what do you do when you go on vacation?

joander123

what a fruitcake
Jan 12, 2007
1,034
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Massachusetts
hey guys, im going on vacation for a few days, not to long... just a little under a week. And im just wondering what you do when you go on vacation. Im trying to teach my mother what to feed the fish and stuff, and shes listening but doesnt understand why i dont just feed the flakes all the time.

I try to explain it to her, but it doesnt help much.

Anyways though, the fish should be ok, im leaving detailed instructions on what to do. I told her its much much better to under feed than to over feed, so hopefully she will listen to that.

But this got me thinking, what would i do if i had a whole reef system? I mean what would i do if i had a whole bunch of corals that needed proper care and special attention and feeding. Like take a tube coral for instance, recently i've done a lot of reeding on these, and would like to purchase one soon, but what do i do when im on vacation, and i cant really trust anyone else to feed it? Even if i could somehow teach my mother, she doesnt have time to do it everyday, and sometimes will go on vacation with the family as well. I dont really have any friends that i would trust this with, or any neighbors or relatives either.

I know they make automatic dosing systems, but these seem a bit pricey, and do they really do what you need them to do? Like do they feed the corals, or do they just dose calcium and such?

Im just wondering what everyone does when they go on vacation.

-Jay
 
Most reef systems are self dependent with auto feeders for fish, dosers for corals, and auto top off in the sump. They even make self cleaning skimmers. AquaControllers allow for people to login remotely and check tank parameters. They can even email the "sitter" incase something goes wrong.
 
heh no kidding, it amazing some of the stuff they have.

But is all this really necessary to keep a reef running while on vacation? It seems very pricey to have all of these things running. Plus the only time i think i would use them is on vacation, cause i like to feed my fish, and do other stuff as well when im at home, and i can.
 
I certainly wouldn't worry about the money, it pennies when compared to the hundreds you've spent on your coral.
 
hahaha, good points made by both parties =).

river, what would u recommend for products of dosers and auto feeders?
 
I have a local LFS guy who is very knowledgable and has a side business. He cleans and takes care of tanks for people. He costs $27 a week, he will come once a day to feed, and check the tank.
 
I've left paper with instructions on the hood of my tank for my mom when I've left. I'm not sure she completely reads all of it. hehe. but I explain in very simple terms what has to be done. it's always worked out fine.
 
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