Going on vacation what to do?

[DLCanuck]

Hi guys

When you guys go on vacation, what you guys do to prepare your tank(s)? How you guys set up your feeding for your tank(s)? Do you guys do a massive water change or just do a regular water change before you leave? In addition, what is some thing I should do before I leave, any tips.

Thank you
Daniel

 

[catera]

well i usuall do just a regular water change. i set aside water aproximate amount of topoff for each day and prepare the food in doses just to throw in. and hope you have someone with common sense.

 

[nunofs]

I avoid doing anything that can go wrong just before leaving, so I won't do water changes or tweak any equipment in the days before the trip...

As for feeding, I either don't do anything if it's just a few days, or use an automated feeder that dispenses flake and pellets. The longest I've left the tanks unattended was 15 days for my freshwater tank (used a 14-day automated feeder) and 5 days for the reef tank (didn't use a feeder).

I have automated top-off, the only thing that I change for vacation is that I use a large garbage bin (next to the stand) instead of the smaller container I use day to day (inside the stand)... nobody's around so it doesn't have to be pretty

You may also want to buy a couple of battery-operated backup air pumps to add circulation/oxygen to our tank in case power goes out while you're away.

Nuno

 

[JustDavidP]

I do the just about the same as Nuno...

I use battery operated, timed fish feeder with flake and other dry solids (if I'm gone for more than 3 days) and two battery operated air pumps in case power is lost.

I never do a water change, futz with pumps or any other plumbing, heaters, devices at all EXCEPT for lifting my return nozzle 1/4 inch (to avoid MAJOR siphon in case of power loss). Honestly, if you do anything to your equipment, you never know if you do more harm than good until you return. ANY time I clean pumps, or tweak the system at all, I ensure that I'm home for at least the day to catch any 'oopsies'.

I also shut off the RO/DI system and let the 20 gallon reservior empty. Too many concerns about RO/DI malfunctions and wet carpets.

After all that is said and done, I take my vacation and worry...the entire time...about my reef.

Dave

 

[Clutchcargo]

The longest I've left my tank unattended for was 15 days. Everything was fine when I came home.
In case of power failure, I've got a UPS to keep a powerhead running. When that dies the battery powered airpump takes over. That will cover me for probably two days of no power. I don't plug the heaters into the backup because the UPS would probably only last 30 minutes at most.
Of course I've got auto topoff and autofeeder. I get the entire thing running on its own for the week prior to leaving or at least 3 days before to make sure everything is working correctly.
My autofeeder failed the last time during this test period and dumped 2 weeks of food in the tank in 24 hours.
The key is don't change anything the week before.

 

[seawillow]

vacation?? hmmm...what's that?? Can you really do that with reef tanks??