The Ultimate Vacation Aquarium Checklist for Saltwater Aquariums

A couple of weeks before your vacation (no less than one week before departure), we recommend you do the following tasks:

• Perform a water change
• Clean pumps (do not forget your ATO pump)
• Clean float switches and water sensors
• Ensure all electrical cords are correctly labeled
• Ensure temperature probes are secured and will not move or come out of the water
• Ensure that backup batteries are adequately charged and in working condition (a better option is an emergency generator)
• Monitor tank temperature to ensure that heaters are working properly
• Ensure your system has two heater thermostats (NEVER connect an unmonitored heating rod to a controller without having a second thermostat)
• Ensure cooling fans are working properly
• Ensure that leak detector(s) are in good working condition
• Purchase inexpensive web cameras and place them outside and inside the sump cabinet
• Give a friend in the hobby a heads up that you are leaving in case of emergency
• Show your tank sitter what to do in person or provide them with prerecorded instructions
• Email your tank sitter with written instructions on how to care for your tank
• Perform a power-loss test to ensure that your tank equipment, sump capacity, and backup battery are working correctly
• Ensure your controller configuration and alarms are working correctly
  TIP: Do not overuse the audible alarm. Remember that you are not there to turn off the beeping sound, which could be annoying to neighbors.
  • Leak Alarm
  • Skimmer cup or waste collector alarm
  • Water in sump too high alarm
  • Temperature too high or too low alarm
  • ATO pump ran the too long alarm
  • ATO pump has not run once in the last 24 hours
  • Take advantage of power monitoring features on the controller to ensure that the return pump and heaters are working correctly.