Automated reef?

DownwardDawg · 04/16/2011, 08:50 PM

With a new apex or rkl is it possible to leave your tank for two weeks at a time?

droth335 · 04/16/2011, 09:08 PM

I think it is possible even without a controller. We have left ours for 4, 1 week trips in the past year. The limiting factor for us is the ATO reservoir which lasts right at 1 week (20 gallon ATO). If it were 2x the size we could leave for 2 weeks (but would make me nervous!). The other tool in the arsenal is an automated feeder. We do have someone drop in once during the week to give a visual and put a couple of gallons in the ATO reservoir for insurance purposes :-)

allsps40 · 04/16/2011, 10:34 PM

I got a RKL for this reason. I will be going out of town for a week and dont want to worry the whole time about my reef tank. With a controller for safety and an ATO you will be fine. But things like tanks cracking and power going out do happen and even the best controller cant stop that. But it will keep SG, PH and temp in check for you.

KyleO · 04/17/2011, 10:49 AM

If you add a controller (which is a must as far as I am concerned) and an ATO that delivers fresh water from your RO/DI system........... (http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-s...html).....your tank should be good for a few weeks.

With most controllers, you can check it remotely via the WWW

Randy Holmes-Farley · 04/17/2011, 01:24 PM

I agree that you need not have a controller to leave it.

All you need are timer feeders and an ato with limewater or other automatic calcium and alk delivery.

I frequently leave mine for 2-3 weeks at a time.

Yes, I've had two disasters when away, but I do not want to give up vacations to babysit the tank 365 days a year.

d0ughb0y · 04/17/2011, 02:24 PM

ATO and auto feeder aside, the only other thing you need to figure out what to do is how to empty your skimmate. If you Remora HOB does not have the drain hole, then for sure it will be overflowing when you return after two weeks.

steveu · 04/17/2011, 03:11 PM

In 30 years of freshwater tanks, and 5 years with a reef, I have left tanks unattended for 2 weeks at least once or twice every year. Key is to have backup equipment (tried and tested) that can be put in place, on a separate power circuit, to back up all essential systems. Vortech pumps with battery backups. Auto feeders. Think thorough what can go wrong and make sure that there a back up system to deal with it. No disasters yet...

bvoss · 04/17/2011, 05:31 PM

I travel almost 200 days a year all over the world. Things I would suggest....

Apex with Internet access. A cheap IP camera that can access on the Internet.. Auto top off with large reservoir or automated method to refill with RO/DI. Skimmer neck cleaner like the Avast Swabbie along with a skimate container with auto shutoff. I am also a big fan of vortech with battery backup. I also dose 2part with dosers controlled by the Apex with 2.5 gallon containers of solution.

That is a lot of stuff butbit works for me. Just some ideas.

frankpayne32 · 04/18/2011, 08:47 AM

It is definitely possible. It just takes planning and high end (reliable) equipment.

computeaholic · 04/18/2011, 09:23 AM

Nothing beats a good reef friend to check your system a couple times a week. The IP camera is a really good idea though. Peace of mind is worth a lot.

04/16/2011, 08:50 PM	#1
DownwardDawg Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 838	Automated reef? With a new apex or rkl is it possible to leave your tank for two weeks at a time? __________________ Current Tank: 125 gal mixed reef, 3-250 watt Radiums, T5 actinics, CS2 skimmer, RKL 60 gal "fun tank", 2-Ecotech Radions, Lifereef Overflow, build-in-progress

04/16/2011, 09:08 PM	#2
droth335 Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Iowa Posts: 794	I think it is possible even without a controller. We have left ours for 4, 1 week trips in the past year. The limiting factor for us is the ATO reservoir which lasts right at 1 week (20 gallon ATO). If it were 2x the size we could leave for 2 weeks (but would make me nervous!). The other tool in the arsenal is an automated feeder. We do have someone drop in once during the week to give a visual and put a couple of gallons in the ATO reservoir for insurance purposes :-) __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 210 sps dominant reef: 40g sump, kalk,4 reefbreeder photon 32's ; 300DD mixed reef with 180 gallon sump, 4 Reefbreeder Photon 32's.

04/16/2011, 10:34 PM	#3
allsps40 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 4,627	I got a RKL for this reason. I will be going out of town for a week and dont want to worry the whole time about my reef tank. With a controller for safety and an ATO you will be fine. But things like tanks cracking and power going out do happen and even the best controller cant stop that. But it will keep SG, PH and temp in check for you. __________________ __________ Current Tank Info: Past reef tanks: 20H softy, 29G mixed reef, 55G mixed reef, 40B sps dominant mixed reef and 75G sps dominant mixed reef. No tank currently

04/17/2011, 10:49 AM	#4
KyleO Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brentwood, CA (SF Bay Area) Posts: 737	If you add a controller (which is a must as far as I am concerned) and an ATO that delivers fresh water from your RO/DI system........... (http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-s...html).....your tank should be good for a few weeks. With most controllers, you can check it remotely via the WWW __________________ Enjoy every moment......you don't have nearly as many left as you think!!! Current Tank Info: 135g Frag tank w/ attached 30ga Cube and 50ga refugium

04/17/2011, 01:24 PM	#5
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	I agree that you need not have a controller to leave it. All you need are timer feeders and an ato with limewater or other automatic calcium and alk delivery. I frequently leave mine for 2-3 weeks at a time. Yes, I've had two disasters when away, but I do not want to give up vacations to babysit the tank 365 days a year. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

04/17/2011, 02:24 PM	#6
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	ATO and auto feeder aside, the only other thing you need to figure out what to do is how to empty your skimmate. If you Remora HOB does not have the drain hole, then for sure it will be overflowing when you return after two weeks.

04/17/2011, 03:11 PM	#7
steveu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 14	In 30 years of freshwater tanks, and 5 years with a reef, I have left tanks unattended for 2 weeks at least once or twice every year. Key is to have backup equipment (tried and tested) that can be put in place, on a separate power circuit, to back up all essential systems. Vortech pumps with battery backups. Auto feeders. Think thorough what can go wrong and make sure that there a back up system to deal with it. No disasters yet...

04/17/2011, 05:31 PM	#8
bvoss Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 795	I travel almost 200 days a year all over the world. Things I would suggest.... Apex with Internet access. A cheap IP camera that can access on the Internet.. Auto top off with large reservoir or automated method to refill with RO/DI. Skimmer neck cleaner like the Avast Swabbie along with a skimate container with auto shutoff. I am also a big fan of vortech with battery backup. I also dose 2part with dosers controlled by the Apex with 2.5 gallon containers of solution. That is a lot of stuff butbit works for me. Just some ideas.

04/18/2011, 08:47 AM	#9
frankpayne32 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,177	It is definitely possible. It just takes planning and high end (reliable) equipment. __________________ Frank Payne Advice to new hobbyists: listen to people that have a tank you would like to have one day, not to those with a high post count. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon in-wall (build thread is my homepage).

04/18/2011, 09:23 AM	#10
computeaholic Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 76	Nothing beats a good reef friend to check your system a couple times a week. The IP camera is a really good idea though. Peace of mind is worth a lot.

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