Anyone using automatic feeders for flakes/pellets?
 

If so, which brand and would you recommend buying one?

I just want to be able to drop flakes and or pellets into the tank a couple of times a day in small amounts.

Still going to feed frozen once a day after work.

I've been using a Rena feeder for about 4years and would never go back to manual feeding. I set it up initially for a holiday but never took it off. I've found my fish healthy, water quality higher and everything is on a standard schedule that I think things like.

Where did you get it?

I got mine from blue world here in e-town.

are there any for not flakes of pellets?

I've been using an eheim auto feeder for pellets. Works for flakes too tho. I don't know of any that will dispense non dry foods.

Do you use the smaller one or the double one?

The smaller one.

This ----v
http://www.eheim.com/resources/produ...0118100115.jpg

That seems to be the one getting the best reviews. I think I'll give it a try once i'm up and running.

Thanks.

I've been using them for four years and have never had a problem with them unless I drop it into the tank.. which I seem to do ALL THE TIME :lol:

I'm using this one ATM but wish it had a bigger drum so I didn't have to fill it so often.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/x...psac446810.jpg

I'd like to hook one up but I am worried that the majority of the food would go own my coast-to-coast overflow. I've simulated using one but the pellets do not sink fast enough before going down he overflow.

Anyone experience this?

Try New Era Marine & Algea Pellets ( bought in seperate cans & mix ) they don't float.

I use the Rena as well. What I like about it is that it uses a 12VDB power supply so I never need to worry about changing the batteries.

It feeds 3 times per day, 8 hours apart and has a light sensor so to not dump in at night time. Works great.

Tyler - I have mine drop in from a bit of a height. They fall in fast enough to get under the water surface. From there the pumps mix it up. If I actually use the feed mode timer then most of it goes down the overflow, so I keep the pumps on. This has the added benefit that the food disperses throughout the whole tank. Otherwise my clownfish would never get any because the food would never make it over to their anemone territory.

I fill the rena one every 3-4 months

I have used a Rena as well & it holds less then the one I have. I also have to feed 3 times a day & fill at least once a week.

Really? Which model Hydor Greg? I have a Rena and a Hydor "Ekomixer" or something (as well as the double hopper Eheim you sold me). The Rena holds easily 4x that of the Hydor, and probably about 2x of each single hopper of the Eheim.

I refill about every month or thereabouts..

Thanks guys.

Not exactly sure what model but my Tangs are all pigs & need to feed, they also get 2 algea disc's a day.

Been using this one for a yr now Still same batts. I will soon be getting a Apex, so prob gona get one that I can plug in and let the Apex control the feed, so I can watch through the web cam and feed while I am in camp for my 3wk stints

You need a feeding ring in the water or something similar. This allows the food, especially flakes to soak & sink before floating away into overflows. Although I don't have a sump, I have a skimmer box in my display that I don't want food to float into. I came up with a mounting rig for my Eheim double feeder that incorporates a rectangular acrylic piece that extends into the water. This holds the 'floating' food until it soaks & sinks. A few of my fish have figured out where the food drops now & go after it as soon as it hits the water.

https://tsl4pa.blu.livefilestore.com...86c.JPG?psid=1

https://tsl4pa.blu.livefilestore.com...84c.JPG?psid=1

https://tsl4pa.blu.livefilestore.com...83c.JPG?psid=1

https://tsl4pa.blu.livefilestore.com...81c.JPG?psid=1

I use a coast to coast as well. And reef nutrition sinking pellets don't go over.


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Are there any auto feeders that can be activated by an external controller or timer?

I like the Fish Mate F14 feeders. They store 14 feedings and will feed 1-5 feedings per day. They are not a barrel feeder so they don't dump the whole feeding in at once, it slowly gets fed. The best part is you can feed anything from 1 single pellet/flake per meal or up to almost a tsp (I should measure).

Jason looking into this one, looks promising.

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=96119

There is but strangely there doesn't seem to be too many. This one seems to come up often in searches: http://www.super-feeder.com/asfmodel.html

I have this vague recollection there was a vendor/sponsor on here a few months ago (was it Progressive or Blue World?) that had a tank in the store with a webcam and a web interface to the feeder (up to a maximum feeds per day though). Wonder what they were using ... will have to see if I can find the thread now...

Found it, it's Blue World, but I guess it's a custom thing: http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...9&postcount=83

I have one of this: http://www.super-feeder.com/asfmodel.html
Planning on order one more but $50.00 for shipping is too much.
If any anyone in Edmonton want to do a group buy I am in.
You can use a controller or a timer to controll it.

Thanks for the links, the super feeder looks good but with shipping the price with is pretty steep considering.

I think I have an old rena auto feeder, maybe I'll try modding it first.

You made that feeding ring? Impressive.
I've tried the New Era pellets and I find they are too big for the majority of my small mouthed fish. Guess I'll have to make a feeding ring for my small sinking pellets that do not sink fast enough.

I am using the Eheim single and also strongly recommend it.

I also bought the Hydor unit online and never used it and it is sitting BNIB ...

weak points on it include:
- need an air pump if you want to circulate air through chamber
- no bracket to mount on rim of tank, you need to sit it on a flat surface
- not exactly programmable feeding times, there are pre-set spacings which you must use and if you want to go with 4 feedings, that puts you on a 12, 14 or 16 hour schedule, can't recall exactly which one.


You could try using a feeding ring below the outlet to control your float away factor.

I have the eheim sitting in a box somewhere as I bought it and never set it up. I like the idea of the feeding ring. Picturing the flakes getting dumped in the tank and watching them float right into the overflow is the reason I haven't bothered testing the eheim out yet. Maybe I should give it a try this week.

I use both the Hydor and Nutrifin feeders.

The Hydor feeder is amazing. Works flawlessly.

Both feeders are feeding NLS pellet (Finicky Eaters). They are a perfect feeder pellet.

Your info on Hydor is not accurate. The air hose is an option. Reduces humidity therefore drier flakes. I never use and no issues. Not a weak point.

The feeder option is ... One feeding, two feeding, three feeding. All feedings
Are from first feeding (power on) and spaced out over 8hrs. Or 12.

Quite easy to use. No extra buttons.

It keeps your feedings limited to lights on.



Ditch flakes and rings. Get a quality pellet.

If you don't want to make a feeding ring, you should be able to find one at your LFS. I purchased one before I made the bracket for my autofeeder, they're very inexpensive. They're simply a plastic ring floated by styrofoam & attach to the inside of the tank with a suction cup.

And... it took a prototype or two & a good measure of cussing before I ended up with the final product as shown in the photos.

Here's a link to the cheapo one you can buy.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pcatid=6280

It is if you do need to circulate air through to manage moisture in the drum which I imagine is an issues for some locations such as say Ontario in the summer. The Eheim has a built in air circulation unit so you don't have to run a separate air pump if you do need that feature, if you are not already running air.

My NLS pellets float for a bit, so only quality pellets sink right away? Personally I would like to see a gradual sinking to the bottom, not fall to the bottom like a rock. But that al would depend on the feeding habits of the fish you have I suppose ...

I've been using Rena auto feeders for about 4 years also and would recommend them.

Where did you get these Greg? I have used the Eheim singles and I have killed 3 of them now.