Auto Feed

[guychoo]

hey guys,
2 part question.
who here uses an automatic feeder and what kind?
what kind of food do you put? flake or pellets/granules (do they sink better)?
besides frozen food i also currently feed a mix of formula 2 and prime reef flakes. If the flakes just get dropped in by the auto feeder wont they just float and go into the overflow?
thanks for the help.

 

[vanceny]

I use an eheim autofeeder. I set it to feed twice a day and then I'll feed frozen when I get home from work when I remember. The food is dropped into a food ring so that it doesn't go into the overflow. I have flakes, nori and pellets in the food hopper. Works well but dont get it wet. This second one, first one fell in the tank while I was doing maintenance.:banghead:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4460&N=2004+112973



I've used this food ring:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=6280&N=2004+112972

and also another one that is larger and rectangular. The ring works better but the rectangular one is larger for the fish to get at the food.

I have the feeder hanging over the lip using a small shelf I made out of acrylic.

Hope that helps.

 

[guychoo]

yes this helps a lot!
thats the feeder i was looking at.
i didnt think about that ring, thats genious. you need a shelf for both?

 

[vanceny]

No just a shelf for the feeder. I don't have a canopy on my tank so I bent some acrylic the shape of a "J". The hook part of the "J" hooks under the tank rim so that now the "J" is turned 90 degrees counter clockwise. The feeder sits on top of the flat part.
Not sure how this would work on a tank with a canopy. If you have trouble picturing it I can try and take some pics tonight.

 

[vanceny]

Here's a pick I found of my tank that you can kind of see the shelf sticking out on top of the tank rim. Its near the middle. You can also see part of the suction cup for the feed ring. Its the black half circle.

 

[crox99]

I am so upset because I sold my feeder on eBay. I had the same one that you have, Eheim, but I didn't know about the ring so all the food was going into my overflow.

 

[Pedro]

I use the same setup. I have the eheim feeder drop the food into the rectangular feeder holder and it works great. It gives the fish time to eat. After a while they get so used to it that they start hovering around it right before feeding time. I use a mix of different flakes and pellets. Great feeder and it's on sale at foster's!

 

[guychoo]

yea i see, that helps. if i have a problem, i guess i could always velcro it. you saved the day vance, thanks.

 

[guychoo]

i have the feeder and the ring in my cart. but i cant find the rectangular one. is it from drs. also?

 

[crox99]

I am so upset because I sold my feeder on eBay. I had the same one that you have, Eheim, but I didn't know about the ring so all the food was going into my overflow.

 

[vanceny]

I got the rectangular one at Petco. Didn't see it online.

 

[guychoo]

ok, thanks.

 

[vanceny]

Here's the one I'm using now.

http://www.pets-warehouse.com/Vpasp/shopexd.asp?id=125844

 

[vanceny]

I think the suction cup on the feeding ring works much better. But you just need to aim the ehiem so that food falls into the ring. Not really a problem, just trial and error.

 

[Pedro]

That's the one i use as well.

The suction like all else starts to fail after time, but i think a vinegar bath will bring it back to life.

Before i got the feeder, i used to let it roam free and then i would manually drop the food where it was. Normally it will go to where the current is strongest. I still like shutting down my tunzes if possible. The trick is to have it feed enough so that the fish eat it before it goes to waste. If that means feeding 4 times a day, it's a good thing.

 

[guychoo]

ok cool

 

[Jaws]

i'm using the Eheim Feed Air Automatic Feeder and i put a 4" diameter ring under the feeder. so when the flakes drop, it will flow inside of the ring. but it cost a little more than the other.