How to prevent a crash

[sillysidewinder]

I've read a lot of posts about people's tanks crashing, most of which happened while people were out of town. I thought I would start a thread to help people learn how to avoid tank crashes. So please post your responses and lets stay on topic! Thanks, Josh

 

[ZANYMASTER]

Chiller in the summer and get a reliable heater for the rest of the year.Checking parms before you leave.

 

[sillysidewinder]

is the heater what usually causes the problem? i know that i have read a lot about ATO's failing... Also, any specifics for nano tanks?

 

[ZANYMASTER]

That happened to me when I had to 90 with the ATO and it's true and that's why I went the Tunze one.Expensive but well worth it.I have a Nano now just use regular RO top offs.

 

[prattreef]

1) don't make any changes or add new animals to your system at least a week before you go away.

2) if the person caring for your fish is inexperienced, show them 1/3 the amount of food you really want them to feed.

3) make a simple check list that a non-aquarist can quickly run down and eyeball basic essential things--water level, pH, temp etc.

 

[OOtzie]

is the heater what usually causes the problem? i know that i have read a lot about ATO's failing... Also, any specifics for nano tanks?

I leave my heater unplugged if I don't need it. Look at the weather and know what swings there if any.

 

[ryangrieder]

Don't be stupid. If your tanks doing good, don't change it... That's my motto

 

[sillysidewinder]

I leave my heater unplugged if I don't need it. Look at the weather and know what swings there if any.

O.K. we usually have the air conditioning on during the summer, but that's good to keep in mind.

Don't be stupid. If your tanks doing good, don't change it... That's my motto

O.K. what do I say to that... I'll try not to be stupid I guess

 

[ryangrieder]

O.K. what do I say to that... I'll try not to be stupid I guess

Haha I'm not calling you stupid. That's just what I tell all my friends in the hobby. There tanks finally start to look good, and then they want to change something drastically like a new live rock set up or something. Why touch it when its doing good?

Doing good amounts of casual water changes, not adding all this stupid chemicals out there, get a good skimmer, use the least amount of pads possible, and keep good flow. That's all key.

 

[JBL]

I try not to go away on vacation.....


Really though, having someone checking it everyday or every other day is the best solution. Recently a member of another forum came home to his electricity turned off, and his apartment was 45 degrees. Needless to say lost all his livestock and corals. Wound up the power company turned off the electric to the wrong apartment while he was away.
Personally, a web cam is the best solution for the worriest of worry warts... Like me.

 

[guarda]

Here's an indirect tip. Make friends on MR you can trust. I know it's hard for the typical New Yorker; I'm a native myself, but if you're good to people, they will be good to you. In less than a year, I've made a few friends I can give my apt keys to when I go away. I'm not saying to be a chump either...

 

[sillysidewinder]

2) if the person caring for your fish is inexperienced, show them 1/3 the amount of food you really want them to feed.

That's funny, and so true!

I'm really liking the responses, these are all very useful things.

 

[James]

good post josh,

My advice was going to be what Randy and Arthur already said. Easy checklist, (the 1/3 food thing is a great idea) and having a trusted reefkeeper to check on your tank(do WCs, check Ato, ETC). I have 2 people from this site who check my stuff when I am away and I do the same to theirs.

 

[marrone]

Also if you're running a skimmer I would dial it down. that way if something happens in the tank, a coral or fish dying, coral sliming or maybe a snail spawning, it wouldn't cause the skimmer to go crazy and over flow.

 

[sillysidewinder]

how about battery back-up? Would it be helpful to plug the powerhead or anything else into that?

 

[Imbarrie]

Whenever I leave town I have my father-in-law, a non-reefer, feeds the tank.

I normally include frozen food when I feed but when he has to feed it's only flake and pellet food. I will portion the food into individual dixie cups so there is no fear of the tank getting over fed.