How do you deal with an extended absence?

[ghostsoul]

Hello all, I am new to both to marine aquariums and this site.
I am in the process of setting up a 55gal fish with live rock display, well it will be once I've built the cabinet, sump, fuge QT tank, and lighting

, so my tank is still about 6 months from getting wet. I've been researching a lot on the hobby and one thing I've come to realize is that they can not be left alone or tended by inexperienced/careless friends for any extended length of time. How does one manage the absence?
I'm not talking a 7 day vacation, but a 3 month long business trip to Germany. I've still got plenty of time before I have to leave since it's not scheduled until mid 2014 and by then my tank will be about a year old, so I'd like to start my gap planning now. If this were my freshwater aquarium I would be content to leave it to the care of my wife, but she has absolutely no interest in learning the skills necessary for the successful keeping of a saltwater aquarium.
Would it be best to hope someone in my family will develop an interest in the aquarium and be willing to learn, or just adopt out my fish and other critters to local hobbyists and store the tank? Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[acrylic51]

The best would be to try to get a family member or friend.....Maybe someone in a local club.....If that would fail and long trips like this are typical.....A salt tank probably isn't the best hobby at this period of time.....

 

[ghostsoul]

Thanks, I didn't even think about a local club. Thankfully these long trips are not common, and they come with a year or more warning for me, and when I mentioned it to my Niece that I was building a saltwater aquarium she became very excited in learning how to take care of them. Hopefully she'll be willing to help me take care of mine to learn how to do it.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by ghostsoul http:///t/394224/how-do-you-deal-with-an-extended-absence#post_3508865
Thanks, I didn't even think about a local club. Thankfully these long trips are not common, and they come with a year or more warning for me, and when I mentioned it to my Niece that I was building a saltwater aquarium she became very excited in learning how to take care of them. Hopefully she'll be willing to help me take care of mine to learn how to do it.
With your niece excited and learning...that will be great in case of an emergency (equipment failures and such). Your wife only needs to know the basics of top off, and feeding the fish.
Skype is another great way for you to talk to the wife, and see for yourself whats going on, so you can instruct her then on what to do. When I was in the hospital, my daughter took care of everything (she can't keep a goldfish alive) and wouldn't you know it, my lifter pump for which my sump system depended on, clogged. I had the SWF site set as the home page on my computer, so she could contact folks from the site for help. Between myself and 2Quills on the site, we had the tank back up and running quickly.