Automatic feeder recommendations?

[Charles Henderson]

I've got a 90 gal system under my care; right now it's fish only with a
few Hermit Crabs, and Snails will go in any day now... I'm still working
on water chemistry to get it just right before any sensitive inverts go
in.

But I'm not there every day. And I want to see to the fish getting fed
regularly, maybe even twice a day. They're eating flake food and loving
it, with occasional frozen treats for variety.

I'm not worried about delivering the frozen stuff automatically; that'll
always be a hands-on kinda' thing, when I'm actually there observing,
and doesn't have to happen on a schedule.

But I want the staple diet of flake to be delivered on schedule every
day. The problem with that is, flake food is not heavy enough to drop
through the water's surface tension by itself. Most auto feeders I've
seen just drop it on the surface and down the return overflow it goes!

Is there an automatic feeder that'll deliver flake food *through* the
surface tension, or some other method of whetting the flake so it
doesn't go right down the drain and clog up the pre-filter in the sump?

Thanks,

--Charlie Henderson

[Aquatic-Care]

Charles,

Hummmm, I don't know of a feeder that will pre-wet the food. The
reason is that if flake food gets wet it stinks. I have used a feeder by
Rainbow Lifeguard for a while, I know and they work well. You can get a
hopper to extend the feedings to a few months worth. You can also change the
amount of feedings from once a day up to four times a day.

Good Luck,
Aquacare


--
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Freshwater/Sal****er
Since 1993
www.aquatic-care.com


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[Charles Henderson]

In article >,
"Aquatic-Care" > wrote:


> Hummmm, I don't know of a feeder that will pre-wet the food. The
> reason is that if flake food gets wet it stinks.

Yeah, and grows mold and clogs the feeder, too! :-)

I meant pre-whet the food at *feeding* time, as it's going in.

Or some way to mix the dose of flake with tank water before delivery...

Hmmm...

Thanks,

--Charlie Henderson


I have used a feeder by
> Rainbow Lifeguard for a while, I know and they work well. You can get a
> hopper to extend the feedings to a few months worth. You can also change the
> amount of feedings from once a day up to four times a day.
>
> Good Luck,
> Aquacare

[Marc Levenson]

You have two options.

Feed less often, which is totally fine. I occasionally care for a 120g tank
where the owner feeds the fish two times A WEEK! I still can't believe it.
And yet it looks very pretty, with an abundance of corals, clams, and at least a
dozen fish. While he's away, I feed them daily. LOL

With your automatic feeder, what you can do is install a cup underneath the spot
where the food drops out. The base of the cup should be cut off, so it is open,
and submerged 1/2" to 1" under the water. The flake food will drop into the cup
and lay on the surface. Soon your fish will learn to go into the cup to get the
food, or wait for it to drop out as it gets wet. It will trap the food in that
location and keep it from going into your overflow so quickly.

Marc


Charles Henderson wrote:

> I've got a 90 gal system under my care; right now it's fish only with a
> few Hermit Crabs, and Snails will go in any day now... I'm still working
> on water chemistry to get it just right before any sensitive inverts go
> in.
>
> But I'm not there every day. And I want to see to the fish getting fed
> regularly, maybe even twice a day. They're eating flake food and loving
> it, with occasional frozen treats for variety.
>
> I'm not worried about delivering the frozen stuff automatically; that'll
> always be a hands-on kinda' thing, when I'm actually there observing,
> and doesn't have to happen on a schedule.
>
> But I want the staple diet of flake to be delivered on schedule every
> day. The problem with that is, flake food is not heavy enough to drop
> through the water's surface tension by itself. Most auto feeders I've
> seen just drop it on the surface and down the return overflow it goes!
>
> Is there an automatic feeder that'll deliver flake food *through* the
> surface tension, or some other method of whetting the flake so it
> doesn't go right down the drain and clog up the pre-filter in the sump?
>
> Thanks,
>
> --Charlie Henderson

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Richard Reynolds]

> With your automatic feeder, what you can do is install a cup underneath the spot
> where the food drops out. The base of the cup should be cut off, so it is open,
> and submerged 1/2" to 1" under the water. The flake food will drop into the cup
> and lay on the surface. Soon your fish will learn to go into the cup to get the
> food, or wait for it to drop out as it gets wet. It will trap the food in that
> location and keep it from going into your overflow so quickly.

you can diy one there not that complex but

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=6280&Ne=40000&R=10831&Nao=9&N=2004+62741

you can buy them pre built and tested :) this one also attaches to the tank side so
watermovement wont move it, and it stays at the level of the tank water for where it would
matter.


--
Richard Reynolds

[Chris Taylor]

Hi Charles

We'll be heading away for our annual winter break for 3 weeks in the
southern hemisphere (I could go on for hours but will spare you...) and are
busy testing the 'nutrafin profeed':-

http://www.aquatics-online.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Automatic_Fish_Feeders_92.html
(its about the 4th one down, marked Hagen in this page?)

The feeder is programmable and can feed up to 2 times a day.

