Can anyone recommend a good and reliable automatic feeder?

roadrashpaul · Feb 10, 2014

Just as the title says. Going to be camping a lot this summer so I need an auto feeder.

SmyrnaReefer · Feb 10, 2014

I use the eheim feeder for pellets. Can feed every day up to 4 time a day I think

thejoshdavis · Feb 10, 2014

Anyone tried the Apex Autofeeder? Assuming you have an apex.

pickupman66 · Feb 10, 2014

Josh,

those looked SUPER NICE>... But I do remember there is a NON apex version sold as well. It has a built in timer and works just like the apex version. Wish I could remember its brand.

Texas Reefer · Feb 10, 2014

Ive been using a feeder just like this since the end of November and haven't had any problems. I don't think I got it at Petco, but it is the same exact one.

Texas Reefer · Feb 10, 2014

Sorry, pic wasn't attached. But its the $20 feeder on Petco's website. Petco Auto Fish Feeder at PETCO

roadrashpaul · Feb 10, 2014

SmyrnaReefer said:
I use the eheim feeder for pellets. Can feed every day up to 4 time a day I think

Thank you. I will check into that one.

roadrashpaul · Feb 10, 2014

pickupman66 said:
Josh,

those looked SUPER NICE>... But I do remember there is a NON apex version sold as well. It has a built in timer and works just like the apex version. Wish I could remember its brand.

I don't have an Apex but would be interested in looking at this if anyone has any more info on it.

KorL · Feb 11, 2014

I've been using an eheim feeder for 2 years. Still going strong. It's only like $20-25. Can't beat that

jservedio · Feb 11, 2014

I use the 3rd head on my doser and a $3 styrafoam cooler from HD or Walmart. I put a cup inside the cooler that is filled with thawed frozen food and an air line connected to a small air pump to keep it suspended. Fill the cooler with ice or icepacks, tape it closed, and connect it to the doser. I have a Bubble Magus cheap dosing unit and the 3rd head normally doses Calcium Acetate so it isn't critical like the 2-part, so I steal that pump while I am gone.

You can get a little over a week out of that if you use really fresh food and use dry ice.

This way you don't have to rely on just flake or pellet food. You can feed anything you want. As long as you keep the cooler close to your doser and a short run to your DT, the line is short enough that it won't be filled with food that is getting warm.

I feed exclusively frozen food and it is always nearly impossible to find a sitter over Christmas where I have to go out of state. This has worked 2 years in a row now very well.

bound2reefing · Feb 11, 2014

I've been using an eheim for about a year and I've never had a problem with it... Four scheduled times per day up to two feedings per scheduled time... And it's got a nifty little fan that helps keep everything dry and circulated

Daniel@R2R · Feb 11, 2014

jservedio said:
I use the 3rd head on my doser and a $3 styrafoam cooler from HD or Walmart. I put a cup inside the cooler that is filled with thawed frozen food and an air line connected to a small air pump to keep it suspended. Fill the cooler with ice or icepacks, tape it closed, and connect it to the doser. I have a Bubble Magus cheap dosing unit and the 3rd head normally doses Calcium Acetate so it isn't critical like the 2-part, so I steal that pump while I am gone.

You can get a little over a week out of that if you use really fresh food and use dry ice.

This way you don't have to rely on just flake or pellet food. You can feed anything you want. As long as you keep the cooler close to your doser and a short run to your DT, the line is short enough that it won't be filled with food that is getting warm.

I feed exclusively frozen food and it is always nearly impossible to find a sitter over Christmas where I have to go out of state. This has worked 2 years in a row now very well.

Very cool idea!

jservedio · Feb 11, 2014

mdbannister said:
Very cool idea!

Thanks! I got the idea from all the NPS guys who use a doser inside a college-sized refrigerator. They do the exact same thing but with like 20 different kinds of food - so I figured why not do it without spending a couple hundred on a fridge?

The first time I did it I was gone for a week and mixed in about 25% of the gelled food to preserve it and keep it suspended (I didn't use an air pump) it didn't smell too bad and worked decently. The second time I did it, it worked way better since I used regular food, an air pump turned down (1-3 bubbles/second), and packed it with dry ice (to the brim - I bought 5lbs and used a good portion of it. I don't recall exactly how much was in there because I played with a lot of it) and used the really thick styrafoam cooler.

I never went over 10 days like this though. A small refrigerator would work even better. Those dorm fridges are perfect if you are in college or have a kid in college.