Holiday top ups

[smidoid]

Anyone have any advice on what do when I go away on me hols? I fancy doing some sort of automated RO/DI water top up for the sump (any existing design would be a start!)

How about the fish though - how long can you starve the carnivores before they start to see the inverts as, well, lunch?

[zhenya]

Marc,
I think,you being in UK and all, it would be a good idea if you looked into one of Tunze's osmolator units. They are snap to install and you;ll be set for the top off.

As far as feeding fish, aside from asking a friend or family member to feed them...there are some feeders that release food every day( you program the time). Some are floating units but I like the ones that could be cliped to the front glass or something like that.
Check some of our sponsors for ideas www.premiumaquatics or www.marinedepot.com .There are others as well that you can get some ideas from, as far as equipment goes. ;)

[smidoid]

Neat! Thanks Gene. I'll look those up right away.

[smidoid]

Weeeeeel. I checked the Tunze and you're right, they'll do the job. The only snag is the price: £120ish is about £100 more than I can make one for (and, more to the point, £100 more than I can actually afford!). I have a few other projects to add to this tank and I guess I can get a family member to feed the livestock at a pinch (but a feeder will take priority if not).

Nevertheless, I'm glad you suggested that one because it's implies an (optical) sensor that I hadn't even thought of trying. I tried a float (*for a toilet*) already and that failed due to the low pressure feed.

[ANGRY JOHN]

depending on how long you will be gone you can use a five gallon bucket or a rubbermaid container a short piece of tubing and a kent float valve. i use these for a safty switch on my ro di so i dont make a mess but should do the job. if someone is comming over they could check the bucket and refill if nessary.

[smidoid]

Where da ya get the kent float valve from John? That sounds like just the ticket - although I'm pretty intrigued by a solid-state option as a little project. I've figured out a couple of possibilities but they're both a little complex.

Strikes me that with a bit of imagination, you could adapt a top-up system into a slow water change system that could pump out dirty water and replace it with virgin brine over several hours or even days.

Course, the practicality of that does depend to some extent on the size of the tank (+sump) as you have to have two water containers. Unless you have access to dump the "dirty" water directly - which I do if I drill a small hole in the outside wall.

Thinking on it, this does sound like a plan... but I've probably missed something important.

[John Hamilton]

What you really need to do is hire someone like me to make sure all is well. I own a petcare business in Houston Texas, a little far for you though.

[smidoid]

LOL! Yes, it is a bit. The airfare would be a killer - not to mention the carbon footprint I'd be responsible for. The other alternative is REAL SHORT vacations. I don't trust anyone other than my missus around the tank; everyone I know tends to overfeed!

[John Hamilton]

Not that it really matters, but I tend to do EXACTLY what I'm told when it comes to other peoples homes and animals. I came to a realization the other day. I was interviewing with two clients and within an hour I had keys to both their homes and they don't know me from Jack. They never asked for references, to see who I am bonded and insured with, nothing. Just because I have a website and put some pet sitter asociation logos on there, I am legit. Well anyway I figured that if I were a burglar, that would be my front. My uncle suggested setting up a meth lab instead.