How do you leave instructions for your tank sitter?

[bitwise]

I put this together over the last day or so for my wife, including making per day food rations and putting them into the freezer in separate containers.

Do you folks have any tips to share to make things easier for your sitter?

 

[MnFish1]

I put this together over the last day or so for my wife, including making per day food rations and putting them into the freezer in separate containers.

Do you folks have any tips to share to make things easier for your sitter?

I have an excel spreadsheet for what to do each day - (date).

With an X under the date each task should be done. They then highlight the X when its done.

I keep everything to a minimum. I do not ask them to do testing, dosing, etc.

For example - monitor are the lights on in the day, off in the night, is the skimmer working, is the return working.

I monitor the Temp, pH etc - via my controller.

I ask the person to actually 'stay in the house overnight' - in case I see a problem.

I go through everything with them before leaving - and try to use the same person each time - if possible.

EDIT - I also partition out the food. THIS IS KEY IMHO

 

[Idech]

I write detailed instructions and have the sitter come to my house for a quick training before I leave.

 

[bitwise]

+1 on keeping it to a minimum. My wife has done this a couple of times so I increased scope a little this time.

Also: no “tinkering” or big changes within a few days of the departure day (at least a few days)

 

[ZoWhat]

I think a better method is to invest in a $35 Wyze camera

Easy setup
Fully accessible thru your phone

* you can watch your tank 24/7/365 thru your phone

* the best function is the 2way audio. You can see what the Sitter is doing and talk to them 2way thru the camera. With a long enough USB cord they can walk around your tank with video and audio

 

[MnFish1]

I think a better method is to invest in a $35 Wyze camera

Easy setup
Fully accessible thru your phone

* you can watch your tank 24/7/365 thru your phone

* the best function is the 2way audio. You can see what the Sitter is doing and talk to them 2way thru the camera. With a long enough USB cord they can walk around your tank with video and audio

However - I don't want to spend xx minutes every day watching what the sitter is doing - but you're absolutely correct - for troubleshooting - its a great idea.

 

[Midrats]

I just never go anywhere.

 

[ZoWhat]

If you handed me a list like this, I'd be like "Let's get my name spelled correctly on that $200 personal check you'll be writing me..."

 

[workhz]

* the best function is the 2way audio. You can see what the Sitter is doing and talk to them 2way thru the camera. With a long enough USB cord they can walk around your tank with video and audio

While I agree with the concept of cameras to watch a tank, it’s not like you need a long usb cord to have a sitter walk around a tank. We have cell phones now

 

[Dom]

Keep it simple for the sitter. No water changes. No husbandry.

I pre-measure my frozen food portions into little plastic solo shot cups and place them in the refrigerator. My sitter only needs to come in when the lights are on and dump one cup in the tank daily.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

I have two sets of instructions, easy (for my Dad) and super easy (house sitter). For a regular house sitter, it’s limited to just feeding. Everything else is automated including testing. For my Dad, I also just ask him to feed, but I provide a lot more details in case something else needs to be done (top off ATO reservoir, fix a light that’s not working, restart my Apex, replace ATO pump).

+1 on individual baggies for each feeding, especially for frozen. The more simple you make it, the less chance they’ll make questionable choices. ;Woot

 

[MichaelReefer]

Luckily my house is about 15 minutes from my parents place, so when my Fiance and I go out of town I have them come over and do a full runthrough with them lol

 

[takitaj]

Definitely have them do it at least once while your there. Doing is the best learning!

Then you can also answer any questions they may have.

 

[LeftyReefer]

Alexa/google/smarthings and a few smart plugs and cameras to confirm things are working are all i need. my fish get by on dry foods alone when i leave. I just use a cheap Alexa enabled fish feeder loaded with a variety of dry pellets.

Funny thing is that my tank often looks its best after I've been gone for a while and let things run on cruise control, ie less tinkering.

 

[G Santana]

I went to Vegas for two weeks and I had my sister come house sit and I tried to make it as simple as possible.

I cut 14 pieces of nori and pulled out 14 spirulina brine shrimp cubes and bagged them individually.

I told her 1 a day.

I filled my 32 gallon Brute and said when the little tank gets to this level, fill from the big one.

I shut the skimmer off and removed the filter socks. I couldn't trust her to deal with them.

I told her that the glass would get progressively greener, not to worry.

Then I prayed... alot.

Thankfully I lost nothing, but the tank looked rough. A couple of days later, all was well.

 

[Andresnyc93]

I put this together over the last day or so for my wife, including making per day food rations and putting them into the freezer in separate containers.

Do you folks have any tips to share to make things easier for your sitter?

I usually take videos of everything that needs to get done so there’s no confusion about things. I also make a spreadsheet with check boxes all over it and have it separated by what needs to be done daily.
I used to only do the sheet but found that visuals are much better in case your sitter forgets and they can see exactly how you’d do all the work that needs to be done to keep that tank looking pristine!
Good luck

 

[Woodyman]

I use something similar to these for my dosing, supplements, and feedings. This way they aren't measuring anything out, it's already pre measured and just needs dumped in, and I don't need to worry about a pinch of food being a glob.

I've got 2ml, 5ml, 15ml, and 25ml tubes.

GBSTORE 50 Pcs 5ML Plastic Lab Test Tube Vial Sample Container,Centrifuge Tube with Graduated and Snap Cap,for Sample Storage Container Fragrance Beads Liquid

 

[polyppal]

I ask them to do the very basics - food, water in the ATO, empty skimmers, pumps and heaters working. If Im gone for more than a week, I’d pay one of the LFS’s to come by and check on it while my sitter was there.

And stress to not overfeed/preportion! In fact in most cases I would cut back on feedings

 

[Reefahholic]

I think a better method is to invest in a $35 Wyze camera

Easy setup
Fully accessible thru your phone

* you can watch your tank 24/7/365 thru your phone

* the best function is the 2way audio. You can see what the Sitter is doing and talk to them 2way thru the camera. With a long enough USB cord they can walk around your tank with video and audio

1080P ??

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I'm fortunate my dad is a reefer so he does fine if I need him to, but he's 80 so I'm not expecting him to do any heavy work. Good friend of mine is a discus guy, so he has the basics down, if needed. Long as I'm gone less than 10 days (LIMFAC is ATO holds 10g), I usually don't need any human intervention. Between the Apex and tank/sump cams, I'm good.

I only call someone if the internet is out a few days since the Apex will do all of it on auto. If I'm gone for 10 days+, I leave 10 gallons of premade rodi water near the tank.