Leaving for 2 months, reef will be left in hands of friend. very afriad. need advice!

[Chiefmcfuz]

Ultimately you need someone who can in fact check the tank in the morning and in the evening and also in the event there is a power outage you need some sort of backup system, you also need someone who has experience with reef and marine aquaria as well as freshwater aquaria, plus you also need someone whom you would not be "very afraid" to leave your tanks with. I know if I were very afraid to leave my tank in someone elses care, they wouldn't be taking care of my tank.

 

[HD Fatboy?]

Been there done that....No power failures....no nonething...eccept neglect....Sorry dont do it....

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

If the power goes out, your AC turns off, when it comes back on do you have to turn it back on or will it go automatically? Do you have battery backups for your tanks? I would suggest you get some. I would ask someone here that you trust to take care of the tanks maybe throw them a few bucks or a frag or 2 to cover their time and labor. Many vendors here have servicing businesses too you could contract them out for a couple of months, it will cost you but it's better to pay for quality care then have to replace all of your livestock.

 

[Marteen]

I'd say have someone come over to feed it every other day and check on the tank. Then have a aquarium maintenance company like Manhattan Aquariums or something come over and do maintenance twice a month or so. You can have your friend call them if something goes awry and fill your ATO resevoir as well. My best advice for you would be feed less a lot less then you normally feed.

Almost all of the corals you listed require no to very minimum feeding. Maybe have your friend feed your frogspawn once a week but that would be it. I would feed your single clown maybe two or three pellets every other day. The less food you put into your system the lower the chance of some kind of disaster from overfeeding. Instruct your friend very carefully in how to feed or better yet get one of those monthly pill boxes and put each days ration in it's own separate case.

I don't think you have to break it down and take it somewhere else or anything, but just leave good instructions. See if you can't get some local members to leave their numbers to call in case something happens. I know there are a lot of member in manhattan that would help you out, where are you located?

 

[IFoundNemo]

I have already made sure the AC would turn back on after the power goes off. It turns back on like nothing happened.

I am going to separate food for every other day into little paper cups for all of my tanks, its better that way since its so long and the person feeding my fish wouldn't just be guessing. The pillbox is a good idea for the reef tank.

I am not leaving until the end of May, so I have a lot of time to make a final desicion.

 

[Jdubbs]

I'd say have someone come over to feed it every other day and check on the tank. Then have a aquarium maintenance company like Manhattan Aquariums or something come over and do maintenance twice a month or so. You can have your friend call them if something goes awry and fill your ATO resevoir as well. My best advice for you would be feed less a lot less then you normally feed.

Almost all of the corals you listed require no to very minimum feeding. Maybe have your friend feed your frogspawn once a week but that would be it. I would feed your single clown maybe two or three pellets every other day.


+2 - Ask Jim from house of fish to stop by once a week (maybe be a couple of bucks but worth the piece of mind - he's usually by pratt institute)- and have your friend feed daily. a lot can go wrong, especially with no chiller and the small tank.

BTW - I've never fed my frogspawn and its never looked healthier :splitspin

 

[IFoundNemo]

BTW - I've never fed my frogspawn and its never looked healthier :splitspin

Me too, I used to feed it once a month, but I stopped when I was trying to get my nitrates and phosphates down. I haven't fed since and they are thriving, and my frogspawn grows a new head practically every month. They sustain themselves with the symbiotic algae.