Longest time away from tank??

[bkoppes]

I would like to find out how long is the longest time someone has been away from their tank with everything automated besides water changes? Could you share how you are feeding/dosing and monitoring your tank??

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I have been away for 2 weeks but I had someone come over a couple times a week to check on the tank.

I used a wifi camera to be able to keep an eye on things.

 

[Rob.D]

Rev, any details on the camera you used?

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Here you go. Foscam FI8918W Wireless IP Camera

 

[bkoppes]

If I am gone I usually have someone come over every 3 days, but wondering if someone has gone a few weeks or longer with everything automated and using apex..alerts with video cam to view?

 

[apicturepaints]

Four days in Vegas. The tank did fine. The dogs got out four times. :/

 

[SDguy]

I was in Euroipe for 32 days last year. A friend took care of the tanks, with very detailed instructions. No water changes. Everything was fine.

 

[redemer123]

I'm away from my tank for a little over a month every summer when I leave the state, Just tell someone to refill the ATO every few days and throw in a little food here and there and everything stays alive

 

[Netta Fish]

I'm only away for a weekend at a time... A heavy feeding and ATO filled. I had someone come into the store with a sample of water from a tank that was left sitting with no filtration or top or for some time. Enough to evaporate half the tank. Sure enough there was a hippo and a purple tang living happily in there haha.

 

[swannyson7]

I've gone on two week vacations with no issues and no one coming to check up on the tank. I just used a large tupperware for an ATO reservoir, hooked up a drain line from the skimmer cup into another tupperware and monitored everything from my Apex & Foscam. The controller & camera provide great peace of mind for those extended trips!

 

[63vette427]

I just went away for 10 days in April. My system is completely automated and didn't have any issues. I do have a larger (30 gal) top off tank and used a larger overflow for my skimmer. I was a little worried because i usually feed mt tank pretty heavy and when i went away it was just being feed pellets. I didn't have anyone come over to check as i don't trust anyone local. I was worried that it would do better on it's own than have someone make a mistake. This way i only had myself to blame if anything happened. I only lost on zoa frag and my 10 days in Hawaii was well worth that..

 

[Trex]

I wasn't offically away, but I couldn't do anything -- about 2 years ago I had spinal fusion surgery, in the hospital for 4 days, and laid up for 2 months.

 

[Eggs]

8 weeks back in 2008 while I was working in Florida. My father-in-law watched two tanks; a retired engineer so he understood all the little details. I had made up a huge amount of RODI for the ATO reservoir, large brutes of saltwater for water changes, food and additive instructions, and I also laid out back-up heaters and pumps in the event one failed -put labels by the pumps as to what they were used for - nothing failed, but figured I could walk him through any equipment changes. I think he did a better job then I would have. One week after I returned we had an extended power outage after a strong wind storm and I lost some fish out of the fowlr. Go figure.

 

[Dowtish]

2 weeks for me. My pet sitter has taken on way more than she ever wanted to. We have 3 dogs, and then I showed her the tanks. I have faith in her, because she is smart as a whip, and actually understood what I meant when I told her what an ATO was. The sad thing is, I had some fish in a QT once and she has come in to 2 different fish that went carpet surfing. And then she found my FW frog in the kitchen one time. This stuff never happens when I'm in town. Coincidence? I think NOT!

 

[SmokeyCFH]

I don't like to be away from my tanks for more than a few hours...something always ends up going wrong...but I guess that's what happens when you have a tank full of 2' predators. But I'd say the most I've been away from my tanks is 24 hours.

 

[bkoppes]

I've gone on two week vacations with no issues and no one coming to check up on the tank. I just used a large tupperware for an ATO reservoir, hooked up a drain line from the skimmer cup into another tupperware and monitored everything from my Apex & Foscam. The controller & camera provide great peace of mind for those extended trips!

Nice!! This is what I like to hear. You running a calcium reactor or auto dosing? How you feeding the fish? Nice comments all!!

 

[kodiak]

I am gone 1 week every month or two and don't have anyone touch my tank. I use an ehiem feeder and frequently check my IP camera from my phone. I left for a week without the camera on and was worried the whole time. The camera makes a big difference. I also try to not touch my tank except once a week for maintenance when I am home, that way I can continue to make small adjustments and prepare for a week away. I manually feed when I am home, cause the auto feeder is not great.. I've thought about adding the net module to my RKL, but have not had the need.

 

[swannyson7]

Nice!! This is what I like to hear. You running a calcium reactor or auto dosing? How you feeding the fish? Nice comments all!!

The last time that I was gone for 2 weeks I was using a CaRx, but I've done the same with dosing pumps for 2-part. I used an eheim feeder with a mix of pellets & flake for feeding, and the only problem I really encountered was that my SPS lightened up a bit due to no Amino Acid dosing. It looked almost like a Zeovit system upon my return, but gained coloration back over a few weeks on dosing.

 

[slapshot]

2 weeks. I use the balling method for calcium and alk. I also use a hose timer to fill my top off reservoir. I also use a feeder hooked up to the Neptune. Lastly, Neptune so I could check everything online. Funny thing, the tank with the exception of the front glass looked better then when I left. I guess I mess around in it to much lol.