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Unread 11/16/2016, 12:26 PM   #1
white_Rubicon
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Tank unattended for a week and a half

So I have a new tank that finished its cycle. The only things in it it are 6 snails 2 peppermint shrimps and some hermit crabs a mini brittle star that survived the cycle that was a hitchhiker in the live rock. so have decided to wait for fish until January because I will be out of town for ten days. My question is do you think my tank and its inhabitants be ok for that long?

Tank info:
Biocube 32
No skimmer yet
Will have an ATO before I leave
Running Chemi pure elite, purigan , and filter floss
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate under 5ppm
Doing water changes every two weeks.

My concerns are: I have been ghost feeding which the shrimp and hermits have been enjoying... not sure if the shrimp will starve or if the hermits will turn on the snails/shrimp if they don't have the pellets I have been feeding with. Any insight would be appreciated.


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Unread 11/16/2016, 12:29 PM   #2
pfan151
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I wouldn't worry too much as long as you have some live rock in there for them to pick at. Just make sure your auto top off is set with enough water.


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Unread 11/16/2016, 12:39 PM   #3
white_Rubicon
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Thanks. I know things die, and they will, but trying to not cause them too . Especially since I had a nasty aiptasia problem, and the shrimp made it all disappear in under a week. Would like to reward the little fellas with a good life. Lol.


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Unread 11/16/2016, 01:15 PM   #4
scooter31707
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You could get a 2 x 2 piece of Nori and rubberband it to a piece of rock and place it on the sandbed. I doubt there is going to be much for them to feed on just finishing the cycle.


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Unread 11/16/2016, 01:58 PM   #5
white_Rubicon
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scooter31707 View Post
You could get a 2 x 2 piece of Nori and rubberband it to a piece of rock and place it on the sandbed. I doubt there is going to be much for them to feed on just finishing the cycle.


For nori can you just get the kind at the supermarket for sushi?


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Unread 11/16/2016, 02:00 PM   #6
scooter31707
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I believe you can. I have always used Ocean Nutrition brand.


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Unread 11/16/2016, 02:17 PM   #7
snorvich
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Hermits will kill snails.


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Unread 11/16/2016, 04:11 PM   #8
Sk8r
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ATO for salinity.


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Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low.

Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.
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Unread 11/16/2016, 05:43 PM   #9
farfromsea
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Make sure you have some sort of fail safe for your auto top off so it doesn't flood your house. Some people use a timer so it can only come on for a few minutes a day etc.


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Unread 11/16/2016, 06:46 PM   #10
white_Rubicon
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Quote:
Originally Posted by farfromsea View Post
Make sure you have some sort of fail safe for your auto top off so it doesn't flood your house. Some people use a timer so it can only come on for a few minutes a day etc.


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Good advice.... thanks!


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Unread 11/17/2016, 01:41 PM   #11
Scurvy Dawg
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Originally Posted by white_Rubicon View Post
Good advice.... thanks!


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Most of the newer ATOs have fail safes built in. Mine shuts down of it runs for more than 3 seconds longer than the initial fill time.


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Unread 11/17/2016, 06:17 PM   #12
CStrickland
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i would make sure you get the ato (and any light timers etc. ) early enough to run it a week or so before you leave if possible. New equiptment has a way of going sideways unexpectedly so it will be good piece of mind to have a test run before you leave for real


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