Fish AutoFeeder Recommendations

[rayhwong]

Hi,
I am looking for a good autofeeder for my fish. I have found many brands ranging from 15-50 dollars. I would prefer to pay less. Are the cheaper ones significantly worse than the high end digital ones?
Has anyoen had humidity problems?
Im looking for one that will fit a trueVu tank.
Thanks.
-Ray

[bigpow]

Ray,

I have a couple of those Nutramatic 2x ($15 ea.) and they work (sort of).
I have to clean them at every refill since the hole get clogged up easily.

[Ibn]

Very timely question there Ray.

I was wondering myself, since I'll be gone for ten days at the end of this month and need to pick up an auto feeder myself. Anyone have experience w/some of the other feeders to share?

[Ironfin]

I have two Eheim auto feeders, Model 3581. The box said "Electronically controlled programming, with up to 4 daily feeding times. Each can be adjusted to have short or longer feeding intervals. LCD display with clock. The revolutionary aeration system guarantees dry feed up to the last flake." It sells for about $42.00 on eBay. I only use them during my holidays. They might be within your price range I hope.

[Ironfin]

BTW I never have to clean the food off the opening. It never gets stucked at the end. Excellent engineering and very solid.

[dewcew]

I used the one at Walmart that they sell for $15 (my wife bought it so I don't remember the exact price). I used it in October when we were gone for 10 days. I came back and my fish were still alive. However there wasn't any food left in the feeder, so I don't know when it ran out.

I still think it is better then adding a feeding block.

[Ibn]

I plan on feeding them pellets while I'm gone (Spectrum brand). Will these feeders expense pellets instead of flakes?

Anyone have experience w/something like this:
http://www.merchantamerica.com/super...e&product=3028

[dewcew]

The one I used should work with either pellets or flake food. I don't have experience with pellets, but the design should work with either. The one I have is also adjustable so you can dispense either more or less food. I imagine that by adjusting this you can also use it for pellets.

Dan

[ninoboy]

I have a couple Nutramatics (2x/day), a couple Eheims and a couple of Proaquatic. IMO, if you only gonna use it for a short period of time, just get the Proaquatic at PEtsmarts. It's cheap, easy to set and works perfectly. It doesn't have the Eheim's quality. Nutramatic is also cheap but I have problems with them especially when I go out of town for over a month. Every time I come back, the batteries are dead.

For continous use, I would still recommend Eheim. You can really be sure that it works flawlessly.

[corigan]

I have an eheim and use it for trips. Seems to work pretty well. I find the best auto-feeder is that friend that "Owes you". I always get a buddy to stop by and feed my fish and fert my tanks.

Matt

[rayhwong]

Hmm...looks like Ill get the Eheim. Ive had too many bad experiences with low price hardware.
How big is the eheim and how does it mount onto the tank? I want to make sure it will fit on a truVu tank with a canopy.
thanks!

[Laith]

I got an Eheim autofeeder recently for a newly setup shellie tank and would highly recommend it.

On my 200l planted tank I've always used an autofeeder made by a company called Grässlin. Not sure its still made as I got it about 8 or 9 years ago...

It's basically a circle of small drop down trays (28 of them for 28 feedings) that rotate and drop down at set times dumping the food in the tray into the aquarium.

I like it because you can put whatever you want in each tray, varying the type of food with each feeding. The disadvantage is that it takes up room (I only use it when I'm away) and is not battery powered.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by rayhwong

Hmm...looks like Ill get the Eheim. Ive had too many bad experiences with low price hardware.
How big is the eheim and how does it mount onto the tank? I want to make sure it will fit on a truVu tank with a canopy.
thanks!

The eheim doesnt really mount on the tank, you sort of just sit it where the openings of the tanks are. Its weighted so it doesnt move around accidently. I dont have the exact measurements but its about 3 x 3 x 6 in size.

It has a slider that adjusts to the amount of food you want to feed. Open more for more food. The canister on the unit spins 360 horizontaly and when the hole hits to bottom food comes out. The slider prevents to much food from comming out.

The only thing i dont like about the unit is- when you feed flakes, it can be inconcistent. You really have to brake up the flakes to a finner size to make sure a large flake doesnt block the hole.
With some units, you actually measure out how much food you want per each slot. I like that idea better.

5 out of 5 on desigh and quality
3 out of 5 on feeding Flakes (pellets maybe more concistent)

Marc

[m.lemay]

I got one of those walmart 2x per day feeders. This is the way I feed my tank at work exclusively. 2 years and going strong. I fill it about once a month and change the battery about every 6 months. I've found that the best food to use is the "TetraMin tropical crisps". It never clogs with this food since all the flakes are the same size. All the flakes are round and the size of a paper punch hole. The best $10 I ever spent.

My work tank is a 29 gallon tall with one crypt wendti bunch a pleco and 5 rosy barbs. I dont do squat to this tank....ever. About every 4 months or so I do a 20% water change and the rest of the time I just top it off. These are the same 6 fish I had in there since I set it up 2 years ago. Same plant too. Unbelievable but true.

[rayhwong]

My tank humidity is pretty high since the water is aruond 82-86 during a normal day. I decided to go with the eheim and pay more for something that will work well. I am considering it for long term use since i often get home late in the day so i cant always feed my fish regularly.
Thanks for all the help! now i hope the eheim fits. ill let you all know how it goes.