Vacations and Tank Care?

[Kenny2008]

Hi Everyone!

 

I've been thinking of starting a marine tank for years and years....but never got to it because of many reasons.  Lately, I thought of it again, and was thinking of a Fluval EVO 13.5 Gallon kit to start things off.

 

The concern I keep getting back on is what do marine tank keepers do when they leave on vacation for a week or 2?  I'm assuming that one needs to enlist on someone or a company that has experience with salt water fishkeeping and its care.

 

Thoughts?

 

[WV Reefer]

2 minutes ago, Kenny2008 said:

Hi Everyone!

 

I've been thinking of starting a marine tank for years and years....but never got to it because of many reasons.  Lately, I thought of it again, and was thinking of a Fluval EVO 13.5 Gallon kit to start things off.

 

The concern I keep getting back on is what do marine tank keepers do when they leave on vacation for a week or 2?  I'm assuming that one needs to enlist on someone or a company that has experience with salt water fishkeeping and its care.

 

Thoughts?

 

When I am gone for a week or more I have someone come over to feed the fish once a day...... that’s it. 😊

[Kenny2008]

Thanks....but what about the water care aspects?

[WV Reefer]

8 minutes ago, Kenny2008 said:

Thanks....but what about the water care aspects?

such as?

[Kenny2008]

I suppose just to topping up of water while you're away?

[WV Reefer]

1 minute ago, Kenny2008 said:

I suppose just to topping up of water while you're away?

Depending on the size of the tank. I usually don’t bother unless the weather is crazy and I think it may evaporate a lot. Usually not necessary though. 

[Kenny2008]

If I start up the 13.5 Gallon tank.....that's one of my concern is the top up.  Such a small tank size is less forgiving.  How large is your tank?

[WV Reefer]

Just now, Kenny2008 said:

If I start up the 13.5 Gallon tank.....that's one of my concern is the top up.  Such a small tank size is less forgiving.  How large is your tank?

I have a 12 gallon long and it does fine for up to two weeks. 😊

[WV Reefer]

If you are that worried you can leave a jug of RODI to have them top off the tank manually. 
 

I also use a “day of the week” pill box to portion out the food per day...... that way the sitter cant get overzealous with the feeding. 

[Kenny2008]

Thanks WV!  I have a freshwater tank at the moment and those vacation feeders do a number on the water, and I can't imagine what it will do to in a saltwater environment.  There's also them automatic feeders too.......some get great reviews and some don't, and the ones that do they work. I"ll have to look into that.

 

[WV Reefer]

1 minute ago, Kenny2008 said:

Thanks WV!  I have a freshwater tank at the moment and those vacation feeders do a number on the water, and I can't imagine what it will do to in a saltwater environment.  There's also them automatic feeders too.......some get great reviews and some don't, and the ones that do they work. I"ll have to look into that.

 

You’re welcome. 😊

 

Some of the auto feeders aren’t too bad if you feed dry foods but I feed frozen food only.  

[FlytheWMark]

I just have someone come over twice a week and feed my corals (no fish right now), check my top off water canister and I'll have them do one dosing during the week (Alk and Calcium).  I completely spell it out for them.  I also have two "nanny" cams on my tanks so I can make sure nothing is wrong and if it is I send my babysitters over to check for me.

[Kenny2008]

I realize that there's auto water top of devices too....I wonder how well those work.   

 

Good point about the feeders only feeding dry food, but given that a vacation is 1 or 2 weeks, dry foods would be okay?

[WV Reefer]

3 minutes ago, Kenny2008 said:

I realize that there's auto water top of devices too....I wonder how well those work.   

 

Good point about the feeders only feeding dry food, but given that a vacation is 1 or 2 weeks, dry foods would be okay?

It’s mostly about what you feel comfortable with not what the tank needs. Some people leave for a week and do not feed at all. 
 

when I have a tank sitter I want them touching the tank as little as possible. 😄

[Kenny2008]

5 minutes ago, WV Reefer said:

when I have a tank sitter I want them touching the tank as little as possible. 😄

Good point.........best to have a tank sitter who is also an aquarist, but we all know that is sometimes not possible.

 

I saw your tanks by the way - NICE!  So you started with Freshwater I see....how much more work and $$ is it really having switch over to Saltwater? 

[WV Reefer]

24 minutes ago, Kenny2008 said:

Good point.........best to have a tank sitter who is also an aquarist, but we all know that is sometimes not possible.

 

I saw your tanks by the way - NICE!  So you started with Freshwater I see....how much more work and $$ is it really having switch over to Saltwater? 

 

thank you 😊

 

I don’t think there is much of a difference in terms of work...... depending on your set up the money spent can get ya! 😄

[Ratvan]

27 minutes ago, Kenny2008 said:

Good point.........best to have a tank sitter who is also an aquarist, but we all know that is sometimes not possible.

