not could you possibly work out for a fellow reefer to come by once a month to check on things. I dont see too much of a problem if you can get a knowledgeable person to come by and make sure your parameters are in check and that all equipment is functional. I have left tanks for months. Just left a "user manual" for the sitter and arranged for a few local reefer's contact info to be left in case of emergency.

 

[kschweer]

If you can maybe set up a dosing system with good sized reservoirs. This way who ever is taking care of the tank will only have to fill those. Also find some local reefers and get their phone numbers of possible. Leave the numbers for your tank sitter in case of any issues/emergencies arise. Best of luck and thank you for your service.

 

[Reab]

I'm currently working on getting the sitter to be a seasoned reefer

 

[Mike in CT]

I think if we had a better idea of your setup, we could give more detailed suggestions.

Do you have a sump?
What kind of top off system.
What livestock?
Lights etc..

And BTW, good luck with your deployment and thank you for your service!

 

[brandon429]

this would be my approach:

have them make an id here to ask questions which 100% sure they will have on week 2.

work with a lfs who does remote water changes to work with that sitter and be a physical backup source, and a water delivery source for 1 or 2 remote water changes which are cheaper than a redo.

Truly consider selling off your fish, that's the #1 risk, load and wear on a tank where the main keeper is gone, coral only or fish reduced tanks don't have things die while you are out and pollute the whole tank, sometimes rehousing or selling off fish preserves your entire system from mistakes whileyou are out this long, consider fish downsizing for sure as a hidden gem secret. with coral and inverts only a large tank is months self sustaining with no feed, and then just a few feedings means the risk drops and drops for algae issues while you are out. if some develop it doesn't matter, we can correct after return for sure but this will be the safest hedge against them.

squelch that tank metabolism and whole waste sinking down to coral only and any good lfs would house those fish for you if possible/large enough facility and give them back along with 2x free water changes

 

[Reab]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reabs-reef.213580/#post-2495450

Thats my setup

 

[Reab]

2 part is B-ionic. Lights are on a self timer.

 

[brandon429]

hey that's very stand alone able setup I think it looks ready, for some reason I was picturing 3 hawkfish, 3 tangs, 3 large crocea clams and several gobies and crabs and business that needed selling off heh.

 

[Reab]

Ha, no I try and provide the best for my friends...not food. I mean they are stuck in a glass box for my entertainment, least I can do is try to make them happy!

 

[TD13]

Where are you located!? Make sure who ever is taking care of your tank has access to this site or maybe some phone numbers...

 

[Reab]

I'm near Raleigh nc

 

[whatchamacallit]

I'd honestly break it down and start over when you get back from deployment. Don't need any added stress while you're gone. Just my opinion

 

[Mike in CT]

I think I also might think about breaking it down even though I hate to say it. Because you know Murphy's law shows up as it did when I was in the hospital for a planned surgery in the spring. The morning I was in recovery, and on narcotics, I get a call from the wife that power to the tank was off, yet my battery powered air pumps didn't come on. We figured it out but I really didn't need the stress.... lol . Maybe a friend or LFS will hold your livestock while your away if you explain your situation.