Leaving a tank while on a vaction...suggestions!?

lfish · 12-03-2004, 11:33 AM

I have someone planned to stop in and feed, but I have never left for more than a couple of days. This time I will be gone for 2 weeks and I was wondering if there were any tips or suggestions to pass along? I know I read here something about posting a current picture on the tank stand of what the tank is supposed to look like, and that was a great idea.

My feeder has never changed protien skimmer or added water, so we are planning to get together and go over some of these things before I leave.

How frequently do I need to have them fed? I have two tangs(blue/yellow) that are very spoiled and eat garlic soaked food 2x daily. If I cut back to 1x every other day ...will the stress of this be a trigger for ich? Also, with RBTAs, how often will they need to be fed. I also have clowns and a cleaner wrasse, sixline, and 2 cleaner shrimp.
My feeder could stop daily, but I was hoping to make it a little easier since I will be gone for so long. I do not want to skimp too much and come back to a blue tang with ich though.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated!!

the_colonel · 12-03-2004, 11:43 AM

Put togeteher a list of people to contact in case of a tank emergency. (Lights don't come on, pump failed, fish start floating etc....).

You can put me down, I'm about an hour away.

P.S. Where are you going? I hope its somewhere warm.

David Grigor · 12-03-2004, 12:15 PM

fish can live a week or more not feed. RBTA doesn't need feed.

Feeding Fish every day or every other day should be sufficient.

reeftanktime · 12-03-2004, 12:28 PM

I agree with David. Sometimes I forget to feed my fish. I was just gone for 5 days for Thanksgiving and I turned the skimmer off instead of having my neighbor empty it. All he had to do was "feed and fill".

tico mike · 12-03-2004, 12:53 PM

I don't feed at all when I'm gone and have never had a problem. Put some macro algae in. I also put all make up water in individual one gallon plastic jugs and my daughter adds one per day. Although, in your situation, with the tangs you need someone to feed daily. You should have enough critters to keep everyone else happy. My last trip was for 13 days and no problems. I have extra jugs if you need them or want to do that. I also am close enough that I could be called on if you or your feeder needed help.

clownfishcrazy · 12-03-2004, 12:57 PM

Be carefull with macro algea it can potentialy take over your whole tank. I am battling some odd macro that grew out of my rock, it is like a red bubble algea but not as strong as valonia, I just pulled a baseball size chunk of it out of my tank.

ReefLuvR · 12-03-2004, 01:41 PM

I'm here for most of the time you'll be gone. And I'm only 15 minutes away

. In fact, why don't you have your tank sitter call me before you go, just so they are comfortable talking to me. I don't have all the answers, but I know where to find them!

Jen

royaldana · 12-03-2004, 02:47 PM

I can also be a back up since I should be around for most of the holidays this year.

HFG · 12-03-2004, 03:09 PM

For your regular guy who isnt a reefer id just have him check the obvious (no over flowing stuff, lights are on pumps are running). And have him feed... but have things prebagged and make sure to tell him if he skips a day its NBD but to not double feed to make up for it.
If you actually need something maintenced (like the skimmer) I would have a reefer do it for ya. Some things you take for common knowlage others do not. Even explaining in detail, does not mean the get it. Get those Eauclair boys (edit: ladys!) on a phone list incase your house friend has a question....
Better yet, subject him to the forum!

Frogbone · 12-03-2004, 03:11 PM

I will be gone too for 2+ weeks and Ben has offered to be the emergency person that a "feeder" could contact in case of a problem.

Is there a list availlable of members who would be willing to assist in case an absentee's tank has problems ?

If there isn't one, could we start one? I'd be more than happy to put my name on a list in case someone needs me.

Sort the list by metro area SW, NE etc. or simmilar.

What do you think?

the_colonel · 12-03-2004, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frogbone

I will be gone too for 2+ weeks and Ben has offered to be the emergency person that a "feeder" could contact in case of a problem.

Is there a list availlable of members who would be willing to assist in case an absentee's tank has problems ?

If there isn't one, could we start one? I'd be more than happy to put my name on a list in case someone needs me.

Sort the list by metro area SW, NE etc. or simmilar.

What do you think?

Great idea, I'll put my name on the list also.

Frogbone · 12-03-2004, 03:24 PM

kewl

The question is, who would take ownership of this list and collect the names etc. ?

I'd volunteer to do it.

Whoever would want on the list (and is ok with the fact that it is shared!! ) can send me an e-mail through TRT and I get it started.

ReefLuvR · 12-03-2004, 03:32 PM

Idea: Put the info in the members only forum. And you can put me on it too

HFG · 12-03-2004, 03:36 PM

I know it doesn't look like it, but I am too busy to do a list

Happy to be on it though... for TC folks

Fahz · 12-03-2004, 06:14 PM

lfish:

I only feed frozen but I prepack each days supply and its half what I normally feed ie. one feeding rather then two. I also pre-bottle my topoff water and have a fill to mark on my sump since over time you use more then your daily amount of water topoff. Good to have someone (Jen) to call in just incase and give them the OK to do whatever if a problem comes up. I also tell the caretaker not to worry about the dirty glass it's food for the fish. I ran my tank for 15 months without a skimmer I would turn it off.

Fahz