What is the best automatic feeder?

dwillingm · 11/12/2005, 11:00 AM

I would like some input from you guys on which automatic tank feeder is the best one in terms of reliability. Thanks for the help.

LobsterOfJustice · 11/12/2005, 11:41 AM

I have the eheim feed-air and its good. No complaints, just make sure you replace the battery before you go on vacation.

npaden · 11/12/2005, 11:44 AM

The Ehiem is the cadillac of automatic feeders and it really isn't that much more expensive. (They run around $45 online)

You can set it to feed up to 4 times a day and it doesn't get clogged very easy like some do. I use them for my clownfish tanks.

FWIW, Nathan

BMitch · 11/12/2005, 04:32 PM

Another recommendation for the Ehiem here.

dwillingm · 11/12/2005, 04:36 PM

thanks for the info. sounds like im getting an ehiem.

if i have a permament, partially enclosed top on my acrylic tank, will the feeder just sit over the edge of the opening in the top of my tank? i cant mount it to the edge of the aquarium like you would with a glass aquarium.

thanks

Rikko · 11/12/2005, 05:48 PM

My dad ran an Eheim auto feeder for something like 15 years.. Definitely not the same beast that's out there today but probably the same workmanship behind it.

I've used several Nutrafin (Hagen) auto feeders and they are likewise excellent - long battery life and reliability. Just be sure not to buy their cheapo "Nutramatic 2x" feeders - when I was at an LFS they came back in droves with defects.

Louey · 11/12/2005, 05:49 PM

I have the Rondomatic 400. It too can feed up to four times per day. It has no batteries so you don't have to worry about that.

Louey

BMitch · 11/13/2005, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dwillingm
if i have a permament, partially enclosed top on my acrylic tank, will the feeder just sit over the edge of the opening in the top of my tank?

I believe it comes with some velcro so that you can mount the dispenser part over the tank's opening without the worry of the feeder falling in the water.

LobsterOfJustice · 11/14/2005, 07:07 AM

I have mine sitting on my center brace. When I used to have just flakes the weight of the unit was larger than the "feeding hopper" thing, so it stayed. Whe I mixed pellets in with the mix, I had to go out and buy some velcro and attach it to the center brace that way.

sebwin · 11/14/2005, 08:16 AM

Sorry to hijack the thread a bit:

I've always fed my tank frozen cubes e.g. mysis, marine mix etc.
I'm planning on going away for three-four days over Christmas.

Does anyone know what my best options would be in terms of feeding. Should I start weaning them onto a pellet food form or a flake food form in order to work with an auto feeder, if so which ones?

I have 2 Ocealaris, 1 Mandarin (never been able to make him eat anything I've added but seems happy with pods), 1 Midas Blenny, 1 un-hosted BTA.

Many thanks,

Seb

Saltz Creep · 11/14/2005, 08:26 AM

You don't need to wean them off of frozen food. You can make an automatic frozen food feeder using a dorm fridge and cuckoo clock

looser · 11/14/2005, 10:00 AM

Best automatic feeder? A refugium. My fish hang out in front of the return pipe and pick off pods as they come out of the pipe. I feed them once a week. Could easily go two weeks with no fear of them starving.

Steven Pro · 11/14/2005, 10:10 AM

Automatic Feeder Impressions

asnatlas · 01/27/2006, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Steven Pro
Automatic Feeder Impressions

Steve thanks for the link (write up)... I had a question... Say I were to get two of the Eheim 3581 Ã¢â‚¬Å“Feed-AirÃ¢â‚¬Â Digital Automatic Feeders... If I placed one on each end of the tank and set them for different times, Like one day I set it to feed two times , then the next one feeding from each and then the next the other one would feed two times and so on and so forth... I was thinking about setting the feeders up on the euro-brace so that the food would drop down in front of some Tunzes or return Loc-Lines so that the food would get scattered into the tank... What are your thoughts on these ideas ??

Also have you used both the Eheim 3581 and Rainbow Lifegard ?? If so which would you recommend ??

Steven Pro · 01/27/2006, 06:44 AM

Shawn, I have not used the Eheim feeder. The editors of that online publication only used an image of one for more pictures.

acrocrazy · 01/27/2006, 07:45 AM

eheims are the best but if you dont want something sooo expensive crrent makes a feeder called the aquachef and thats decent

asnatlas · 01/27/2006, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by acrocrazy
eheims are the best but if you dont want something sooo expensive crrent makes a feeder called the aquachef and thats decent

I don't mind spending the money as long as the product is good... I live by the saying, you get what you pay forÃ¢â‚¬Â¦

AcroSteve · 05/03/2006, 03:31 AM

Anybody make an acrylic "feeding ring" for the food to drop into?

I just wonder what people do to keep the floating food from going down the overflow.

dwillingm · 05/03/2006, 08:30 AM

the feeding ring is a good idea, i probably lost alot of flake down the overflow.

asnatlas · 05/03/2006, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AcroSteve
Anybody make an acrylic "feeding ring" for the food to drop into?

I just wonder what people do to keep the floating food from going down the overflow.

If you have a controller you could also setup your return pump to turn off around the time your feeder is set for...

EX:

Pump off @ 12:00
Auto Feeder @ 12:05
Pump on @ 12:30

Newreeflady · 05/03/2006, 05:27 PM

Drs. F & S sell a feeding ring. I just purchased one so that I can set up the Aquachef to feed my tank while on vacation. Feeding ring is made by Nutrafin Max, it was pretty cheap, I wouldn't bother making one

-A

11/12/2005, 11:00 AM	#1
dwillingm Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NC Posts: 215	What is the best automatic feeder? I would like some input from you guys on which automatic tank feeder is the best one in terms of reliability. Thanks for the help.

