What do you do when you are gone?

[twoodrough]

I have a 10 gal that is cycled and will get its first critter next week. If I like doing a salt tank and upgrade in size and creatures some day, I want to know what other people do to care for their tanks if they are going to be gone for more than 3-4 days. I am already dosing the tank every other day with an additive (reef fusion 2). I know some of you serious hobbyists do many maintenance things every day and have a lot more sensitive critters than I am ever going to think about having. What do you do to make sure they are alive when you come home after being gone?

 

[Sniperhank]

Feed before you go and have enough top off water to survive how much water is evaporating per day.

 

[twoodrough]

I top off by hand right. How do I top off if I am not there? And, how would an auto topper know whether it needs it? I wouldn't want top off water added if it wasn't necessary.

Sorry about the newby questions.

 

[Sniperhank]

It runs off of a float switch. If the switch drops below a specific level, it pumps water in from a container of water. I keep mine in a gallon jug as I've never had more than 1 gallon of evaporation in a day out of my system.

 

[gemach7]

Depending on your systems evaporation. Will not work if too high.

Securely place a large water bottle upright in your sump lid slightly below your waterline. Filled with your ro/di water. After it is secured(whether by clamps, cut and bent acrylic etc... Unscrew the top.

Will act as emergency top off for a few days.

Not good for long term but could get you by if can't buy and setup an auto top off before you leave.


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[markodeniro]

I have an auto top off and have trained my father in law what to look for and what to feed them but I went away for over a week


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[Beej1254]

I agree with the top off. Something I wish I added to my system from the start. And your fish should survive a few days without feeding.

If you regularly leave for a few days you could buy a good automatic feeder.. or if you even just want to feed on a schedule everyday.

 

[twoodrough]

What about the stuff you are supposed to dose the tank with? I don't even have a fish yet but my Kh is low so I am dosing something every other day. Can you skip a few days on those things without crashing the tank?