Vacation anxiety

[nkyreef]

I recently left my 6 month old reef alone for 9 days. I had to de-stress whenever I started to worry about everything at home. My Apex definitely gave me some piece of mind. I have numerous alarms programmed and the leak detector was a must. I purchased an Eheim auto feeder and tested it out a week in advance of leaving. Besides those things I had an Ecobee to monitor house temperature. My tank was the first thing I checked on when I got home. Thankfully, no casualties occurred.

 

[dangros]

lol @nkyreef! I did the same exact thing. My wife "marvels" at the tank first mentality.

 

[Sistawolf]

I still have not been on vacation because of my tank.. I was just thinking about this today.. "why on earth would I allow a saltwater tank to keep me from going on vacation" well because I love it.. lol but I do need a vacation soon.. actually like yesterday.. I have an apex but it still scares me.. I have others that could come over but I second guess their ability and therefor I'm talking myself out of the vacation again.. lol happy to hear everything went ok while you were gone..

 

[Mjl714]

I still have not been on vacation because of my tank.. I was just thinking about this today.. "why on earth would I allow a saltwater tank to keep me from going on vacation" well because I love it.. lol but I do need a vacation soon.. actually like yesterday.. I have an apex but it still scares me.. I have others that could come over but I second guess their ability and therefor I'm talking myself out of the vacation again.. lol happy to hear everything went ok while you were gone..

You might consider going on a short vacation initially. Incorporating your friend and your controller, will most likely result in success. I ask my neighbor to feed dry food, and text me when the ATO's get to a certain level. I shut off for a few hours, and he fills ATO's. I watch my neighbors live stock.

 

[DH-Reef]

I'm on a short vacation away from my tank, won't be back until tomorrow and I'm so worried about my tank! It's only a few days (left on Monday) but I was expecting to be back today and it's really hot in my area this week and I'm not there to turn on the AC or open the windows at night. I don't have anyone to check on the tank either. I'm just so anxious to get back and make sure everything is okay! I should have set up a camera so I could check on it before!
Can anyone relate?

You are not alone!! We've been on a mini vacation since Saturday. I have an Apex that is connected to WIFI (and Fusion) but still had major anxiety prior to leaving. Ended up setting up an old Android phone as a camera with WIFI, so that I could see remotely...I've still been home twice to check on it (we're only 2 1/2 hrs away).

Thank you for making me feel better about having my anxiety!!

 

[dangros]

Take a short vacation first. Refine the method.

I still have not been on vacation because of my tank.. I was just thinking about this today.. "why on earth would I allow a saltwater tank to keep me from going on vacation" well because I love it.. lol but I do need a vacation soon.. actually like yesterday.. I have an apex but it still scares me.. I have others that could come over but I second guess their ability and therefor I'm talking myself out of the vacation again.. lol happy to hear everything went ok while you were gone..

 

[Sistawolf]

You might consider going on a short vacation initially. Incorporating your friend and your controller, will most likely result in success. I ask my neighbor to feed dry food, and text me when the ATO's get to a certain level. I shut off for a few hours, and he fills ATO's. I watch my neighbors live stock.

The only person I have is my uncle.. he lives about 5 mins away but opposite from his work.. he wouldn't mind.. but he only handles fresh water.. I need to pay attention to how many days it takes for my ATK to run out of water.. but good idea on a short vacation and try not to stress.. not much of a vaca if you can't relax ;Wacky​

 

[Earl Coleman]

I use these $30 cameras that connect via wifi. Sorry if someone already mentioned this. Decent app on your phone allows you to check in, and it has sound too.

 

[MnFish1]

Hire a house sitter/have someone 'on call' that knows what to do for the common things (protein skimmer/ato/lights/temp/etc) . Either to check once/twice a day or stay there. The Apex is great until it loses connection to fusion (happens a lot after power outages - which is exactly the time you need to worry the most). The Apex is great to give you data - but it doesn't solve problems - and it can also give incorrect information

 

[Mjl714]

Hire a house sitter/have someone 'on call' that knows what to do for the common things (protein skimmer/ato/lights/temp/etc) . Either to check once/twice a day or stay there. The Apex is great until it loses connection to fusion (happens a lot after power outages - which is exactly the time you need to worry the most). The Apex is great to give you data - but it doesn't solve problems - and it can also give incorrect information

Understood. I have an Apex ethernet connected, and when power goes out, Apex reconnects fine when power is restored. Wifi connection is another issue.

 

[Mjl714]

The only person I have is my uncle.. he lives about 5 mins away but opposite from his work.. he wouldn't mind.. but he only handles fresh water.. I need to pay attention to how many days it takes for my ATK to run out of water.. but good idea on a short vacation and try not to stress.. not much of a vaca if you can't relax ;Wacky​

Everyone needs a little vacation, once in a while.

 

[jenkinscrew2578]

Yep my APEX is Ethernet connected, with external power supply and on a huge UPS...no issues here! [emoji16][emoji106]

 

[MnFish1]

Understood. I have an Apex ethernet connected, and when power goes out, Apex reconnects fine when power is restored. Wifi connection is another issue.

Except that it doesn't always 'reconnect' after a power outage - when it is hard-wired. Thats why Neptune recommends a backup battery (for the apex). This has happened several times (btw with the Apex 2016 - not the Older version)

 

[Mjl714]

Except that it doesn't always 'reconnect' after a power outage - when it is hard-wired. Thats why Neptune recommends a backup battery (for the apex). This has happened several times (btw with the Apex 2016 - not the Older version)

I have an older Apex, so far it has always reconnected.

 

[Bronx19]

My biggest fear is ever having to move. Its the one draw back to upgrading to a larger system.

 

[Bob Escher]

A controller is a must to help with vacation anxiety but I have to tell you one of the best things I have gotten recently was a $99 (4) Camera set up! Got a camera on the sump, side of the tank and front of the tank. Oh and one on the CAT! HA! It's nice to be able to just take a peak!

I got a camera and I'm having a hell of time getting to access it ( also got a cat)

 

[mmw64]

I think most of us with all the time and MONEY invested worry when leaving our tanks. No matter how automated we are something still can go wrong. I love this hobby but do find it hard to travel for any length of time.

 

[dangros]

My biggest fear is ever having to move. Its the one draw back to upgrading to a larger system.

It can be done. I moved a 75g tank (and put contents into a 90g) from Richmond, Va to Jersey City, NJ. Wasnt easy but can be done. I only lost one shrimp which was crushed by accident when putting everything back in the 90g

 

[geovento7]

My biggest fear is the skimmer overflowing

 

[dangros]

My biggest fear is the skimmer overflowing

This got me a few times when I wasnt on vaca. SO, I purchased more leak detector sensors and put them one next to the sump, on the side where the skimmer is closest. My return also happens to spill out on that side so bonus!
The great thing about the leak detector module, is that it has 4 ports. I utilize 3 of them: one on each side of the tank, and the 3rd is connected to a telephone line extension cable to snake through the wall to the basement by the RODI filter.
depending on which sensor goes off, the apex will shut off the desired devices then text and email me.

The good thing about the skimmer is that it tends to calm down over time and only go nuts with over feeding or some exception cases.