I'm going on vacation soon... What should I do beforehand

[AsianChris]

I know I probably should've done this a week or 2 ago, but anyways, I'm going on vacation this coming Saturday and I'll be gone for a little over a week.

What are some of the things I should do before I leave? I prefer to have everything set so no one has to do anything for me.

This week, I'm changing out the media in my Phosban/Carbon reactors (it's around that time to do so anyways), do a larger water change, and make sure the fish feeder has food in it. My ProCal is working fine and I'm installing a doser to handle my Mg levels today.

Is there anything else I should do before I leave? Also how much water should I change out? I have approx 100gal of water. 20%??

Should I remove the filter sock while I'm away? I know leaving it in too long is bad for the tank, but I'm not sure what would be worse (leaving it in or no sock at all).

 

[BaaMNYC]

Am I weird to say that i don't run a sock at all ever?

 

[KathyC]

If you are installing an additional doser this close to going away - be 100% sure that it is working properly before you leave.

As far as the filter sock...is it close to the edge of the tank, if so I'd remove it.
The issue with these is often that when they overflow (from being full) the water finds its way out of the tank as many holders position them by the side of the sump. If yours is positioned like this, I would remove the sock so that it is a non issue.

 

[AsianChris]

Well my levels were fine, until I put the ProCal in a few weeks ago. I'm getting the doser today. I'll be monitoring it all week.

As for the filter sock, there's nothing holding it, but it is in the back corner. The overflow out of it is fine (sump has high walls). I was more worried about anything it catches thats organic and breaking down that can cause an ammonia spike.

If you are installing an additional doser this close to going away - be 100% sure that it is working properly before you leave.

As far as the filter sock...is it close to the edge of the tank, if so I'd remove it.
The issue with these is often that when they overflow (from being full) the water finds its way out of the tank as many holders position them by the side of the sump. If yours is positioned like this, I would remove the sock so that it is a non issue.

 

[KathyC]

Well my levels were fine, until I put the ProCal in a few weeks ago. I'm getting the doser today. I'll be monitoring it all week.

As for the filter sock, there's nothing holding it, but it is in the back corner. The overflow out of it is fine (sump has high walls). I was more worried about anything it catches thats organic and breaking down that can cause an ammonia spike.

As long as it sits BELOW the top edge of the sump.

The organics are in your tank whether they are physically in the sock or loose in the water, location makes no difference.

 

[AsianChris]

As long as it sits BELOW the top edge of the sump.

The organics are in your tank whether they are physically in the sock or loose in the water, location makes no difference.

Thanks Kathy for clearing that up. I just didn't want to chance it by leaving it in without knowing.

 

[andylee]

What will you do about evaporation? You can lose a lot of water in that time. I don't think you need to do a special water change just because you're leaving. Just the regular schedule should be fine.

 

[BaaMNYC]

What will you do about evaporation? You can lose a lot of water in that time. I don't think you need to do a special water change just because you're leaving. Just the regular schedule should be fine.

+1
i forgot, i was going to say the same thing. I went away for a week on vacation and the main worry of mine was topping off. If you don't have an ato. i would definitely get one. Im assuming you have one. I see about 5 gallons of evap every 6 days or so on my 110

 

[AsianChris]

What will you do about evaporation? You can lose a lot of water in that time. I don't think you need to do a special water change just because you're leaving. Just the regular schedule should be fine.

I do have an ATO running. I just need to make sure I either a) use a bigger storage container b) use my reg container and a backup and hope someone checks on it. Currently I use a 5 gal bucket and fill it up weekly when I do my water changes.

 

[mbg75]

I used a wireless network cam last time I went away. Able to view tank from a smartphone or computer

 

[BaaMNYC]

I do have an ATO running. I just need to make sure I either a) use a bigger storage container b) use my reg container and a backup and hope someone checks on it. Currently I use a 5 gal bucket and fill it up weekly when I do my water changes.

I do the same but it's probably not enough if your gone for more than a week

I bought a 20 gallon bin with a lid from target to use to hold my lr that I didn't need and sold. I could probably use that if I needed to go away

 

[AsianChris]

I do the same but it's probably not enough if your gone for more than a week

Yeah, that's why I want to make sure there's extra RO Water for it. I have a 15 gal bucket that I usually use for my water changes. I may just fill that up with RO so I know it'll be more than enough

 

[thirty6]

can you borrow a glass tank from someone, maybe a 29g and use that as your topoff for the time your away. then you wont need to worry about it

 

[KathyC]

Yeah, that's why I want to make sure there's extra RO Water for it. I have a 15 gal bucket that I usually use for my water changes. I may just fill that up with RO so I know it'll be more than enough

While that would work..one thing that I like to have ready upon my return is new SW for another water change....just in case something turns to crap while I'm away

It might be best to pick up another decent sized container to hold top off water while you are away.

Will anyone be observing your tank while you are away for obvious issues?

 

[AsianChris]

While that would work..one thing that I like to have ready upon my return is new SW for another water change....just in case something turns to crap while I'm away

It might be best to pick up another decent sized container to hold top off water while you are away.

Will anyone be observing your tank while you are away for obvious issues?

That's not a bad idea. I do have 2 5gal buckets (instant ocean salt buckets) that usually hold/mix saltwater. I guess those are getting filled up too.

 

[AsianChris]

Will anyone be observing your tank while you are away for obvious issues?

I have my Apex running and I can already remotely check the tank. I can have someone visually check it from time to time though. I thought of a webcam before, just haven't figured out if i really want to do it just yet.

 

[andylee]

Best thing is to get a friend in the hobby to come every 2 or 3 days. I always worry about a float switch getting stuck and dumping a whole bucket of fresh water into the tank. I just came back from about 10 days. I made a bunch of RODI water in covered buckets and he came and filled my ATO reservoir, fed, and checked things out every few days.

Also worry about temperature. I kept AC set to 85 (too cheap to go any lower; the whole house is in one zone); but found through my controller logs that water temp went as high as 82 and change (usually kept in 78-79 range).