We went away for a three-day weekend, a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, while away, Ecotank (my fiance) had to have emergency surgery, and spent a week in hospital. So, the three-day trip turned into about eight days. We'd only set up for three days (enough RO topoff, automatic feeder, etc.) on the main tank and the two smaller tanks -- a frag tank and the banggai fry tank.
Once I'd stopped worrying about human medical problems, I started worrying about the fish. I knew the sump would have run dry and the two smaller tanks' salinity would be rising. I had visions of tanks full of dead fish.
Luckily, although the sump had run dry and the overflow had stopped, and one of the powerheads had stopped, there was enough flow to keep all the fish and corals OK. The food had run out, but I knew they'd be fine for a few days without food anyway. Even the banggai fry did OK with the high salinity. The only thing that seems to have suffered is one of the acans that had fallen onto its top at some point. It may come back.
I guess the moral is to make sure you have enough redundancy in case of an emergency. I think next time we may set up a webcam to be able to check on the tanks. We'll probably also have a pet sitter, in case of emergency.
Once I'd stopped worrying about human medical problems, I started worrying about the fish. I knew the sump would have run dry and the two smaller tanks' salinity would be rising. I had visions of tanks full of dead fish.
Luckily, although the sump had run dry and the overflow had stopped, and one of the powerheads had stopped, there was enough flow to keep all the fish and corals OK. The food had run out, but I knew they'd be fine for a few days without food anyway. Even the banggai fry did OK with the high salinity. The only thing that seems to have suffered is one of the acans that had fallen onto its top at some point. It may come back.
I guess the moral is to make sure you have enough redundancy in case of an emergency. I think next time we may set up a webcam to be able to check on the tanks. We'll probably also have a pet sitter, in case of emergency.
