what to do with my tank on vacation

stlrams88 · 12/03/2008, 10:30 AM

I just moved into a house by the college I am at and I will be going elsewhere for a week in december and january. The tank has been set up for a little while and with the glass top on there is not really much evaporation. Would it be okay to turn the pump off while i am gone, but leave both powerheads on for water circulation? I am worried about having a neighbor look after it because that has ended in disaster for me. So will I be okay just shutting the pump off and running the 150W halide for a few hours or should I order an auto top-off?

greggnyce · 12/03/2008, 10:40 AM

you should get an auto-top off. Is there an LFS in your area that can maitnence the tank for you while you are gone? So many things can happen in a couple weeks.

plateboy3293 · 12/03/2008, 11:41 AM

Is their anything in the tank besides water, sand,or rock?

seapug · 12/03/2008, 12:12 PM

Keep it running as normal and set up an Auto Topoff. I just left for a week and everything did fine with no food. The glass needed a cleaning but nobody starved to death. Auto Topoff = No worries.

loosecannon · 12/03/2008, 02:18 PM

My tanks 75, 44, and40. I go away for a week. A lot and just need to add water bake in when I get home. One tank the 40 has a 10 gal. sump. I turn of main pump, and keep power head on. I put a hang on skimmer on the tank for more air and water movement

TTU_Reefer · 12/03/2008, 02:28 PM

I leave my tank quite often.

mine is a 75g SPS/mixed reef with a 40g sump.

For a week:

-Feed a bit heavier than normal and put a large nori clip in for the scopas tang. Check and make sure my 15 gal. RO bin is full and let my ATO do all the work. (id run the ATO on your tank for a week before leaving it to make sure it is set up right).

For a Month:

-Do a large water change before leaving. Then same as above but I divide food up into portions(to prevent overfeeding) and have a local friend feed twice a week, add nori clip and clean glass.

LFS comes once a week to empty skimmer cup, fill up top off vat, and check on everything(water quality.

Had very good sucess

good luck

stlrams88 · 12/04/2008, 08:37 AM

I work for a guy at my lfs that does tank maintenence for a living, I dont know how much he would charge though to stop in and top it off or feed anything. Probably gonna order the auto top off that seems like the best way to go...worry free.

tegee · 12/04/2008, 01:04 PM

I tend to do nothing for a couple of weeks other than water changes and feedings. No plumbing changes, switching pumps, etc., etc. I do feed heavier the last couple of days before I leave and that is it. IMHO less is more and I do a lot of praying. Longest I have been away is 8-days and no feeding was done during that time and all was good.

eyesinthedrk · 12/04/2008, 01:32 PM

i would feed heavy the 2-3 days before the trip, do a water change as late as possible, then over do the top off water by a gallon or two you'll leave with slightly hypo-salinity and come home to slightly hyper-salinity no big deal really, your fish will be fine with no feeding for a week

stlrams88 · 12/04/2008, 01:38 PM

Its not the feeding i am worried about its the evaportation. JBJ auto top off is on the way so no worries for me.

qfrisco · 12/04/2008, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stlrams88
Its not the feeding i am worried about its the evaportation. JBJ auto top off is on the way so no worries for me.

If you have an ATO setup coming - you're halfway there. But as seapug suggested, make sure you set it up several days before you leave to make sure it works and is tweaked properly. The things you touch last are usually the things that mess up while you're away.

Setting it up ahead of time will also give you an idea how long your reservoir will last. Mine lasts one week when full, for example.

I personally wouldn't shut-off my pump, but that's just my paranoia - I don't really know what it could hurt to leave it off while you're away.

12/03/2008, 10:30 AM	#1
stlrams88 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newport News, Virginia Posts: 577	what to do with my tank on vacation I just moved into a house by the college I am at and I will be going elsewhere for a week in december and january. The tank has been set up for a little while and with the glass top on there is not really much evaporation. Would it be okay to turn the pump off while i am gone, but leave both powerheads on for water circulation? I am worried about having a neighbor look after it because that has ended in disaster for me. So will I be okay just shutting the pump off and running the 150W halide for a few hours or should I order an auto top-off?

