View Full Version : Experiences with automatic feeders?
Wat2Go
06-15-2007, 11:23 AM
Hubby wants to use an autmatic feeder as he thinks the friends I asked to feed the fish will easily overfeed (and will not be able to keep an eye on water parameters (no experience with fish at all)).
We will be gone five weeks and I figured I'd tell the 11 and 10 year olds who will do most of the feeding (supervised by my friends) that they can only feed two days in a row and then MUST skip a day (so the fish won't get sick) (I am thinking these kids will listen better than any grown-up..)
I like the idea of people coming in, so I know the filter and heater etc get checked as well (and should a fish die, it won't be floating in the tank forever either).
BUT should we want to use an automatic feeder, which one should we buy? A read some good reviws on the eheim 3581, anyone experience with that one?
L.
severum mama
06-15-2007, 11:29 AM
If you trust these people, I'd just portion the food out into either Ziploc bags, or pill holders and let them feed the fish. I'm not sure I'd trust an automatic feeder. I'd have the fish fed every other day, as 5 weeks is a long time to go without a water change so you'll want to minimize waste. JMO.
For 5 weeks? People are a must. Top off water for evaporation, plus checking on moving parts and heaters. Also I don't think an autofeeder will last that long. Mine only gose for about a week at best. it works fine but I rarely use it. Having people check the house is better in my mind.
I use daily pill holders. Last summer I went away for 3 weeks and setup all the food ahead of time. My friend liked that. I also hid the rest of the food to take temptation away.
Wat2Go
06-15-2007, 12:28 PM
Sorry, wasn't completely clear. We will be gone for 5 weeks but after two weeks my husband will make it home exactly one day, so he will do a huge water change that day, and clean the tanks... So all in all we are talking 2 weeks plus 3 weeks.
lazyNode
06-15-2007, 12:54 PM
I had an auto-feeder once. One day a tetra got over excited and decided to jump towards the food before it landed in the water, and somehow it flew out of the tank and landed on the carpet.
So if you do use one, I strongly advise making sure that you cover all tank openings.
And be sure to test it a week before you leave, so you can monitor how much food it spits out, and whether or not it will run out of food.
I had an auto-feeder once. One day a tetra got over excited and decided to jump towards the food before it landed in the water, and somehow it flew out of the tank and landed on the carpet.
So if you do use one, I strongly advise making sure that you cover all tank openings.
And be sure to test it a week before you leave, so you can monitor how much food it spits out, and whether or not it will run out of food.
I second that, I use some cheese cloth to keep from frogs from jumping out and it works great.
UCF-Planted
06-15-2007, 1:34 PM
This one seems pretty much failsafe. At 2 feedings per day it's good for 2 weeks, or if they can get by with one feeding per day you're set for a whole month: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4464&N=2004+112973
Wat2Go
06-15-2007, 2:25 PM
This one seems pretty much failsafe. At 2 feedings per day it's good for 2 weeks, or if they can get by with one feeding per day you're set for a whole month: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4464&N=2004+112973
70 bucks times 5 tanks...ouch...but a good argument for asking my friend's kids (lol).
L.
jm1212
06-15-2007, 5:39 PM
they over feed and arent very reliable. plus, they will run out of food beofre the first two weeks are up. you should portion out food that someone you trust can feed the fish every three days or so.
legendaryfrog
06-15-2007, 5:47 PM
This one seems pretty much failsafe. At 2 feedings per day it's good for 2 weeks, or if they can get by with one feeding per day you're set for a whole month: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4464&N=2004+112973
I had a rondomatic set up on my tank when I went on vacation for 2 weeks, and it was great. It dispensed everything properly and didnt fail.
I Highly recommend it.
Derringer
06-15-2007, 7:37 PM
I had a rondomatic set up on my tank when I went on vacation for 2 weeks, and it was great. It dispensed everything properly and didnt fail.
I Highly recommend it.
Thanks for the recommendation - I was just looking for vacation feeders ...
I was looking at the eheim just for the name - it runs $90.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=16107&N=2004+112973
Theres also a rena for about $70 ...
I guess you get what you pay for - if you go cheap you can expect it to overfeed and break down, hopefully if you pay more you get more.
DarkSoul
06-15-2007, 7:44 PM
that eheim looks sweet...
artemis
06-20-2007, 10:30 AM
I've used the Eheim autofeeder and have been very happy with it. The opening's adjustable, so it won't overfeed, and mine's been extremely reliable. The bin can easily hold three week's worth of food. The only catch is that it requires a fairly sizeable opening in the tank cover for the food to drop through, which could be an issue if you have any fish that might jump.