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need recommendations for a automatic fish feeder

Discussion in 'Aquarium Equipment & Decor' started by GOT MTS?, Mar 31, 2009.

  1. GOT MTS?

    GOT MTS? Thread Starter Member

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    Can anyone recommend a good auto fish feeder. I am going to be out of town for 2 weeks this summer. I have used the plug in kind that slowly turns a slotted tray around and drops food but I was thinking of trying a different one this time. I am thinking about either one made by ehiem or current. Please let me know what feeders you have used that you liked and ones to avoid. Thank you.
     
    GOT MTS?, Mar 31, 2009
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  2. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Re: need advice on auto feeders

    The Eheim is supposed to be a good auto feeder. The cheap one available at WalMart is crap and not worth the 15 bucks.
     
    Anthony, Mar 31, 2009
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  3. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    Re: need advice on auto feeders

    A bit off what you were looking for, but what about those vacation feeder gel blocks by tetra that slowly release flake food. I know they have ones that are for various amounts of time...as I have used them before with great success.

    I had a eheim battery operated one, it was the same as you describe above...I can honestly tell you I didn't get a chance to use it because with my glass canopy and all the equipment in the back I didn't have enough clearance for it to properly turn and dispense (hence my vacation feeder suggestion...it was my only remaining option).
     
    MOD_Dawn, Mar 31, 2009
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  4. GOT MTS?

    GOT MTS? Thread Starter Member

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    Re: need advice on auto feeders

    The one I had before had a tray as opposed to the drum. It clamped to the rim and didn't take up any room. the tray had 15 slots and It also had a hopper that could be filled for up to 4 months of feeding. My problem was it dispensed more food than was needed with the hopper. If I didn't use the hopper I could control the amount of food but it was only good for 2 weeks at one feeding a day and 1 week a 2 meals a day.

    I have tried the feeding blocks and I don't like them because they cloud the water and change the chemistry. I would imagine the gel blocks would do the same.

    BTW my aquariums are all open top.
     
    GOT MTS?, Mar 31, 2009
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  5. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    Re: need advice on auto feeders

    open tops, lucky you..as I have jumpers! I never experienced the clouding as of yet with the tetra gel block ones (that contain flake)..I've used them at least 3 times when gone for about 8+ days on average and pulled the remaining when I returned home.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Apr 1, 2009
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  6. SyncereOne

    SyncereOne New Member

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    Re: need advice on auto feeders

    I have the ehiem feeder, and it works well with flake, not too good with pellet style foods. It lets out too many pellets, and there is no good way to control it. You have to have it open at least large enough for the food to go through, but even at the lowest setting, it lets out too much. Needless to say, I used it for a few days, and have not touched it since.
     
    SyncereOne, Apr 1, 2009
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