Going on a 2 week vacation
- Thread starter Liam
- Start date
Hello Liam,
:welcome:
Does your system utilize a sump? - Is your system capable of running without it for this period of time?
How about an an automatic water leveling system, do you have one in place already? - If so, what does it consist of?
This has been my bane when it comes to vacations if you can't tell...
Norm
:welcome:
Does your system utilize a sump? - Is your system capable of running without it for this period of time?
How about an an automatic water leveling system, do you have one in place already? - If so, what does it consist of?
This has been my bane when it comes to vacations if you can't tell...
Norm
cvp7900":pkd0jcvf said:
You can leave a car battery (or a few parallel batteries http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_6/chpt_3/3.html) connected to a power inverter, connected to an automatic transfer switch http://www.pacificgeek.com/product.asp?c=216&s=1066&ID=21961&P=F as the secondary source.
Test everything before you leave!
the most important vacation system you can buy is a TRAINED NEIGHBOR.
Start showing someone what to do, when to do it... and what to do in emergancy.
Ask them to logg everything too ( more for their memory than anything).
other than that buy a timer for your lights and you should be set. The only thing your neighbor should have to do is to top offs everyday. (expain that everything dies if they forget).
B.
Start showing someone what to do, when to do it... and what to do in emergancy.
Ask them to logg everything too ( more for their memory than anything).
other than that buy a timer for your lights and you should be set. The only thing your neighbor should have to do is to top offs everyday. (expain that everything dies if they forget).
B.
If you choose to use a neighbor then go to CVS or equivalent and get a "pill box" or two. They are labeled by days and times and can be used to ration food for the entire period you are gone. Get another for the freezer if you mix with frozen foods or anything like that. This will eliminate the possibility of over feeding as you will predetermine the amount. Then have him/her use a turkey baster to pull water from the tank into the compartment for the day to thaw the food if needed. Then use the turkey baster to release the food into the water column. This will make feeding as simple as possible and you won't have to rely on an automated feeder.
Greetings again Liam,
You indicated you don't have a sump but asked about a water leveling system.... (Sorry, but this is gonna be really long...)
I'll be quite honest, I don't use a fully automated system quite yet. - I just use a 5 gallon Kent "Aquadose" and try to set the drip rate at something that won't overfill, but will keep dripping steady. Theres an art to it and its not one you'll likely master before your vacation. - Nothing personal, but it does take a while getting the "feel" of it - even if you can quickly formulate your necessary drip rate. - For instance, I require a rate of ~1 drip / 4 seconds @ "average" humidity.. - Yeah, it takes a while to get the hang of it...
Moving on to ones I haven't used, but would recommend looking into...
One that looks really good to me (and also has great reviews) is the Reef Fanatic level controller w/ 2 float switches.
In all honesty though, I probably won't be going with this one myself.. - I'm a lot lazier than that and I'm looking at a system that I won't have to do JACK {squat} with once its in place...
What I'm looking at is something like the "SpectraPure Multiple Tank Liquid Replenisher" which basically hooks directly to your RO/DI water feed so you're not still left lugging water to a reservoir which then feeds to the tank.
The only worries I have with that Spectrapure I linked to above, is that it uses an air pressure switch.. - I'm not keen on those.. - For instance, say a snail gets wedged in there or something... - Phhffft! - Done. - Stuck on or stuck off, either way you're toast. - No, I want something a LOT more reliable than that.
What I intend to go with will basically be my own hybrid since I have yet to find a single kit that does all I want. - So I'll eventually be getting 2 RO drinking water kits with one of the pressurized tanks feeding directly to the sump. (The other will be for actual drinking water.)
The reason behind this is that it will put less strain on the actual RO membrane as the sump level float "flutters" around a full open or close to keep the tank level. - Instead, the RO should actually only engage and produce water when the pressurized feed tank gets low.
Sorry to be so long-winded, it gets pretty complicated the more "simple" you want to make it...
But really.. - The truly simple solution is to go with a tank sitter. - But heres where I stray from what some of the others have said.. - DO NOT GO WITH SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A REEFER THEMSELVES. - Been there, done that, I will NOT do it EVER again. - I did it twice, both with near disastrous results, all introduced by the sitters who (despite being told many times and having excellent documentation with small words, big pictures) took it on themselves to "fix" something that wasn't broken. - And these weren't kids by any stretch of the imagination either.. :?
Whatever you decide... - The #1 thing is.. - Forget about it while you're on vacation. - The point of vacation is to get away and unwind. - Whatever happens, happens.. - You can deal with it when you get back.
Enjoy it!
Norm
You indicated you don't have a sump but asked about a water leveling system.... (Sorry, but this is gonna be really long...)
I'll be quite honest, I don't use a fully automated system quite yet. - I just use a 5 gallon Kent "Aquadose" and try to set the drip rate at something that won't overfill, but will keep dripping steady. Theres an art to it and its not one you'll likely master before your vacation. - Nothing personal, but it does take a while getting the "feel" of it - even if you can quickly formulate your necessary drip rate. - For instance, I require a rate of ~1 drip / 4 seconds @ "average" humidity.. - Yeah, it takes a while to get the hang of it...
Moving on to ones I haven't used, but would recommend looking into...
One that looks really good to me (and also has great reviews) is the Reef Fanatic level controller w/ 2 float switches.
In all honesty though, I probably won't be going with this one myself.. - I'm a lot lazier than that and I'm looking at a system that I won't have to do JACK {squat} with once its in place...
What I'm looking at is something like the "SpectraPure Multiple Tank Liquid Replenisher" which basically hooks directly to your RO/DI water feed so you're not still left lugging water to a reservoir which then feeds to the tank.
The only worries I have with that Spectrapure I linked to above, is that it uses an air pressure switch.. - I'm not keen on those.. - For instance, say a snail gets wedged in there or something... - Phhffft! - Done. - Stuck on or stuck off, either way you're toast. - No, I want something a LOT more reliable than that.
What I intend to go with will basically be my own hybrid since I have yet to find a single kit that does all I want. - So I'll eventually be getting 2 RO drinking water kits with one of the pressurized tanks feeding directly to the sump. (The other will be for actual drinking water.)
The reason behind this is that it will put less strain on the actual RO membrane as the sump level float "flutters" around a full open or close to keep the tank level. - Instead, the RO should actually only engage and produce water when the pressurized feed tank gets low.
Sorry to be so long-winded, it gets pretty complicated the more "simple" you want to make it...
But really.. - The truly simple solution is to go with a tank sitter. - But heres where I stray from what some of the others have said.. - DO NOT GO WITH SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A REEFER THEMSELVES. - Been there, done that, I will NOT do it EVER again. - I did it twice, both with near disastrous results, all introduced by the sitters who (despite being told many times and having excellent documentation with small words, big pictures) took it on themselves to "fix" something that wasn't broken. - And these weren't kids by any stretch of the imagination either.. :?
Whatever you decide... - The #1 thing is.. - Forget about it while you're on vacation. - The point of vacation is to get away and unwind. - Whatever happens, happens.. - You can deal with it when you get back.
Enjoy it!
Norm
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