Is this a daily thing or a weekly thing??

keqwow · 12-28-2004, 08:07 PM

I know there is a lot of work involved in setting up the tank, especially in the beginning....here is the question. Once you get everything working and balanced out....how often do you have to do everything? Is it possible for you guys to leave your tank for a week??? Or does SOMETHING need to be fed every day?? I am assuming this also depends on if you have anenome or coral etc...but how long can you "safely" leave your tank....say...for example to go on vacation.....before things start to eat each other or die?? Just curious....again...my ignorance coming through (I am reading as fast as I can....)

tabwyo · 12-28-2004, 08:15 PM

Maaannnnn.... Wrong hobby for exteneded vacations.

I am sure that with the right amount of cash you can almost totaly automate your system. If you do that then what's the point. If you are going for just the look then I'd go to a local aquarium and save myself the cash. The hobby is the husbandry, the result is the life in your system.

Junkzoo · 12-28-2004, 08:24 PM

Depends,,,a day or so, for most people,,,i gotta top off water in my 75 (3 gallons a day) so i can't go far, unless i auto -top off,,,
Ditto, if this is a problem ,and you can't automate to the hilt, stop by the local pet shop for a fix,,,
No one said it was easy,or cheap,,,,LOL

Geoff · 12-28-2004, 08:29 PM

i have my tank automated enough that i do not worry to much about going away for the weekend but anything longer i have to have somebody come over to at least check on things. sometimes i need them to feed or add Ca and alk.

G~

keqwow · 12-28-2004, 08:51 PM

Like I said...I was just curious....just trying to see what I am getting myself into. I probably go away for one week a year....in that time I could probably have someone check on things. Honestly, and this may be the wrong way of looking at it....but I am thinking that this is going to be my big "chemistry set" that I will have to be constantly adjusting and tweaking and having fun with....but again, as I haven't done this before...and don't know anyone who has...I am really coming at it from in the dark.....how often you have to top off the tank...how often you need to test the water and make adjustments....how often you need to feed everything....I really am in the dark at the moment...but like I said...I am reading tons and tons of things so hopefully I'll have a good understanding before I do anything. As of now, the tank is just sitting, empty, on the stand. I have bought three books and I've been surfing the web since christmas. I haven't done anything yet...and don't plan on it until I have a much better understanding of what I'm getting myself into.....I figure I can always fall back on a tropical freshwater tank....but I've just always wanted a nice saltwater setup...so we'll see.

tims · 12-28-2004, 09:00 PM

vacation?! what's a vacation......
just kidding. you are in new york, there are other members here too from new york. try chcking out the clubs area here to see if there is a reef club close by. that is one way to have extended time away..
once you go salt you may never go back to fresh!it is like an incurable disease...

tabwyo · 12-28-2004, 09:03 PM

In all honesty you would want to get to the point that you don't need to tweek. Justr moniter and maintain.

Doug1 · 12-28-2004, 10:10 PM

Well ther are a couple things you should attempt to automate right of the bat, the lighting is the first. Reef critters are really tuned in to light/dark cycles so a light timer is a cheap investment.
Second, depending on how you are setting the tank up, I would setup some form of auto top off so that your salinity stays relatively even. Small tanks change SG quicker than large ones so auto top off eliminates one hassle.
You can go hog wild but those too are the basic ones and will help the tank settle, whether you go away or not. It also eliminates a FUBAR factor if you do leave and have a reef sitter

btang · 12-29-2004, 08:18 AM

For daily, the only thing is the water top off (i run about a gallon a day) and feeding. Lights on timers. This assumes that the tank is in a stable state. Anything could bring the house down on this (power failure, leak, environment change in the house, even a death in the tank). But assuming all that (and others) dont happen. You could be OK. Having a friend/family member check in daily is a great way to go. It would also be good to have a relationship with a good LFS in your area just in case there is a problem. They could send in the swat team, instead of you having to jet back from vacation.

keqwow, Welcome to TRT!