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how do people take care on tank , feeding on vacation
- Thread starter mcf6188
- Start date
Some usually have someone they know help out. Family member, neighbor, fellow reefer or tank maintenance company.
Really depends on how long your going for, what's in your tank and how automated your system is.
There are automated flake food feeders. Maybe someone knows of a frozen or live food feeder.
Some corals and fish can go for a day or two, but aggression may become an issue.
Really depends on how long your going for, what's in your tank and how automated your system is.
There are automated flake food feeders. Maybe someone knows of a frozen or live food feeder.
Some corals and fish can go for a day or two, but aggression may become an issue.
Owen386
Non-member
Saw something hooked up to a wine chiller once for frozen. But yeah I run an automated pellet feeder and have some one feed frozen twice a week. And then I end up driving home one day middle of the night so there's no traffic and check on it in person lol.
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I have a family member take care/check in and can dial into my camera system to look at things. Be sure to leave very detailed instructions and your contact info though. My system is pretty much automated but when away on vacation it seems like this is when things go wrong
I just got back from a week long vacation, and I setup a autofeeder with flakes and ato. That's it. I did have a friend come in to check the tank once while I was gone to feed the tangs Nori and clean the skimmers. That's really it.
You need to be careful with the auto feeder and flakes because flakes tend to all go into the overflow. I made a little concoction out of a cup so the flakes get thrown into the cup, and they slowly fall down into the water column as they get wet and heavy.
Hope that helps!
Of course I have everything hooked up to an Apex in case something goes wrong
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You need to be careful with the auto feeder and flakes because flakes tend to all go into the overflow. I made a little concoction out of a cup so the flakes get thrown into the cup, and they slowly fall down into the water column as they get wet and heavy.
Hope that helps!
Of course I have everything hooked up to an Apex in case something goes wrong
Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk
Get your system automated and put on the autofeeder and pray.
I don't feed if it less than a week
HERPER
Non-member
I have an automated feeder for flakes and automated lights etc. So my mom or sister will usually check in on them. I leave detailed instructions etc. but even with that, expect the worst.
Last time I went away, I came back to the powerheads out of the water water level down like 5" filter pumping air etc. I asked why they didn't add water or call me. They said they didn't want to bother me and figured I could take care of it when I returned.
for the cost of our tanks, invest in a camera. (Nest for example) there is even some cool apps for an old cellphone to act as one as well. [If you want, I can fill you in on that]. it makes it a lot nicer to be able to see that something is wrong before it gets too bad.
Last time I went away, I came back to the powerheads out of the water water level down like 5" filter pumping air etc. I asked why they didn't add water or call me. They said they didn't want to bother me and figured I could take care of it when I returned.
for the cost of our tanks, invest in a camera. (Nest for example) there is even some cool apps for an old cellphone to act as one as well. [If you want, I can fill you in on that]. it makes it a lot nicer to be able to see that something is wrong before it gets too bad.
STiTCH87
Saltwater OCD Victim
Simple. I just don't go on vacation. 
I dose 2 part daily, and feed frozen every other day which has to be rinsed prior to feeding.
Then you have to shut off the return, powerhead, ATO, and skimmer to feed.
After everything is turned back on you have to wait at least 15 minutes before turning on the skimmer to avoid overflow from wet food substances.
Then you can't turn the ATO on again until skimmer is on otherwise it will read that the return chamber has too much water (pseudo overflowing) and beep all damn day.
I could get a monitor camera and task a fellow reefer, but I don't trust anyone in my house while I am gone except family, whom do not reef.
I have yet to meet anyone who can handle such an intensely difficult task.
Easiest solution, have children. You'll never have to worry about vacation ever again.
I dose 2 part daily, and feed frozen every other day which has to be rinsed prior to feeding.
Then you have to shut off the return, powerhead, ATO, and skimmer to feed.
After everything is turned back on you have to wait at least 15 minutes before turning on the skimmer to avoid overflow from wet food substances.
