Leaving the country for a Week!

Get someone in the club that knows reef systems to check in on things on a regular basis...once or twice a week.  Point out specific things to your roommate that are indicators that your corals are happy (i.e. good coloration, polyp extension, etc)...as well as indicators when they are not (if you happen to see any before you go).  Knowing when the corals are happy and when they are not will be a huge help so they know when to call someone before things get really bad.  Good luck and enjoy your trip!
--AJ

 

I would agree. I was gone for a week last spring on business and had my wife / kid feed the fish. Since it was spring, I didn't have the house air conditioner on. But, the weather turned warm outside and the house likewise got pretty warm. Consequently, the tank jumped up to 85 degrees. Fortunately, I didn't lose anything, but it could have been bad if I was gone longer. So, since then, I've had club members help out if I'm gone more than a few days at a time.

 

We were gone for a week 3 times last year and had the tank mostly on "autopilot". Used an automatic feeder and the ATO lasts for 6-7 days. I did have someone put a couple of gallons of water in the ATO about mid-week "just in case". I've heard so many horror stories about well meaning "tank sitters" that I thought automation was a better solution! Never had a single issue and everything looked great when we got back (other than the glass needing a good algae cleaning.

 

Matt, I am not far from you and I travel to Slater often. If you need someone to check on it let me know and we can hook up before you leave.

 

Have things cleaned, double-checked and everything as automated as possible. Have someone who knows reef tanks as a back-up person to call, should something go wrong. Make sure you have some towels, spare saltwater made up for emergency water changes. Something can always go wrong, even in the best systems, so make sure to have a number you can be reached at and be sure to keep your phone on or check messages regularly.

 

Document, document, document.  Even though you have told him what to do and when, someone that does not do it regularly will forget - or will be uncertain.  Create a spreadsheet/checklist of what to do daily, every 2-3 days etc.  Have a list of things that could be 'out of the ordinary' and what to do if it happens.  Have contact numbers for an expert locally, so that he can call if he's just not completely sure if he understood something he's supposed to do, or if something might just not be quite right as he remembers it to be.

 

Make sure he has my number! Also pick up an auto feeder unless you think he will keep up on feeding. Do you plan on having the net module before you leave? If so you can give me the address and login so I can check on things from here.

 

Well if it is similar to the Aquacontrollers you will have a website you will link to and then have it password protected. I am not sure how they do the whole network thing on the ReefKeepers so you will have to look into it.

 

If you don't want to get an automatic food dispenser - or if you are feeding frozen - get a weekly pill dispenser - then you can put in the amt you want fed each day.

 

Enjoy your time abroad!