How do you dose while on vacation?

[NaClH2oTANK]

i was thinking of adding the kalk, both parts of the b ionic and the magnesium to my top off water.
This way when my neighbor tops off the tank, she'll be dosing(somewhat) as well.
Is there a problem with adding those all together then adding that sollution to the tank.
it would probably be about one gallon a day.
I guess i would add 1/2 the normal amount of 6 days(thats how long ill be gone) worth of dosing.
not full strength just in case...

also, is there a problem putting those chemicals together for a week and not using them immediately?

what does every one else do?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

They should be dosed separately. I usually test and dose right before I leave and as soon as I get back. Then again I usually don't go away for more that 5 days.

 

[noodleman]

don't mix them together in your topoff! I have a dosing pump for my tank :flower:

 

[ScottK]

Yeah, a dosing pump is the way to go. They are spendy, but worth it in the long run.

Do you know your weekly consumption rate for CA and ALK? In other words, how much would they go down in a week if nothing in added? You might be ok by just dosing right before you leave and as soon as you get back.

 

[bad coffee]

if you mix b-ionic parts A and B together, the calcium will precipitate out and make the solution worthless to dose.

Since you're only going for a week, I'd just make a weak solution of kalkwasser. If you make it normal strength, and your neighbor happens to add too much top off water, it could raise your pH suddenly.

I have a litermeter, and will never go back to manual top off.

B

 

[Solace Aquatics LLC]

I agree, doser.

The LiterMeter III is a great choice. You can also add a top off module to it.

 

[ming]

calcium reactor doses continuously for me

 

[Solace Aquatics LLC]

calcium reactor doses continuously for me

Same here, I run a GEO 618, but some people are not ready for the switch from 2 part to a calcium reactor.

In which case, the next runner up to a CA Reactor is a good doser. There are many cheap dosers on the market, but I have noticed the cheaper they are, the less reliable they are as well.

 

[autoponicz]

i have a used nano reactor that im about to setup but waiting for some parts due to poor packaging from the seller...its the (ASD CARxNANO)
http://www.aquaticsystemsdesign.com/product_view.php?model=carxnano

but im going on vacation next week and im just gonna throw my younger cousins a a few $$ and teach them to dose and check my top off reservior....shows them a bit about reefing and responsibility..

 

[NaClH2oTANK]

thanks for all the ideas.
i think im gonna set up to 5 gallon containers and have her top off with equal amounts from each

Same here, I run a GEO 618, but some people are not ready for the switch from 2 part to a calcium reactor.

things arent always what they seem. I want a calcium reactor. but i live in an apartment and have already flooded out my neighbors with a faulty pump overflowing my sump and draining my tank. so no sump for me.and as far as i know, there are no self contained 100 % spill proof reactors(or protien skimmers).


and good luck with your younger cousins auto... you might want to wait till you got back before you set it up for the first time though

 

[ming]

thanks for all the ideas.
i think im gonna set up to 5 gallon containers and have her top off with equal amounts from each





things arent always what they seem. I want a calcium reactor. but i live in an apartment and have already flooded out my neighbors with a faulty pump overflowing my sump and draining my tank. so no sump for me.and as far as i know, there are no self contained 100 % spill proof reactors(or protien skimmers).


and good luck with your younger cousins auto... you might want to wait till you got back before you set it up for the first time though

I don't see how a reactor can overflow. It should be enclosed with the output going to your tank.
For the skimmer, AquaC made a collection cup which stops air from getting sucked once the collection cup gets full therefore stopping the bubbles and no overflow.

 

[NaClH2oTANK]

I don't see how a reactor can overflow. It should be enclosed with the output going to your tank.
For the skimmer, AquaC made a collection cup which stops air from getting sucked once the collection cup gets full therefore stopping the bubbles and no overflow.

i dont have a sump.
and if i had a calcium reactor without a sump, theres always a chance somethign would go wrong.
a line pops off, something cracks, theres an earthquake,

the point is i cannot have a water pump inside the tank pump water to equipment outside the tank and be absolutely sure there can never be any type of mishap or forgotten something that would result in another flood.

capiche?