Then you can't turn the ATO on again until skimmer is on otherwise it will read that the return chamber has too much water (pseudo overflowing) and beep all damn day.
I could get a monitor camera and task a fellow reefer, but I don't trust anyone in my house while I am gone except family, whom do not reef.
I have yet to meet anyone who can handle such an intensely difficult task.
Easiest solution, have children. You'll never have to worry about vacation ever again.
Last edited:
showard
Non-member
Apex my friend, you can get (and I have):
-leak detectors
-salinity probe/PM2
-automatic feeder AFS
-another eb8
-and it's all accessible from the internet!
This is why I got it actually, I was going on a vacation and my family has no idea how to care for a SW tank so I got the apex. I have temperature responsive settings so if it gets to hot it does X and if too cold it does Y. As well as the apex will shut off whatever is needed then dispense food and wait X amount of time and then turn everything back on.
Yes it is a lot of money but 700$ vs tank failing with many many hours of work into it, I'd rather shell out some cash to have a peace of mind 24/7. I really was on the opposing team for a while about the apex, thinking its a massive waste of cash, but then I wanted to go to the Bahamas and I am going to Alaska this year I realized that I could automate all of the tasks I do so that I actually do not need to be there when they need to be done, and mostly peace of mind because I like tank maintenance, I find it calming lol.
It also provides a nice stable control for those pesky heaters and things you need running 24/7. Implementation of backup equipment is very easy as well. Such as if you set up a backup heater to turn on when the temp drops below normal, or a backup return pump that turns on when the level in your display drops to a certain point through a float switch. Fans that turn on when it gets too hot. Lights/ pumps turn off when it gets too warm.
I have a geo 618 calcium reactor and that takes 2 part dosing out of the picture, so daily maintenance and testing turns into weekly/bi-weekly testing. I have a bashsea 6-24 skimmer and it is a beckett skimmer run off a mag 9 and it does not overflow after feeding. I got everything I have used except for the apex because the price of the new calcium reactor and skimmer is way too much for my wallet. Even my tunze ato with optical sensor. Look around for good deals and you will certainly find them.
-leak detectors
-salinity probe/PM2
-automatic feeder AFS
-another eb8
-and it's all accessible from the internet!
This is why I got it actually, I was going on a vacation and my family has no idea how to care for a SW tank so I got the apex. I have temperature responsive settings so if it gets to hot it does X and if too cold it does Y. As well as the apex will shut off whatever is needed then dispense food and wait X amount of time and then turn everything back on.
Yes it is a lot of money but 700$ vs tank failing with many many hours of work into it, I'd rather shell out some cash to have a peace of mind 24/7. I really was on the opposing team for a while about the apex, thinking its a massive waste of cash, but then I wanted to go to the Bahamas and I am going to Alaska this year I realized that I could automate all of the tasks I do so that I actually do not need to be there when they need to be done, and mostly peace of mind because I like tank maintenance, I find it calming lol.
It also provides a nice stable control for those pesky heaters and things you need running 24/7. Implementation of backup equipment is very easy as well. Such as if you set up a backup heater to turn on when the temp drops below normal, or a backup return pump that turns on when the level in your display drops to a certain point through a float switch. Fans that turn on when it gets too hot. Lights/ pumps turn off when it gets too warm.
I have a geo 618 calcium reactor and that takes 2 part dosing out of the picture, so daily maintenance and testing turns into weekly/bi-weekly testing. I have a bashsea 6-24 skimmer and it is a beckett skimmer run off a mag 9 and it does not overflow after feeding. I got everything I have used except for the apex because the price of the new calcium reactor and skimmer is way too much for my wallet. Even my tunze ato with optical sensor. Look around for good deals and you will certainly find them.
Jeff.:P
Non-member
Simple. I just don't go on vacation.
I dose 2 part daily, and feed frozen every other day which has to be rinsed prior to feeding.
Then you have to shut off the return, powerhead, ATO, and skimmer to feed.
