Advice For A Long Time Away

[ellebelle]

I was supposed to be out of town from 5/27 to 7/9, but I just found out that I'm going to be away until sometime during the first week in August. I'm not too worried about my tank because I have a roommate who is willing to feed the fish and fill up my ATO bucket, etc.

There are only two things I'm worried about. When I was only going to be gone for 6 weeks, I figured I'd just do a big water change before I left, and then do another big one as soon as I got back. In this case, I'm going to be gone for two months ... how long do you think my tank can go without a water change?

Secondly, I have two non-photosynthetic corals - sun polyps and a yellow finger gorgonian. I don't feel bad asking my roommate to toss in some food for the fish, but I feel bad asking her to feed each individual sun polyp or gently brush off the surface of my gorgonian with my baby toothbrush.

Anyone have any idea how I could manage these things?

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Return your Argentinian gift and have Alex help you out. J/K J/K

 

[bad coffee]

Yup. put those guys in foster care while you're gone. Then have someone do a water change during the time. Also, you're going to be gone for the hot summer months. Think about heat, and preventative measures you can take now.

B

 

[ellebelle]

I have a chiller and an AquaController. I'm going ot have to automate heating control.

 

[crox99]

You should definately give me the sun polyps and a yellow finger gorgonian. :Hydrogen:

 

[bad coffee]

Lissa, did the DC8 work? has eric gotten it to you yet?

B

 

[ellebelle]

Nope, Eric hasn't gotten it to me yet. So, I guess I should say... I HOPE I will have everything on an aquacontroller....

 

[PalmTree]

Like B said I would have someone take care of your more needy corals. Thats the best bet if your room mate isn't into getting her hands wet. LMK if you need a sitter.

 

[House of Laughter]

I would rely on a couple of reefers (ones you feel are knowledgeable and trustworty to your husbandry practices) who would be willing to assist your roomate - that would be my best recommendation

I would also have that group over for cold beer to show them the innerts of your system.

JMO

House

 

[prattreef]

Don't stress the water change, BUT I would strongly encourage you to instruct your roommate to feed half as much as you think is really necessary. Non- hobbyists almost always overfeed despite what you tell/show them. I'd also have someone baby sit the non-photo corals, and have some one periodically check on things/ empty skimmer etc.

 

[ellebelle]

Well, Eric will probably stop by once per week for me, and I'm making my roommate food cubes that she can just toss in the tank for me (basically, I'm going refreeze a combination of foods in RO water so she can just dump it in the tank).

She's actually a pretty good fish-carer, mostly because she's really afraid something is going to die while I'm away and I'll blame her. She did okay when I was in South Africa for a month with just periodic check ups by Eric. It will be easier this time because I'm setting up an ATO w/ the new tank. It's just that the last time I went, the neediest coral I had was a lobo that had lost all of it's bright colors in my absence. That was an easy fix, and I got it looking a-okay in a couple of weeks. I think you guys are right and I'm going to have to put the non-photosynthetics into foster care for a few months.

 

[OBTEPPER]

help

call me if you need help and certainly give your roomate my office number or cell for any emergencies. still have chaeto?

 

[ellebelle]

Thank Alex. I do still have cheato, and I'll try to bring some by tonight or tomorrow evening.

 

[OBTEPPER]

thanks

thanks, i'll call you if someone goes into labor