3 week vacation - prep plan?

[604reefer]

I'm leaving my tank for the first time (gahhhh! ) and I'm nervous because I'm gone for 23 days. Could you critique my plan?

Background:

- 20 gal, no sump, no refugium
- in-tank protein skimmer and surface skimmer
- LPS and mushrooms only (monti cap should be ok)
- tank has been running very smoothly for 9 months (touch wood)
- friend with no reefing experience is going to check on the tank

Plan:

1. ATO setup with 5g reservoir and more in another bucket in case running low
2. Auto feeder setup, all friend has to do is reload the compartments after day 14 with my set amount from a separate daily pill box
3. Friend to empty/clean skimmer cup/surface skim filter as needed
4. Friend to scrape inside glass w/mag float, avoiding sand
5. Monitor for anything dead and remove (conch/fish primarily)

Concern
No water change over 3 weeks on a 20 gallon. I usually go 7-10 days before a WC. Going to do one tomorrow and one next Wed. Should I feed a little less over the 3 weeks to compensate?

Am I missing anything?

Thanks yall!

[Myka]

Good call on the pill box. I assume that's the FishMate F14 feeder? Good choice!

I like your plan except I would hire someone with reef experience - preferably a professional company - to check in at least once a week. That person is also a go-to if your buddy isn't sure about something.

[ReefMadness]

Originally Posted by Myka

Good call on the pill box. I assume that's the FishMate F14 feeder? Good choice!

I like your plan except I would hire someone with reef experience - preferably a professional company - to check in at least once a week. That person is also a go-to if your buddy isn't sure about something.

i have to agree with this, there is no replacement for someone that can think on their feet and make the right decision should something come up.
otherwise if you do use your friend the only tweak to your plan i would make is to make short cell phone videos for your untrained friend if you can (feeding, emptying skimmate) to save them from issues.

[DKoKoMan]

Originally Posted by ReefMadness

i have to agree with this, there is no replacement for someone that can think on their feet and make the right decision should something come up.
otherwise if you do use your friend the only tweak to your plan i would make is to make short cell phone videos for your untrained friend if you can (feeding, emptying skimmate) to save them from issues.

I have had success with writing down a dummy proof list with detailed explanations. I like the thought of the short videos as it will clearly show what it should look like

[corpusse]

Your plan is good, but I'd test out the friend on scraping the glass and if you don't think they can handle it just have them clean enough in the middle to see in.

I don't think you should be concerned about the lack of water change for 23 days unless the primary reason for the water changes is nutrient removal.

I take it you don't dose and water changes are how you maintain your alk / calcium? How much consumption do you normally have? That would be my only concern but if its a lightly stocked tank you are probably fine.

[philg3]

+1 for making video's. I went away for 10 days and had a friend come over to feed the fish and check on the skimmer cup and top off water. Didn't have any issues but my friend said they watched the video I had made them every single day to make sure they didn't forget anything. Good Luck!