After everything is turned back on you have to wait at least 15 minutes before turning on the skimmer to avoid overflow from wet food substances.
Then you can't turn the ATO on again until skimmer is on otherwise it will read that the return chamber has too much water (pseudo overflowing) and beep all damn day.
I could get a monitor camera and task a fellow reefer, but I don't trust anyone in my house while I am gone except family, whom do not reef.
I have yet to meet anyone who can handle such an intensely difficult task.
Easiest solution, have children. You'll never have to worry about vacation ever again.
You could easily automate 90% of the items you listed above with an Apex controller.
STiTCH87
Saltwater OCD Victim
Question on the APEX. I dose 17ml per day of 2-part. How does this get automated if you have a 1 foot outlet line as opposed to say, 4 foot? Does the exit line clear completely after doser shuts off or does it leave some behind?
I'm concerned that if I say to dose 17ml that 3-4ml will remain in the line.
How do you combat this? Sorry to thread hijack. You can PM me or I can start a new thread to keep this one on topic if the OP minds.
The new APEX controller is most certainly eye candy.
I already have a RKL so a lot is automated as far as "heater on at X", "fan on at X", and my house has central heat/AC so temps stay fantastic.
I can easily set up so one switch shuts off everything but the skimmer and ATO.
What I really need is a method of where I can remotely turn on channels via my phone, which I believe APEX has the means of doing.
The RKL .NET is only to monitor and not control AFAIK which is lame.
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showard
Non-member
See above
STiTCH87
Saltwater OCD Victim
Thank you very much. That helps greatly. and I am looking into the APEX Jr. as I don't need the functions of the $550+ plus models. Just on/off mobility.
Jeff.:P
Non-member
Question on the APEX. I dose 17ml per day of 2-part. How does this get automated if you have a 1 foot outlet line as opposed to say, 4 foot? Does the exit line clear completely after doser shuts off or does it leave some behind?
I'm concerned that if I say to dose 17ml that 3-4ml will remain in the line.
This would be dependent on the type of doser you are using, but I believe all dosers operate the same. The 2 part within the outlet line does not discharge when the controler/doser stops. I hope that helps!
What I really need is a method of where I can remotely turn on channels via my phone, which I believe APEX has the means of doing.
The RKL .NET is only to monitor and not control AFAIK which is lame.
Yes the full Apex is mobile accessible. If I were you I would buy a full apex (not the junior) used unit off of BRS or R2R. All said and done I bought a used one for $300+/-. All the functions are great and well implemented
I'm concerned that if I say to dose 17ml that 3-4ml will remain in the line.
This would be dependent on the type of doser you are using, but I believe all dosers operate the same. The 2 part within the outlet line does not discharge when the controler/doser stops. I hope that helps!
What I really need is a method of where I can remotely turn on channels via my phone, which I believe APEX has the means of doing.
The RKL .NET is only to monitor and not control AFAIK which is lame.
Yes the full Apex is mobile accessible. If I were you I would buy a full apex (not the junior) used unit off of BRS or R2R. All said and done I bought a used one for $300+/-. All the functions are great and well implemented
showard
Non-member
Oops I goofed lol, forgot how dosing pumps worked there for a sec... sorry about that.
Sure thing!
Please keep in mind, this was a last minute temporary arrangement so not the best and I definitely do not condone it BUT! it worked and I'm planning to build a permanent solution along these same lines.Here is the autofeeder sitting on the glass of the tank + the lid frame. A tiny piece of cardboard to prop its butt up to make it "level". I cut a piece of the mesh of lid, slightly smaller than the cup I had on hand so that the cup would fit in nice and snug. I used the cup that comes with the AquaForest salt because that's what I had handy; just cut the bottom off of it with a saw.
Here you can see part of the cup is in the water, so the flakes "float" in it until they're heavy enough and fall down for fish to eat. I also tried to place this somewhat above my powerhead so that water gets moved a bit in the cup (I've vortechs and their "sucking" power is rather strong).
Quick, easy, but temporary!
- Archit
