vacation tips

[bronco300]

so could we compile some vacation tips as i'm sure with christmas some people will be traveling, like myself.....and unfortunately everyone i know around here also will be gone as it is college break, and they have to go....so i'll be gone about 1.5wks...lights shouldnt be a prob as i have a timer...food could, and the water evaporation will be a prob as well...any ideas that may help without spending tons of money....are there cheap dosers that are reliable and all that good stuff? thanks

 

[yimmy]

auto feeders

 

[pbienkiewi]

relatives..........Just to do top off's at 1 gallon intervals. Place the food in a bag for each day they are fed.

 

[bronco300]

well like i said, there is no one around, this is at our place at college, and so there is no family around here.

 

[merredeth]

Auto feeders and a healthy water change before I leave is generally what I do. Since my family knows nothing about the care and maintenance of the tanks, I only allow them to do water top offs when I am gone.
One idea I have for you is if you have a quarantine tank, is it possible to travel home with it? Take out some of the water and put it in gallon jugs to take with you. Store the fish in a larger container and drive straight home if it isn't too far. Don't forget to keep your car warm.
Denise M.

 

[bronco300]

no, thats not really a possibility for me, i have a 2.5hr drive home, and rather not have to deal with that mess....

 

[seahorse11]

When we go away for 2 weeks, I make sure the protein skimmer has an overflow that has a hose attached that will go into a bucket if the cup gets filled while we are gone. Also an auto feeder is a must as well as a timer on the lights. Thats the basic absolute equipment that I make sure is in working condition before we leave. I dont worry about top offs.

 

[harndog]

As far as top offs I would loose about 10 gallons in a week and a half so What I did for may vaction is filled the tank to the brim with water. Usually I run it at the bottom of the top border thingy. The evap was as expected but instead of 10 gallons I only had about 7 on a 75 gallon and didn't have any problems. The sg goes up some but it's so slow it really don't hurt anything. I know some people that do weekly top offs anyway.

 

[reefiness]

for water evaporation get a large 20 gallon rubber maid and an auto top off keep a heater, and power head in the rubber maid and your set.

 

[grumpygils]

Reefiness, Can you direct me to somewhere that shows auto top off devices?
Thxs,
GG