Recommend an automatic fish feeder

[WestHaven]

I'll be going back home for the holidays for 9 days (the 20th-29th), so I need an automatic fish feeder. The lights I can put on a timer. At the local Petco they had the Eheim feeder for $40. They also had the Petco-brand feeder for $20, but I don't think the quality is very good.

Any recommendations? If I get a feeder, I would only use it a few times a year.

[dbosman@msu.edu]

Test it well before you leave for the holidays !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I also suggest mounting it high off the tank and using a paper towel tube or PVC tube to guide the food into the tank. Moisture coming off the tank can clog most automatic feeders in less time than seems possible.

[AirstoND]

I'd say do a major water change and let it be..covered.

I've heard of all sort of problems resulting power outages, water evaporation, etc.

[dprais1]

I have this one and it is pretty popular

http://www.tbaquatics.com/eheim-ever...FegWMgodCzwANQ

this one, I think, would be better

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2754940

the first one has settings that you can adjust how much food comes out and can feed you fish up to 4X aday. each feeding can give one or two servings.
-the problem is that, IME, there is very little consistency in how much food comes out, sometimes a tsp sometimes a tbs.

The second one you fill each chamber with how much food you want, so the more you put in the more gets fed--very exact. plus you can put different foods in different chambers for variety.
--the problem is that it only has 14 chambers so your limited depending on the length of you vacation and how often you want your fish fed

[WestHaven]

Originally Posted by AirstoND

I'd say do a major water change and let it be..covered.

I've heard of all sort of problems resulting power outages, water evaporation, etc.

What do you use to cover the tank?

[Shangrila]

If your fish and tank are healthy I don't see any problem with letting them go without food for nine days.

[RickRS]

I have the one in the petsmart link and think it's excellent. If I was gone for nine days I would set it up for two feeding and turn it on just before leaving. Then the fish would feed for 7 days and be waiting only a couple of days for my return.

[MChambers]

I have both types shown in the links and like them both, but agree that it is not necessary to feed fish over a 9 day vacation.

[hgfx]

I have the Eheim for a few years now. Very reliable.