Jump to content
inTank Media Baskets

Leaving my tanks in the care of an non reef person for 9 days!


vlangel

Recommended Posts

So I am going to Colombia, SA this Thursday for 9 days. We have a 24/7 caregiver for my bed ridden mom in law and she will also watch over my tanks. Obviously she is a very responsible trustworthy person but has no aquarium experience. Fortunately I have a dual switch ATO (that has never failed)with a 5g reservoir. My lights are all automated with timers so that should be alright. I will have the food pre-measured in daily (with dates)containers. Can any of you think of something I have missed to hopefully assure that I come home to healthy happy inhabitants?

Link to comment

9 days huh? Try a semester of school haha. I have a 20 long set up that I will be leaving my mum in charge of. I will be setting up a 9g at school tho to take some of my favorite corals just incase she crashes it haha

Link to comment

Not much more you can ask someone with no knowledge to do. If it was me I would leave a bucket of saltwater mixed with a heater in it in case something happens but that would depend on a lot more knowledge of saltwater systems.



Maybe instruct them on how to clean the skimmer cup(s)?

Link to comment

Been there, done that.

 

MY ADVICE.....Take good photos of the tank before you leave because i doubt if you will ever see it like this again.

Link to comment

thanks aviator lmao. I am picturing the whole tank covered with gha. Thats why I am taking some of my favorite corals haha. I gave simply instructions though so hope it works out.

 

Good luck to you too vlangel, Im sure it will be all good

Link to comment

Tell them to call you for anything, or text. That can really help sometimes.

 

Edit: check your local Craigslist and see if there are any tank maintenance people around, or a GOOD LFS. I'm sure you have one of not both, who would be willing to check it every 2-3 days to be sure everything is okay. Or reach out to a local rreefer and see if they'll check it every other day for a free frag. A $20-30 frag is a lot cheaper than new livestock.

Link to comment

I would instruct them on the heater (in the event it malfunctions). I would also explain to them what to do if there is a power loss. In the event if a power loss they'll need to know how to properly take care of your tank until the power is restored. And when the power is restored, they need to know how to check that your equipment has actually come back on correctly.

Link to comment
So I am going to Colombia, SA this Thursday for 9 days. We have a 24/7 caregiver for my bed ridden mom in law and she will also watch over my tanks. Obviously she is a very responsible trustworthy person but has no aquarium experience. Fortunately I have a dual switch ATO (that has never failed)with a 5g reservoir. My lights are all automated with timers so that should be alright. I will have the food pre-measured in daily (with dates)containers. Can any of you think of something I have missed to hopefully assure that I come home to healthy happy inhabitants?

 

If they are to clean the glass, I would instruct them not to get close to the gravel with the magnet. A reliable person was taking care of my aquarium and did not realize gravel got caught in between the magnet and scratched the glass in several places. I would certainly cut back on feeding. The fish and corals will be fine with a little less food for the time you will be gone. Maybe every other day or a little less each day.

Link to comment

You guys are funny. I was recently gone for 6 nights 7 days and had a friend with no reef experience come over 2x to feed my fish and everything was completely fine. The directions I left were to turn off the power head to feed a few pinches and make sure that no bubbles where all over the tank. If there were bubbles all over she needed to call. (Ato failure or resiviour empty) I do understand reefers who have thousands invested in a tank to be more cautious and have detailed lists for the tank sitter. I guess I'm the guy who imagines the worst case when I get home from a trip. ;)

Link to comment

You guys are funny. I was recently gone for 6 nights 7 days and had a friend with no reef experience come over 2x to feed my fish and everything was completely fine. The directions I left were to turn off the power head to feed a few pinches and make sure that no bubbles where all over the tank. If there were bubbles all over she needed to call. (Ato failure or resiviour empty) I do understand reefers who have thousands invested in a tank to be more cautious and have detailed lists for the tank sitter. I guess I'm the guy who imagines the worst case when I get home from a trip. ;)

Since most of your tank is automated I agree with hotwater. Either have them call you or if they are around before you leave give them a crash course on what to if he/she sees bubbles and to call immediately. Other than that feeding is easy. Your tank will be fine. Have a great time and I hope you have a safe trip! :)

Link to comment
seniorgreenpants

I found out, when I leave my tank with someone. They are more concerned with fudging it all up, more than I am.

 

I also found they STICK to the notes better than I do, even when I own it. I kinda fly by the seat of my pants. They do everything I say. Its actually less stressful than I imagined.

 

But my tank goes through it all, Hell and High Water, Power outages, everything. So when one coral dies back a little, I just see it as an opportunity for another to thrive.

Link to comment

My advice:

 

Plan for the worst and hope for the best. Even an optimist needs to hedge against Murphy.

 

Been there, done that.

 

MY ADVICE.....Take good photos of the tank before you leave because i doubt if you will ever see it like this again.

lol that's hilarious!

Not a bad idea, but I agree with Hotwater and Nanofever...

IMHO if there's an ATO, and things like lights, wavemakers, dosers, etc. are automated/timed, then a feeding every couple of days is all it should need. I'd also agree that a thorough run-down on power outage procedures are a must. IME that WILL crash a system if not re-tuned post-apocolypse

Link to comment

what happened to me was that i had my lights set to come on at 1000 and turn off at 2200. Well, the timer malfunctioned and left the lights on 24/7. If i were home, i would have noticed but my wife goes to bed early and wasn't able to see the lights on ALL NIGHT LONG. Result---after 7 days, big time bleaching and some coral loss and i think my Clown was suffering from PTSD and needed psychotherapy to deal with his issues.

 

There are just too many things that could and often do go wrong that the tank sitter would not even notice. Also, the more automated the tank is, the more things to malfunction.

 

I wont leave my tank alone for more than 2 or 3 days without a reef knowledgeable person checking on it.

Link to comment

O my, I have been busy getting ready for this trip and am only now catching up on a thread I started! Yes, automated stuff is great but it definitely malfunctions from time to time. I am hoping that time is NOT now. I have 2 back up people my caregiver/tank sitter can call if she thinks something is amiss. My biggest worry is her not knowing something is wrong...like the main return pump that has 2 returns to 2 display tanks. The water will drop in both tanks but not much. Both display tanks have power heads so they would still circulate water but both the chiller and UV sterilizer could be fried! If there is a power outage I have battery back ups on both tanks for aeration but will have no way of cooling the tank or getting light. However in that scenario she is faced with caring for my bed ridden 93 year old mom in law in a hospital bed that now won't work, so I will extend grace regarding the fish tank. I'm praying that doesn't happen!

Link to comment
Do you do any dosing? Backup heaters?

I don't do a lot of dosing but will do a WC tomorrow morning and check parameters tomorrow afternoon. Will dose then if necessary. Tank should be fine calcium, alk and magnesium as it doesn't use a lot. I never use a heater as I run the tanks cooler to prepare for the seahorses. They need it 74 degrees or less and my lights and pumps warm it up.

Link to comment
definitely go over the power outage scenario an would cut back feedings to every other day. KEEP your phone close by !!

 

Unfortunately I am going to Colombia, SA on a mission trip. There is no cell phone service where I am going.

Link to comment
Don't stress too much. You have an ATO, you don't dose and it's 9 days. Everything should be totally fine.

 

Thanks, I like your optimism! Did a 12g WC tonight, cleaned the skimmers, got rid of the filter pad so no chance it clogs and left post its to help remind the tank sitter to double check the sump level and make sure the freshwater reservoir has water. Also called my LFS and asked if it was OK if I left their number in case of an emergency and they said yes. I think I am good!

Link to comment

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recommended Discussions

×
×
  • Create New...