 

I saw your tanks by the way - NICE!  So you started with Freshwater I see....how much more work and $$ is it really having switch over to Saltwater? 

Depends on the Type of Freshwater set up. I had Oscars so the costs were pretty much the same. Also kept Betta's so the SW costs are a lot lot more

The work is.....different but all in all about the same amount as freshwater, i find SW is less forgiving of mistakes than fresh (in general)

[FlytheWMark]

58 minutes ago, Kenny2008 said:

I realize that there's auto water top of devices too....I wonder how well those work.   

Probably some of the best money I've spent.  Most work very well.

[Clown79]

2 hours ago, Kenny2008 said:

If I start up the 13.5 Gallon tank.....that's one of my concern is the top up.  Such a small tank size is less forgiving.  How large is your tank?

An ATO can do this for you.

 

The one convenience of ato and dosers is that they do the work for you and allow you to go away with less concern

 

I couldn't leave my tanks for more than 24hrs before topping up, they evaporate everyday and a lot. 

 

I found non planted freshwater tanks very easy and more forgiving.

 

I had a cichlid tank- never tested it, did waterchanges with tap every 2 weeks, fed daily, topped up maybe 1 time a week.

 

Super easy and had no issues. I loved that tank.

[Kenny2008]

45 minutes ago, FlytheWMark said:

Probably some of the best money I've spent.  Most work very well.

Thanks...do you have any recommendations on brand and model?  Given that the proposed thank will be 13.5 gallon tank, I thought there might be ones more for smaller set ups.

[FlytheWMark]

14 minutes ago, Kenny2008 said:

Thanks...do you have any recommendations on brand and model?  Given that the proposed thank will be 13.5 gallon tank, I thought there might be ones more for smaller set ups.

I have two brands... https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EVD944A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 .  and https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AR1A7ZU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 .  But there are several of these that are really good.  I'm sure others will post their preferences but I'm telling you, the ATO changed my life on nano's.

 

 

 

[Kenny2008]

Thank you!!!  Price isn't too bad at all as I had thought....I'll decide then.  Did you ever have any concern of unit failure such that the top off would continue and not stop and drain your reservoir into your tank and have overflow to the point of ruining your floor.  I know it is unlikely, but ya never know if these things can fail.

[GetPsyched2124]

the most i've been gone for is 7 days. investing in an ATO will be your best bet for top off water regarding evaporation. and if you get that 13.5 tank, then you won't need a reservoir more than a couple gallons.

 

If you're like me, and don't have someone come over to do feeding/maintenance when you're gone: 

 

I usually use a 2 gallon container that's in my stand, which pretty much lasts 8-9 days if completely full for my 20 gallon tank. but for that week i was gone, i swapped it out for a 5 gallon container just to be on the safe side.

 

do a water change on the tank the day before you leave.

 

I use an auto feeder for pellets. 

 

if you end up with fish that will only eat frozen or live foods. feed them very well for the week prior. Order some Tigriopus pods from some place like AlgaeBarn and put them in the tank the night before you leave. that way, if you don't already have pods, you'll boost your live good for the tank that those fish will hunt for and eat while you're gone. the boost in pod population should sustain them enough for about a week.

 

but if you're gone for more than a week, i'd suggest getting someone to come over to help out.

[FlytheWMark]

On 10/4/2019 at 11:36 AM, Kenny2008 said:

Thank you!!!  Price isn't too bad at all as I had thought....I'll decide then.  Did you ever have any concern of unit failure such that the top off would continue and not stop and drain your reservoir into your tank and have overflow to the point of ruining your floor.  I know it is unlikely, but ya never know if these things can fail.

Yes, which is why I have both kinds.  With the Tunze there is definitely that possibility (as it uses the floater).  With the Hydor I have, it's not impossible (nothing is impossible) but it's much less likely.  Because of where the tank with the Hydor is I had to have a very good failsafe.  With the other tank if I had an accident it wouldn't be good but my wife wouldn't divorce me over it 😉 

[mcarroll]

On 10/4/2019 at 7:31 AM, Kenny2008 said:

Hi Everyone!

 

I've been thinking of starting a marine tank for years and years....but never got to it because of many reasons.  Lately, I thought of it again, and was thinking of a Fluval EVO 13.5 Gallon kit to start things off.

 

The concern I keep getting back on is what do marine tank keepers do when they leave on vacation for a week or 2?  I'm assuming that one needs to enlist on someone or a company that has experience with salt water fishkeeping and its care.

 

Thoughts?

 

Keep fish density low and coral density high and the tank can nearly take care of itself during away time.

 

Tanks get more fragile with less of a safety margin the higher livestock levels get – fish in particular.

 

Automate lights, dosing and top-off for evaporation. Maybe an auto-feeder too for the fish, depending how things turn out.  Make sure all automation is in place, tested, and that you have full confidence in it well before you have to leave town.

 

Having a tank sitter is still a good idea, but it's nice when all they have to do is make sure there's no power outage.