How Long Can You Go?

[silver surfer]

Ok, for the peeps that travel, what is the longest period of time you have left your system to carry on alone?

With all the automatic systems and technology now seems like leaving for vacation or work could be less stressful.

I would be comfortable for about 3 days.

Thoughts or comments?

 

[glxtrix]

I have done 10 days. I just turn off my skimmer, run lights at 6 hrs and hope for the best. So far *knock on wood* I have not had any issues.

 

[silver surfer]

10 days is a long time.

 

[glxtrix]

Yup. Just fill my sump up with lots of water, with skimmer off there is no chance of overflow or excessive evap, same with lower light schedule. ATO is in place as well incase it gets too low, however, the last few times I was out for a week, I didnt have the ato on incase that went bonkers too.

 

[sn4k33y3z]

Seems like a very smart approach.

 

[glxtrix]

May not be the best, but works for me. Take out the parts that could cause problems and just hope the main pump keeps going...that's all that really concerns me.

 

[curtismaximus]

I was gone for 7 days a few weeks ago. However my brother came by every three days to fill up my ATO and make sure everything was ok with the fish and corals.

 

[jef4y]

I routinely have left the tank for a full 2 weeks.

To do so, I prep by:
Pull filter socks as they will clog & overflow
Changing my small ATO container to a 15 gallon one
Changing my skimmer collection container to a 3 gallon container (with float switch to my controller)
Set an auto-feeder up with freeze dried mysis
Mount my webcam on a tripod in front of the tank

I can remotely view the tank and control it anywhere in the world, and have done so from multiple locations in Mexico & Belize. The only limiting factor is an internet connection.

 

[KrisDeitz]

I'm leaving for a week in the keys in a week. Kinda nervous.

 

[bulkrate]

I've kinda gone the low-tech route on mine... I like to take a couple of 7-day vacations each year and have always come back to a thriving tank.

No skimmer, just a heater, powerhead and corner filter running. Jug of top-off water set next to tank & a fill line marked in a visible location. Switch to simple pellets for feeding. Reduce lighting cycle to 5-6 hours a day.

Makes it easy to leave the tank in this state on autopilot for the duration, and the sitter appreciates not having to measure/mix/dose anything.

 

[dball711]

We have a pet sitter that comes to the house several times a day for the dogs when we are gone so I have trained her to feed, dose, and top off the tanks. She will call or send photos is something is out of wack. I really like the web-cam and being able to control thisng via web...maybe my next project.

 

[skriz]

3 weeks. Other than the glass being dirty, everything looked great.

Now I have a friend come by and feed a couple of times if I'm out for a week. Tank is still on auto-pilot, though.

 

[darren24]

I am "old school" and do everything manually. I work from home which makes it easier. I have a good friend that lives close by come by once per day to add water, 2 part, and feed the fish. My wife is a travel agent so we take 3-4 week long trips (mostly cruises) per year.

 

[heathlindner25]

I can go about 8 to 10 hours before I start getting itchy.

 

[picoreefguy]

id be comfortable leaving it indefinitely depending on the level of automation and the amount of supplies you leave the automated system with. in theory you could leave for a year if you programmed an apex well. it could do water changes, top offs, feedings, even cleanings if you had a robosnail lol. just have someone come and check in once a month to replace salt in your auto water change setup and fill the food containers. but realistically no one will have their tank that automated id say 2 weeks would be a safe amount of time to leave the tank with the right preparations

 

[camellia]

WOW,
I love this... I've got the equipment just not the knowledge! I'm all alone at home now and hate thinking I'm confined by my tank.
With time I will work on the above and free myself from my biggest fear.
Thanks!

 

[rk4435]

I recently went on vacation for 7 days and left the three sw tanks and watering new sod to the teenage girl across the street. I came home to three very happy tanks, I'm cutting way back on feedings based on the experience. I drew lines with crayon so she new when to add ro/di since I am still low tech.

Sadly the front lawn was flooded and the wife's bird was still alive, 1 for 3 I guess.

 

[heathlindner25]

everybody on here talking about how long they can go leaving their tanks alone has just jinxed them self...lol
watch what happens next time you leave your tank.......

 

[dhmx220]

Going out of town tomorrow and my ATO has been acting up recently lol:boo:

 

[kirkwood]

I was just out of town for 15 days. Reef angel monitoring the tank and it sent me daily verifaction that my dosing pumps ran for the specified time. One night there was a power outage for a few hours so I missed some doses. The next I was able to remotely add the missed doses. I fed ELOS pellets twice daily via an Eheim autofeeder. I only had a neighbor visit 3 times to change out my 5 gal RODI reservoir. If I had a 20 gal reservoir and an IP camera then I would feel comfortable leaving for 15 days with no check ins.