 

[NaClH2oTANK]

oh, and, yes i do currently have a closed loop system with a really minimal chance of a problem, but, its the only chance im willing to take. and a tank without all the other things isnt possible for me without it.

 

[ming]

i dont have a sump.
and if i had a calcium reactor without a sump, theres always a chance somethign would go wrong.
a line pops off, something cracks, theres an earthquake,

the point is i cannot have a water pump inside the tank pump water to equipment outside the tank and be absolutely sure there can never be any type of mishap or forgotten something that would result in another flood.

capiche?

Sure, something can crack, but so can your display tank. And in the event of an earthquake, a sump or sumpless tank will probably both have issues. :irked:
There's a way to secure everything and with proper precautions taken, you can setup redundancy as a prevenative measure, but certain level of common sense also needs to included in the equation.
For example, I wouldn't use hang on overflows because its dependent upon a siphon which can break with air. I rather reef ready because nothing stops gravity. I also block the top of the overflow box of light to prevent algae from growing in the overflow so it doesn't get clogged, and no fish can jump in there. For those who wants to be more secure, you can have an extra hole as a backup if one clogs for some obscure reason. For any connections which use a hose, connect it with the appropriate hose barb and then always use a hose clamp. The calcium reactor has tubing adapters which need to be screwed on so its very secure.
The same goes with temp, you would need a controller that controls your heater in the event of a malfunction, and your lights if the water gets too hot from the summer heat.
If I had to guess, 95+% of floods occur from something they didn't do above.
I've had 2 floods from my tanks and both which was from a hang on overflow box and siphon breaking. I will never use them again, but some people claim success with them, but I won't chance it again.

In the end though, I guess its entirely on how comfortable you feel with it, so good luck with your sumpless tank!

 

[NaClH2oTANK]

ugh
whatever

 

[autoponicz]

lol...
if you dont have someone checking on your tank..then the vacation will be a bit uneasy...
but you have a sumpless tank so shouldnt have any spills....and your only worry is top-off and 2-part...so find someone to help you out and show them what needs to be done....good luck..

 

[Wes]

a properly designed sump will never overflow...regardless of pump failures, etc.

back on topic, i use litermeter III

 

[NaClH2oTANK]

thanks auto
the uneasyness about that isnt just while im away though.
but ive got that under control.

Wes,
im sorry to have to disagree with you.i know its easy to make a statement but i have to wonder how many sumps and tanks you have set up.
not only that, but every situation is different.
a "properly" designed sump may not be possible for everyone.
especially for those of us in apartments with limited room.
theres no way you can create a sump with absolute zero chance of overflow.
NO WAY
wait, let me take that back
no reasonable way.
if i had a sump with a capcity more than the tank, yes. that would work.
or if the intake AND returns were high in the tank so if they started to siphon out for any reason the amount siphoned would be minimal or would only fill the sump, not overflow it.
if you think you can rely on check valves to keep you safe, you cant.
no check valve is 100 percent. they only buy you time.

the return from the circ pump has 6 outlets. 2 on bottom 2 in middle and 2 on top.
they come in through the bottom and branch off. 4 of them are inbetween and under and behind the live rock so that the live rocks constantly gets water circulated through it.
so if there is a problem, the water will siphone out, even with check valves.
unfortunately

its not that i dont appreciate the advice, but some people here dont seem to realize how different people live.

 

[Wes]

or if the intake AND returns were high in the tank so if they started to siphon out for any reason the amount siphoned would be minimal or would only fill the sump, not overflow it.

This is the proper way to do it...And not very difficult.

Most people have their systems set up like this (including me), which is why i made my statement about a properly designed system.

It is not posible to overflow my sump unless the bottom of the tank falls out and everything dumps into it.

Wes,
im sorry to have to disagree with you.i know its easy to make a statement but i have to wonder how many sumps and tanks you have set up.
not only that, but every situation is different.
a "properly" designed sump may not be possible for everyone.
especially for those of us in apartments with limited room..

I have 850 sq ft., the sump is underneath my tank in the stand, space has nothing to do with it.