Vacation equipment.

[Richard Periut]

Hi all,

Will be going on vac for two weeks, and I need a timer for the MH
lighting, and an automatic feeder. I have a yellow tang, 2 chromies,
feeder crew, and some corals.

Any suggestions with respect to models, price, et cetera. I went to
Radio Shack but the timers didn't convince me. I was wondering what is
popular here in the NG.

I don't want you to do my homework; just a few sites that I may browse
or your own personal experience.

Thanks in advance.

Rich

[Richard Periut]

Pszemol wrote:

> "Richard Periut" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>> Will be going on vac for two weeks, and I need a timer for the MH
>> lighting, and an automatic feeder. I have a yellow tang, 2 chromies,
>> feeder crew, and some corals.
>>
>> Any suggestions with respect to models, price, et cetera. I went to
>> Radio Shack but the timers didn't convince me. I was wondering what is
>> popular here in the NG.
>>
>> I don't want you to do my homework; just a few sites that I may browse
>> or your own personal experience.
>
>
> I will tell you what I have:
> - heavy duty digital timer by Intermatic, model DT17C ($19@ Home Depot)
> - automatic feeder by EHEIM, model 3581 (about $45-50 in online stores)
>
> I am very happy with these choices.
>
> Used to have chepo timer with mechanical dial/switches but they did not
> stand the load and crap out too often. The one I have now can stand
> 15Amps of current and has proper grounded output circuit. Just regular
> 3-prong socket not the 2 prong one in cheap timers... They are not worth
> the price and $19 is not a big deal for a timer which will last forever.
>
> The feeder takes 2xAA, easy to configure and holds a lot of food even for
> the longest vacations ever. It vents fresh air into the food container
> so the
> food stays dry and fresh. Highly recommend.


Thanks. It just hit me though, I have not considered water loss. I'm
thinking of taking a large 5 gallon food grade bucket, fill it with 3
gallons of RO/DI water, position it on the corner of the tank, and run
experiments to calculate the drip rate with the vacation time. I usually
add 1 gallon every 4 days. I'll be away for 10 days; so figure dripping
in 2.5 gallons during those 10 days, who cares if the 29 galloon is
behind a gallon when I come back. Problem is that as the bucket empties,
the pressure over the spigot is less. Any bright ideas?

TIA,

Rich

[Pszemol]

"Richard Periut" > wrote in message ...
> Will be going on vac for two weeks, and I need a timer for the MH
> lighting, and an automatic feeder. I have a yellow tang, 2 chromies,
> feeder crew, and some corals.
>
> Any suggestions with respect to models, price, et cetera. I went to
> Radio Shack but the timers didn't convince me. I was wondering what is
> popular here in the NG.
>
> I don't want you to do my homework; just a few sites that I may browse
> or your own personal experience.

I will tell you what I have:
- heavy duty digital timer by Intermatic, model DT17C ($19@ Home Depot)
- automatic feeder by EHEIM, model 3581 (about $45-50 in online stores)

I am very happy with these choices.

Used to have chepo timer with mechanical dial/switches but they did not
stand the load and crap out too often. The one I have now can stand
15Amps of current and has proper grounded output circuit. Just regular
3-prong socket not the 2 prong one in cheap timers... They are not worth
the price and $19 is not a big deal for a timer which will last forever.

The feeder takes 2xAA, easy to configure and holds a lot of food even for
the longest vacations ever. It vents fresh air into the food container so the
food stays dry and fresh. Highly recommend.

[Pszemol]

"Richard Periut" > wrote in message ...
> Thanks. It just hit me though, I have not considered water loss. I'm
> thinking of taking a large 5 gallon food grade bucket, fill it with 3
> gallons of RO/DI water, position it on the corner of the tank, and run
> experiments to calculate the drip rate with the vacation time. I usually
> add 1 gallon every 4 days. I'll be away for 10 days; so figure dripping
> in 2.5 gallons during those 10 days, who cares if the 29 galloon is
> behind a gallon when I come back. Problem is that as the bucket empties,
> the pressure over the spigot is less. Any bright ideas?

Do you have any neighbours/friends/family ? This would be easiest.

Other than that, I would not risk your self-adjusting dripper bucket idea.

I would rather install a level switch activating a pump lifting water
out from your bucket to the tank, making sure the output from the
tubing does not touch the water in the tank (to not make a syphon
back to the bucket). To prevent the switch cycling on/off like crazy
with water level just activating it you could add another timer and
set the water adjusting pump to go on once/twice a day, with the
switch limiting the amount of water added.

How much time you have left to prepare before leaving ?

Anyway, for 10 days I would ask somebody to visit your house
and check if there was nothing bad during your stay out of town...
Everything might happen, there could be a leak, power outage,
pump seizure - I have automated many functions in my tank but
I still ask my friend to check things up couple of times a week
when I am gone...

[George Patterson]

Richard Periut wrote:
>
> Problem is that as the bucket empties,
> the pressure over the spigot is less. Any bright ideas?

What I do with my rabbits is to tie a water bottle upside down with the end
inserted in the bowl. When the water level in the bowl falls below the end of
the bottle, air will enter the bottle and water will come out until the level in
the bowl rises and covers the end of the bottle again. Works like a water cooler.

So, rig a stand to hold a bottle of some sort with the end in your tank.

George Patterson
Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to
use the Internet and he won't bother you for weeks.