Anyone using automatic feeders for flakes/pellets?

[moppy]

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.

[kien]

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

[The Grizz]

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

[Werbo]

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?

[The Grizz]

Originally Posted by Tyler Werbowski

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.

[Delphinus]

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.

[mike31154]

Originally Posted by Tyler Werbowski

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?

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.

[Werbo]

Originally Posted by mike31154

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.

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.

[mike31154]

Originally Posted by Tyler Werbowski

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.

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

[darb]

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.

Originally Posted by Tyler Werbowski

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?

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