11/12/2005, 11:41 AM	#2
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	I have the eheim feed-air and its good. No complaints, just make sure you replace the battery before you go on vacation. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

11/12/2005, 11:44 AM	#3
npaden Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,511	The Ehiem is the cadillac of automatic feeders and it really isn't that much more expensive. (They run around $45 online) You can set it to feed up to 4 times a day and it doesn't get clogged very easy like some do. I use them for my clownfish tanks. FWIW, Nathan __________________ Check out the Lubbock Reef Club! Maximize Flow, Minimize Velocity! Always get a second opinion (and a 3rd, 4th, etc...) Current Tank Info: 415G 10' display tank w/ 135G refugium/sump New Shed/Greenhouse w/ 1,100g refugium, 100g mangrove tank, 150g sump Several 25g clown growout tanks and 10g hatchout tanks

11/12/2005, 05:48 PM	#6
Rikko Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1,328	My dad ran an Eheim auto feeder for something like 15 years.. Definitely not the same beast that's out there today but probably the same workmanship behind it. I've used several Nutrafin (Hagen) auto feeders and they are likewise excellent - long battery life and reliability. Just be sure not to buy their cheapo "Nutramatic 2x" feeders - when I was at an LFS they came back in droves with defects. __________________ Remember: safety last when you ain't got no money. -- Damon Wayans Current Tank Info: 120 gallon mixed reef; 8 gallon stomatopod nano; 77 gallon freshwater planted

11/14/2005, 07:07 AM	#9
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	I have mine sitting on my center brace. When I used to have just flakes the weight of the unit was larger than the "feeding hopper" thing, so it stayed. Whe I mixed pellets in with the mix, I had to go out and buy some velcro and attach it to the center brace that way. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

11/12/2005, 04:32 PM	#4
BMitch Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles Hills of Anaheim Posts: 353	Another recommendation for the Ehiem here.

11/12/2005, 04:36 PM	#5
dwillingm Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NC Posts: 215	thanks for the info. sounds like im getting an ehiem. if i have a permament, partially enclosed top on my acrylic tank, will the feeder just sit over the edge of the opening in the top of my tank? i cant mount it to the edge of the aquarium like you would with a glass aquarium. thanks

11/12/2005, 05:49 PM	#7
Louey Reefer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Fort Myers Posts: 126	I have the Rondomatic 400. It too can feed up to four times per day. It has no batteries so you don't have to worry about that. Louey

11/14/2005, 08:16 AM	#10
sebwin Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 65	Sorry to hijack the thread a bit: I've always fed my tank frozen cubes e.g. mysis, marine mix etc. I'm planning on going away for three-four days over Christmas. Does anyone know what my best options would be in terms of feeding. Should I start weaning them onto a pellet food form or a flake food form in order to work with an auto feeder, if so which ones? I have 2 Ocealaris, 1 Mandarin (never been able to make him eat anything I've added but seems happy with pods), 1 Midas Blenny, 1 un-hosted BTA. Many thanks, Seb __________________ ----- Don't push the river, It flows by itself -----

11/14/2005, 08:26 AM	#11
Saltz Creep Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hickville, FL Posts: 3,728	You don't need to wean them off of frozen food. You can make an automatic frozen food feeder using a dorm fridge and cuckoo clock

11/14/2005, 10:00 AM	#12
looser Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Central MA Posts: 933	Best automatic feeder? A refugium. My fish hang out in front of the return pipe and pick off pods as they come out of the pipe. I feed them once a week. Could easily go two weeks with no fear of them starving. __________________ "Honey, get the kids out of the house. . . . the fish tank is about to explode!" Current Tank Info: 225 with 75 Fuge

11/14/2005, 10:10 AM	#13
Steven Pro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 9,376	Automatic Feeder Impressions __________________ Steven Pro, yep that is my real name. Current Tank Info: Twelve 600 gallon tubs located in a greenhouse

01/27/2006, 06:44 AM	#15
Steven Pro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 9,376	Shawn, I have not used the Eheim feeder. The editors of that online publication only used an image of one for more pictures. __________________ Steven Pro, yep that is my real name. Current Tank Info: Twelve 600 gallon tubs located in a greenhouse

01/27/2006, 07:45 AM	#16
acrocrazy Registered Member. Join Date: May 2005 Location: Huntington Station Posts: 246	eheims are the best but if you dont want something sooo expensive crrent makes a feeder called the aquachef and thats decent

05/03/2006, 03:31 AM	#18
AcroSteve Make my Funk a P-Funk Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Electric Avenue Posts: 5,092	Anybody make an acrylic "feeding ring" for the food to drop into? I just wonder what people do to keep the floating food from going down the overflow. __________________ **************** "Work hard, rock hard, eat hard, sleep hard, grow big, wear glasses if you need 'em." -- The Webb Wilder Credo -- don't go ninjin' nobody that don't need ninjin'! Current Tank Info: 220g custom plywood. SPS heavy with Sequence Hammerhead return with 4-Way OM. Tunze 6100, 6200 and Wavebox. 5000btu DIY Chiller. Lighting is 10K mh 250W / VHO Actinic Skimer - H&S A200-2x1260

05/03/2006, 08:30 AM	#19
dwillingm Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NC Posts: 215	the feeding ring is a good idea, i probably lost alot of flake down the overflow.

05/03/2006, 05:27 PM	#21
Newreeflady Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 4,840	Drs. F & S sell a feeding ring. I just purchased one so that I can set up the Aquachef to feed my tank while on vacation. Feeding ring is made by Nutrafin Max, it was pretty cheap, I wouldn't bother making one -A __________________ A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor’s cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. “It’s overfull! No more will go in!” the professor blurted. “You are like this cup,” the master replied, “How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup.” Current Tank Info: 56g, 20g.