12/03/2008, 10:40 AM	#2
greggnyce Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bellport, New York Posts: 1,782	you should get an auto-top off. Is there an LFS in your area that can maitnence the tank for you while you are gone? So many things can happen in a couple weeks. __________________ What you talkin about Mrs Lime. Current Tank Info: 120 gl oceanic tech, 30 gallon fuge, 40 gallon sump, Itech 200 skimmer, LED Lighting . Mixed reef.

12/03/2008, 11:41 AM	#3
plateboy3293 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hillsborough, New Jersey Posts: 1,038	Is their anything in the tank besides water, sand,or rock? __________________ Wars come and go but my soldiers stay eternal Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bow

12/03/2008, 12:12 PM	#4
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Keep it running as normal and set up an Auto Topoff. I just left for a week and everything did fine with no food. The glass needed a cleaning but nobody starved to death. Auto Topoff = No worries. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

12/03/2008, 02:18 PM	#5
loosecannon Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: port kent Posts: 1,292	My tanks 75, 44, and40. I go away for a week. A lot and just need to add water bake in when I get home. One tank the 40 has a 10 gal. sump. I turn of main pump, and keep power head on. I put a hang on skimmer on the tank for more air and water movement __________________ I like getting WET! Current Tank Info: 44gal. 40 gal. 75 gal. 30gal. and working on a 75gal. rigt

12/03/2008, 02:28 PM	#6
TTU_Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 528	I leave my tank quite often. mine is a 75g SPS/mixed reef with a 40g sump. For a week: -Feed a bit heavier than normal and put a large nori clip in for the scopas tang. Check and make sure my 15 gal. RO bin is full and let my ATO do all the work. (id run the ATO on your tank for a week before leaving it to make sure it is set up right). For a Month: -Do a large water change before leaving. Then same as above but I divide food up into portions(to prevent overfeeding) and have a local friend feed twice a week, add nori clip and clean glass. LFS comes once a week to empty skimmer cup, fill up top off vat, and check on everything(water quality. Had very good sucess good luck __________________ "Sheep only have two speeds, graze and stampede..." Current Tank Info: Reef and FOWLR

12/04/2008, 08:37 AM	#7
stlrams88 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newport News, Virginia Posts: 577	I work for a guy at my lfs that does tank maintenence for a living, I dont know how much he would charge though to stop in and top it off or feed anything. Probably gonna order the auto top off that seems like the best way to go...worry free.

12/04/2008, 01:04 PM	#8
tegee Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 831	I tend to do nothing for a couple of weeks other than water changes and feedings. No plumbing changes, switching pumps, etc., etc. I do feed heavier the last couple of days before I leave and that is it. IMHO less is more and I do a lot of praying. Longest I have been away is 8-days and no feeding was done during that time and all was good. __________________ 180-gl. SPS Miracles Tank 60" x 24" x 29". Lighting is Old School...(3) 250w MH Radiums using M80 ballasts w/ VHO Actinics (2) EcoTech MP60's, 75-gl. Sump, Kalk Reactor, MRC CalRx, Hurricone Skimmer

12/04/2008, 01:32 PM	#9
eyesinthedrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Williamsport, PA Posts: 675	i would feed heavy the 2-3 days before the trip, do a water change as late as possible, then over do the top off water by a gallon or two you'll leave with slightly hypo-salinity and come home to slightly hyper-salinity no big deal really, your fish will be fine with no feeding for a week __________________ Everybody knows you never go full retard. Current Tank Info: SPS dominated, 125 gallon dt with 3 Apollo reef LED pendants, Apex Controler. 100 gal basement sump, 100 gallon basement fuge, euro reef skimmer, reef octopu s cr140 calcium reactor. Phos an reactor.

12/04/2008, 01:38 PM	#10
stlrams88 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newport News, Virginia Posts: 577	Its not the feeding i am worried about its the evaportation. JBJ auto top off is on the way so no worries for me.