What do you guys do with your tanks on vacation?

We actually set ours up a while ago, I don't even remember how it goes together as its all in like an outlet box thing. It probably cost about 5 to 10 bucks plus the aqualifter. I got the float switch on ebay and a relay from radio shack. Heres a site that has a lot of miscellaneous parts that you can use to build it: AutoTopoff.com. I'm sure if you just google DIY ATO you will find a million plans.

 

This is one of the best ATO's I have ever used. It is not cheap but it is fail proof.
The pump fits nicely in the neck of the 5 gallon water jugs you get from your LFS. So 5 gallons last me about 6-7 days on a 95

Tunze Osmolator Universal 3155

 

I think I'll make a manual top off by putting a pump in a resoviour of rodi water and have the caretaker plug it in till the tank is full again.

 

This will be alright depending on how often this person is coming and also on the temp in your house/rate of evaporation. If a lot is evaporating you will have huge fluctuations in salinity and all the nutrients the salt provides. If you don't feel like building one, you could probably just buy one and sell it when you are back from South America. If you buy a nice one, it shouldn't lose its value tooo much. Why are you going there anyway? Lucky.

 

My mothers from Argentina so we go to see the family every once Ina a while

 

Get a little camera and hang it from the ceiling or in your sump area. They are only like $30 bucks or a little betters ones like $50. You can hook it up to something (forgot the name, sorry) and watch your tank 24/7 to see if everything is doing well! Definitely a good buy! Would highly recommend it!