Automating Feeding?
- Thread starter firsttime
- Start date
- Tagged users None
MAXreefer
Active Member
When I am at home I feed by hand as I usually give them frozen food (twice a day) but I have to travel also quite a bit for work and therefore while away I use an automatic feeder.
There are several kind of units available and the only 2 I can comment on are the
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals RENA LG100
This unit worked pretty well for me. You can set how many feedings a day and how many "turns" you want the feeder to do which etc. Nice feature is you have a sensor you can activate to avoid feeding when the lights are off. Only weakness I see and this is probably with all similar models the same is when you use Flakes sometimes I bigger piece blocks the output a little and then you get a smaller amount food as desired.
For my smaller Nano I wanted to try a different unit and use this one now:
Fish Mate Automatic Feeder
The Fish Mate's separate compartments serve up to 14 individual meals, allowing a wide variety of diet choices. The easy-to-use 24-hour timer provides 1-4 meals a day and allows adjustable feed quantity and timing. Fish Mate's slow-dispense action serves food over a gradual 2-hour period, preventing overfeeding and reducing aquarium pollution. The compact design allows mounting in a variety of ways, and suction cups and tank brackets are provided.
With this one I have an exact control how much I feed but the unit being quite small it might not hold enough food to feed a bigger tank with a lot of fish but otherwise it is a great unit
There are several kind of units available and the only 2 I can comment on are the
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals RENA LG100
This unit worked pretty well for me. You can set how many feedings a day and how many "turns" you want the feeder to do which etc. Nice feature is you have a sensor you can activate to avoid feeding when the lights are off. Only weakness I see and this is probably with all similar models the same is when you use Flakes sometimes I bigger piece blocks the output a little and then you get a smaller amount food as desired.
For my smaller Nano I wanted to try a different unit and use this one now:
Fish Mate Automatic Feeder
The Fish Mate's separate compartments serve up to 14 individual meals, allowing a wide variety of diet choices. The easy-to-use 24-hour timer provides 1-4 meals a day and allows adjustable feed quantity and timing. Fish Mate's slow-dispense action serves food over a gradual 2-hour period, preventing overfeeding and reducing aquarium pollution. The compact design allows mounting in a variety of ways, and suction cups and tank brackets are provided.
With this one I have an exact control how much I feed but the unit being quite small it might not hold enough food to feed a bigger tank with a lot of fish but otherwise it is a great unit
I have the FishMate, but it doesn't fit my needs. I wanted to feed Spectrum 1mm pellets to my reef but the space between the bottom of the "wheel" and the unit is more than that... in other words the "wheel" spins right over the food.
If you're feeding larger pellets and/or flake it would be perfect... PM me if this unit would work for you
If you're feeding larger pellets and/or flake it would be perfect... PM me if this unit would work for you
firsttime
Well-Known Member
Can you tell me how long does the battery last , assuming you feed 4 times a day.
It sits on the rim of my tank. I have a euro-braced tank so the rim is very wide. I also have a screen lid sitting on the bracing. It just sits on the screen lid's frame.
In a canopy you can mount it however you want. Mount it to a piece of wood (by velcro or whatever) and screw that wood into the side wall of your canopy. Your only limitations are your own creativity.
In a canopy you can mount it however you want. Mount it to a piece of wood (by velcro or whatever) and screw that wood into the side wall of your canopy. Your only limitations are your own creativity.
other then for when you go out of town why would you want an auto feeder? i love feedinf the fish by hand. over time they lose all fear of me and makes for a much more "personal" experience IMO.
also if i was to use one do they make one that will shut down the pumps during feeding time so that there is no waste? that would be rather neat
also if i was to use one do they make one that will shut down the pumps during feeding time so that there is no waste? that would be rather neat
If I could have a means of constantly feeding my fish (during the day), I would. The more the better, assuming you can control the amount to prevent too much waste.
I agree with the personable statement, and my angelfish eats right from my hand. I feed her throughout the day when I'm home - but wouldn't mind her getting more (besides Nori) when I'm not
I use a "feeding ring", it's a little ring that floats with a suction cup on it so the food falls into there, and becomes saturated and then goes down into the water column rather than floating on the water surface and getting sucked straight into the overflow. There is, however, some auto-feeder that can be connected to a controller to do what you mentioned - I recall seeing it somewhere and thinking it was really neat, unfortunately don't remember anything else.
