Need Help for a easier to mantain setup.

I currently have a 55gal hex tank with a fluval 305 canister filter and a Eshopps PSK-100H hang on skimmer and a aquatic life Light 24" T5 HO 4 Lamp 2 Lunar
(2) 24" T5 HO 24W 420/460 Lamps
(2) 24" T5 HO 24W 10,000K Lamps
(2) 1W Lunar LED's

I am buying a 75 gal tank tomorrow and was wondering what would be the easiest setup to mantain. I know that I will need a new filter and light. But dont know what I should go with a sump or what ? Because I travel often with the military my gf has to look over my tank while im gone sometimes its only a few days other times its months. I would like to have coral in my tank just want to give them the best care possible. Thanks for any help

 

leighton 1245

the only thing I could suggest is to try and get your lady more involved
because being away for months is not something you want to do , with a tank full of corals IMO

Even a simple HOB / Cannister set up with a good HOB skimmer requires some regular upkeep (emptying skimmers, rinsing media in cannister etc)

things that need to be done
top ups - you could have an ATO , but thats going to need monitoring to make sure there is water in the tub
testing
water changes
cleaning

also trouble shooting
I went away last year for 2 weeks , when I got back, 1 powerhead was not working, and the heater was left unplugged no harm done, but if I had been home, the PH would have been replaced within 24 hours (I have spares) and I would have noticed the temp dropping on my chiller display

the best suggestion I could give you would be
make the new tank a joint venture
get your lady involved
get her interested enough to join 3 reef

and then set your tank up, and when you do go away, your lady will have hopefully have got a grasp of the basics, and will have a place to turn if anything out of the ordinary occurs

Steve

 

Thank you for the advice, She is willing I just wanted to make it easier on her as long as I write a schedule out she will follow it and always sends my daliy updates when im away. Is a HOB skimmer/ canister filter easier to maintain then a sump and skimmer ?

 

there are less components IME , easier to set up
but if your lady is keen, a sump is going to provide additional benefits
extra water thus parameters easier to maintain
oxygenation - more surface area
with a fuge combo - nitrate reduction Via DSB and Macro algae

if your sure she is both keen and interested

go for it, and go for the best system, rather than the one that might on paper seem more convenient

IMO

 

In order to make it easier, you could add an ATO (just fill the reservoir every couple weeks), some dosing pumps (which need calibration, testing and monitoring, but it's easier to do than manual dosing) OR a calcium reactor (pretty much completely automatic), a sump with a refugium (will help with the long term issue of nitrates you'll face with extended periods without water changes) and an extension for the skimmer cup.

Other than that, having your GF get invested is definitely the way to go. Most tanks can survive a week, or maybe two, without maintenance, but none could survive with no maintenance for months except by random chance and luck.

 

Try to involve her in the stocking of the new system, within reason of course.

Keep the bio-load on the low side with fish that do not require feedings as frequently.

Avoid anemones so you do not have to worry about one dying and crashing the whole system.

Get a simple test kit like an API, so she can just dip and look.

Always leave some made up fresh sw and ro/di.

Set heater to 78 to avoid temperature swings for changes in seasons.

Go with the easier LPS and soft corals that can get by without any dosing.

 

Very nice thank you everyone for the help. YAY i get to buy more toys.

 

1. Get a reef ready tank. You won't have to worry about the overflow failing and flooding your house.

2. Get a sump with refugium, ditch the canister filter. You won't need to clean filters or worry about the filter failing.

3. ATO, enough said

4. Don't worry about your g/f testing, once it's up and running you'll get to know exactly how much to dose each day. Automatic dosers are great, but the pumps are expensive. Better yet, just have soft corals and you won't need to worry about dosing.

5. Low bioload. Have smaller fish, no tangs, foxface large angels etc. And dont' have fish that need to be fed frequently, i.e. anthias, chromis, tangs etc.

6. Automatic timers for lights

7. Pre-portion food for feeding in small plastic bags, then you don't have to worry about over feeding.

8. Run carbon/phosphate remover

 

I am military as well. Automation is your friend.
All lights on timers.
A very good skimmer with a drain. This way it can be emptied once a week, if not more.
If you dose, put it on timers. Use a Ca reactor. Or is your load is low enough, don't worry about it. Your growth will slow on extended trips, but it should not crash.
I would also recommend a controller that can send you a message if something is wrong with your tank. This way you can call back and tell her exactly what to look for.