So, as I settle in for vacation, I find myself thankful to have always had a roommate and/or family members at home to help care for my pets and freshwater setup. For these, just two feedings a day and an occasional test-strip read are more than sufficient, so it's easy enough for someone else to manage.
But then I think about the reef I'm about to build and how these can sometimes be a lot more demanding. I've already planned my livestock list to avoid anything with especially high feeding needs, mostly for my own sanity. Still, there’s so much more to a reef than just feeding, and you can't always predict what might crop up in your tank when you’re away: especially with something unexpectedly (still) in QT when you didn't expect it.
I'm curious how other ARC members handle these situations. Do you rely on preparation and automation? A friend or family member you can train? Do you hire a service? Rely on connections made through ARC? Or have you ever had to cancel plans because of your tank’s needs?
But then I think about the reef I'm about to build and how these can sometimes be a lot more demanding. I've already planned my livestock list to avoid anything with especially high feeding needs, mostly for my own sanity. Still, there’s so much more to a reef than just feeding, and you can't always predict what might crop up in your tank when you’re away: especially with something unexpectedly (still) in QT when you didn't expect it.
I'm curious how other ARC members handle these situations. Do you rely on preparation and automation? A friend or family member you can train? Do you hire a service? Rely on connections made through ARC? Or have you ever had to cancel plans because of your tank’s needs?