How to automate a 29 gallon tank

[leo12345]

Hey guys, So for the next few months im going to be going to have to leave my tank for a month at a time for work so im wondering is there some way i can automate my tank to sustain itself for a month with me gone for preferably under 500 bucks?

 

[FishPureLuck]

What do you mean by automate? Just lights and feeding, or Lights, feeding, water changes, dosing and everything else? If just lights and feeding, go buy a power strip with a timer and an auto feeder.

 

[leo12345]

What do you mean by automate? Just lights and feeding, or Lights, feeding, water changes, dosing and everything else? If just lights and feeding, go buy a power strip with a timer and an auto feeder.

Lights, feeding, and water changes is what i need to automate

 

[FishPureLuck]

Lights and feeding are cheap. Under $100 for both. As for water changes, that can get expensive if done correctly. Why not just do a water change before you leave, and one when you get back? I've gone months between water changes on my 300 gallon SPS tank and it seemed to like it.

 

[leo12345]

Lights and feeding are cheap. Under $100 for both. As for water changes, that can get expensive if done correctly. Why not just do a water change before you leave, and one when you get back? I've gone months between water changes on my 300 gallon SPS tank and it seemed to like it.

Without a water change my tank only last about 3 weeks before things like ammonia start getting too high and there might be times where i leave longer then a month.

 

[LiamPM]

Without a water change my tank only last about 3 weeks before things like ammonia start getting too high and there might be times where i leave longer then a month.

You shouldnt have any issues with ammonia due to leaving the tank without a water change - The nitryfying bacteria that exists will take care of that - If you do have issues with ammonia after a month without a water change then something else is going on and needs fixing - NitrATE will increase without a water change and no other method of removal but ammonia should not without another issue going on.

 

[Mikeb86]

Lights, feeding, and water changes is what i need to automate

Your going to need an ato if you don't already have one. Also take into account how hot or cold your house gets. I would get a heater controller with WiFi so you can monitor your tanks temperature. I have smart air-con that I can turn on remotely if my tank gets too warm. Maybe dose some extra biological bacteria too before you leave and do a massive water change the day before you leave that way your can monitor the tank before you leave.

 

[D3DPrintedThingz]

Where are you located? It might be beneficial to make a 'friend' on here who is close enough to you that you could pay them (in money, or frags) to check on your tank at the 2 week mark during vacations.

With a 29g, the most important thing I'd think would be to have an ATO to keep your water from evaporating out of there