It's best to ditch the flake food that comes with it and use marine pellets
as the flakes can end up soggy with the tank humidity and fail to deliver.
The pellets:

http://www.ultimateaquatics.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Copy_of_Marine_Foods.html
(about the 5th one down)

are OK for most of the tanks inhabitants including the arrowhead crab and
cleaner shrimp and break the surface tension. The pellets are too large for
the coral goby (cutest little fellow) and have had to mix freeze dried brine
shrimp in with the pellets to accommodate the little chap.

I've found that its best to put the protein skimmer onto a timer and switch
the thing off for an hour or so during the feeding period.

So far the feeder seems to be doing the trick although it took a few days
for the fish to get used to the change in diet. They now snatch the pellets
from each others mouths!

I only intend to use the feeder as a termporary solution in our absence and
am presently testing to ensure that we're satisfied with the usage. We will
also have the out-laws checking in while we're away. I figure the feeder
will negate the mother in-law from using her initiative in supplying a weeks
food in one go during her flying visits.

Proof of the pudding will be in the eating and I'll advise on March 1 when
we return from our Hols..

Hope the above helps

Regards


Chris


"Charles Henderson" > wrote in message
...
> I've got a 90 gal system under my care; right now it's fish only with a
> few Hermit Crabs, and Snails will go in any day now... I'm still working
> on water chemistry to get it just right before any sensitive inverts go
> in.
>
> But I'm not there every day. And I want to see to the fish getting fed
> regularly, maybe even twice a day. They're eating flake food and loving
> it, with occasional frozen treats for variety.
>
> I'm not worried about delivering the frozen stuff automatically; that'll
> always be a hands-on kinda' thing, when I'm actually there observing,
> and doesn't have to happen on a schedule.
>
> But I want the staple diet of flake to be delivered on schedule every
> day. The problem with that is, flake food is not heavy enough to drop
> through the water's surface tension by itself. Most auto feeders I've
> seen just drop it on the surface and down the return overflow it goes!
>
> Is there an automatic feeder that'll deliver flake food *through* the
> surface tension, or some other method of whetting the flake so it
> doesn't go right down the drain and clog up the pre-filter in the sump?
>
> Thanks,
>
> --Charlie Henderson

[Charles Henderson]

In article
>,
Charles Henderson > wrote:

> Is there an automatic feeder that'll deliver flake food *through* the
> surface tension, or some other method of whetting the flake so it
> doesn't go right down the drain and clog up the pre-filter in the sump?

Thanks for the ideas, friends. I'll probably choose the Eheim 3581 auto
feeder and add a cup/corall under it to keep the dry food from floating
down the sump before it's waterlogged. And you've given me some ideas on
alternate foods like pellets and freeze-dried goodies that might drop
through the surface tension on their own, too.

My fish thank you!

;-)

--Charlie Henderson

[Aquatic-Care]

Marc,

Cool idea with the cup. I might have to give it a try.


--
Aquatic-Care aquarium services
Freshwater/Sal****er
Since 1993
www.aquatic-care.com


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[CapFusion]

"Richard Reynolds" > wrote in message
news:ggEJb.37297$gN.5219@fed1read05...
> > With your automatic feeder, what you can do is install a cup underneath
the spot
> > where the food drops out. The base of the cup should be cut off, so it
is open,
> > and submerged 1/2" to 1" under the water. The flake food will drop into
the cup
> > and lay on the surface. Soon your fish will learn to go into the cup to
get the
> > food, or wait for it to drop out as it gets wet. It will trap the food
in that
> > location and keep it from going into your overflow so quickly.
>
> you can diy one there not that complex but
>
>
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=6280&Ne=40000&
R=10831&Nao=9&N=2004+62741
>
> you can buy them pre built and tested :) this one also attaches to the
tank side so
> watermovement wont move it, and it stays at the level of the tank water
for where it would
> matter.
>
>
IMO/IME, that feeding ring is not so good if your water have turbulance /
wave. I still have that food ring but stop using it after awhile of use. I
like Marc idea better since the inner area is not disturb while the food
still somewhat floating. And also the water will go over the edge and into
the center where food is locate if just use the ring only. For tank have
calm surface, the ring only may work as is.

CapFusion,...

[Richard Reynolds]

> IMO/IME, that feeding ring is not so good if your water have turbulance /
> wave. I still have that food ring but stop using it after awhile of use. I
> like Marc idea better since the inner area is not disturb while the food
> still somewhat floating. And also the water will go over the edge and into
> the center where food is locate if just use the ring only. For tank have
> calm surface, the ring only may work as is.

interesting ive never had an issue, but good to note.

I actually use a few different ones that is one, another is a neoprene like square with a
plastic insert it wont go up and down as nicely, but it kinda magically sticks to the
sides of the tank, its also bigger. issues ive had with the smaller one is well its
smaller, but its also suction cup powered :) sometimes that doesnt work as well for me.

the smaller ones are on tanks between 10 and 20 gallons with low water flow but air
powered filters which move around the surface quite a bit. the larger neoprene one is on
my FO its a little calmer but gets fead almost as much

>
> CapFusion,...
>
>


--
Richard Reynolds