auto feeder
- Thread starter GraemeK
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cichlidmaster
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Prices vary from model to model. You would have to check the different brands out and judge for yourself what your requirements are and then go from there.
Having 135 tanks, I have never had the need for one so I can't comment on how well they work.
I can tell you this....in the summer months when humidity is high, there is a good possibility that if you feed flake food this food will clump together and not drop out of the hopper properly, but in a clump!!
JMO
CM
Having 135 tanks, I have never had the need for one so I can't comment on how well they work.
I can tell you this....in the summer months when humidity is high, there is a good possibility that if you feed flake food this food will clump together and not drop out of the hopper properly, but in a clump!!
JMO
CM
EddieW
Fish Addict
Graeme,
Got to agree with CM - they do have a lot of problems with clumping. I have a couple of auto feeders for when I am away but have never really had a totally successful experience. As they hang over an opening in the tank they will be the first recipient of the normal evaporation from the tank, This means that, as CM noted, flake foods will stick together and either go in as a lump or (as in my case) not go in at all. If you are only away for a couple of days your fish will not come to any harm with a couple of days fasting (it can even be good for them). If you are away longer than that, and you don't have a (well trained) fishy friend to feed them, use an auto feeder but make sure:
a) it is clean and dry at the start
B) you have checked it is dispensing the right amount for your fish (can be difficult with some feeders which only dispense every twelve hours)
c) the batteries are up to scratch (nothing worse than them running out as soon as you are out the door)
I would use a pellet type food rather than flake as these tend to absorb less atmospheric water than flake foods but this is just a personal preference.
Cheers, Eddie
Got to agree with CM - they do have a lot of problems with clumping. I have a couple of auto feeders for when I am away but have never really had a totally successful experience. As they hang over an opening in the tank they will be the first recipient of the normal evaporation from the tank, This means that, as CM noted, flake foods will stick together and either go in as a lump or (as in my case) not go in at all. If you are only away for a couple of days your fish will not come to any harm with a couple of days fasting (it can even be good for them). If you are away longer than that, and you don't have a (well trained) fishy friend to feed them, use an auto feeder but make sure:
a) it is clean and dry at the start
B) you have checked it is dispensing the right amount for your fish (can be difficult with some feeders which only dispense every twelve hours)
c) the batteries are up to scratch (nothing worse than them running out as soon as you are out the door)
I would use a pellet type food rather than flake as these tend to absorb less atmospheric water than flake foods but this is just a personal preference.
Cheers, Eddie
EddieW
Fish Addict
Graeme,
Autofeeders range from about £10-£15 upwards (always upwards
).
I think Hagen do a couple of feeders which should be suitable for that tank - let me go and have a look.....
There seem to be two:
Nutramatic 2X Fish Food Feeder - basically a reservoir of food which is dispensed every twelve hours by a single rotation of the drum. I have one of these which is very poor with flake food as it tends to trap evaporation and clump it all together. Online prices in the region of £12.
Nutramatic Automatic Fish Feeder - I don't have any experience with this one but it look a lot better. Sales blurb states "Dispenser opening is oriented upward to reduce moisture intake". Online prices in the region of £29
Other makes:
Fish Mate F14 Aquarium Feeder - serves 14 individual meals up to four times a day. I have just got one of these and it looks good as you can vary the timing and content of individual meals. It also has the option to accept an airline intake to help prevent moisture problems. I haven't needed to try it out yet so I can;t say how good it is. Online prices in the region of £20
Eheim 3581 Automatic Feeder - "Electronically controlled programming, with up to 4 daily feeding times. LCD display with clock." I haven't used this one myself but the sales blurb looks good. Online price in the region of £27
Hoppy Toppy Automatic Fish Feeder - twice daily feeding, adjustable feed quantity, airline attachment to help keep food dry. Another I have no experience of. Online price in the region of £27
Hobby Rondo Steward Automatic Fish Feeder - "Automatic mains transformer powered fish feeder with heated feeding drum, Digital LED Display panel, Adjustable slide for feed quantity, Fully programmable, Heating element for food drum, Feed times can be set for every 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 and 48 hours". Sounds a bit like the Rolls Royce of feeders - and the price reflects it. Online prices in the region of £48
HTH, Eddie
Autofeeders range from about £10-£15 upwards (always upwards
).I think Hagen do a couple of feeders which should be suitable for that tank - let me go and have a look.....
There seem to be two:
Nutramatic 2X Fish Food Feeder - basically a reservoir of food which is dispensed every twelve hours by a single rotation of the drum. I have one of these which is very poor with flake food as it tends to trap evaporation and clump it all together. Online prices in the region of £12.
Nutramatic Automatic Fish Feeder - I don't have any experience with this one but it look a lot better. Sales blurb states "Dispenser opening is oriented upward to reduce moisture intake". Online prices in the region of £29
Other makes:
Fish Mate F14 Aquarium Feeder - serves 14 individual meals up to four times a day. I have just got one of these and it looks good as you can vary the timing and content of individual meals. It also has the option to accept an airline intake to help prevent moisture problems. I haven't needed to try it out yet so I can;t say how good it is. Online prices in the region of £20
Eheim 3581 Automatic Feeder - "Electronically controlled programming, with up to 4 daily feeding times. LCD display with clock." I haven't used this one myself but the sales blurb looks good. Online price in the region of £27
Hoppy Toppy Automatic Fish Feeder - twice daily feeding, adjustable feed quantity, airline attachment to help keep food dry. Another I have no experience of. Online price in the region of £27
Hobby Rondo Steward Automatic Fish Feeder - "Automatic mains transformer powered fish feeder with heated feeding drum, Digital LED Display panel, Adjustable slide for feed quantity, Fully programmable, Heating element for food drum, Feed times can be set for every 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 and 48 hours". Sounds a bit like the Rolls Royce of feeders - and the price reflects it. Online prices in the region of £48
HTH, Eddie
Wow Eddie, thanks!
as i said in my first post the tank is a hagen tropiquarium? I thought the feeder made for my tank would look neater but i dont want something with is going to clump the food together!
i'll keep a look out for different models available and let ya know what i find...
maybe www.epinions.com has some reviews?
as i said in my first post the tank is a hagen tropiquarium? I thought the feeder made for my tank would look neater but i dont want something with is going to clump the food together!
i'll keep a look out for different models available and let ya know what i find...
maybe www.epinions.com has some reviews?
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