Automatic fish feeders

[pnphappy]

I'm going to go on a vacation within a couple of weeks and I was wondering if any of you have experience with an automated fish feeder. I have $45 to burn on one if it is necessary. There are those sinking slabs of flake foods, but I'm not too sure they will work.

If you have ever used an automatic feeder and found it appealing, please post. Thanks.

[jeffs99dime]

i've read about many people who don't like them because they malfunction. i will not get one myself for this reason. is there anyone you trust that can feed your fish while your away? i don't trust those automated feeders.

[pnphappy]

Well, no, no one around can feed them. I guess I'll have to get that sinking food slab then.

[hungryhound]

Well, no, no one around can feed them. I guess I'll have to get that sinking food slab then.

From what I have heard a malfunctioning feeder it better than those slabs.

How long are you going to be goen anyways, because most fish can go a week without food.

I know eheim makes a nice automatic feeder.

it uses a puff of air so that the food doesn't get wet and rot or get stuck in the contraption,

review ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.])

big als ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.])

or if you want to try it you can use e-bay.

[Incredulous_Ed]

How lon will you be gone? If it is under 3 weeks you will not need one at all.

Also, don't get one of those feeder blocks. They are pretty much worthless.

[Spyder]

I use the Eheim Auto feeder and the Pentair Automatic Fish Feeder for my tanks. The Eheim is good but you can't control the amount of food that drops very well. I like the Pentair Automatic Fish Feeder because it has individual servings to control each serving size plus it plugs in, no batteries. I use two Pentairs on my Tang tank because I have hundreds of fry and juvi's and it will feed 4 times (the way I have it set) while I'm at work, my babies are fat and happy. I have had no malfuntion issues with these and I must have a dozen plus 4 Eheims with no problems. They are not new either, a few years old.

HTH, Michael

[Sasquatch]

We have one for when we go on vacation and it works fine.

It's the "El cheapo" nutrafin model (35$) and it's about as basic as it gets. Insert batteries, it rotates and then it keep rotating every 12 hours until you take the batteries out. There is a little pallet to control the amount of food, which works very well.

We prefer it to the feeder blocks. We tried them once and it skrewed up our water chemistry for weeks! And you can't really control the amout of food. Acid water will cause too much food to be released, alkaline water, too little. We had a 1 week block last almost three weeks last time we tried one.

[pnphappy]

I'll be gone for ~6 days. I don't want to starve the fish though. Also, hong long can a java fern survive without light? Will it decay in ~6 days?

[Tres]

Java fern is tough, it will likely survive, but wont be happy about it. If you have any other plants, the survival rate wont be so great. I imagine they will survive, but you will need to prune yellow leaves and such on your return.

If you have a planted tank, you should invest in a timer for your lights so there is no variation in the day night cycle.... you can get an analog plug in timer for about 10$.
The digital ones are more expensive, but aren't really much better than the analog ones.
If you use a UV sterilizer, a timer is a must... almost everything it kills is nocturnal... have it come on about a half hour after the lights go out, and have it turn off when the lights come on. You will double the life of your UV bulb, and get the same benefits as if it were turned on all day.

[RobbieG]

I'd go for the automatic timer and skip the auto feeder your fish will be fine for 6 days.

[pnphappy]

I just have tetras, rocks and the one java fern. No other living organisms present.

Will I have to feed the fish an extra big meal on the day I leave, or do I continue the same old routine?