auto-feeders- the next piece of equipment that needs to be redesigned

[Gary Majchrzak]

I doubt that many currently active URS members were here when I suggested powerheads needed a revamp.
First we had the DIY prop MJ's, then the commercially manufactured SureFlow kits followed by the others.
Yeah... Tunze was around, too...

Well... news flash: we need the same thing to happen with auto feeders.
Most of the ones currently available SUCK.

Eheim makes a couple of fairly good ones.. and these are the best I know of right now. I'm thinking of looking at commercial fish hatchery type feeders that dispense pellets... you know... the type at Salmonoid fish hatcheries across NY state.

In any event... reefkeeping needs a GREAT auto feeder.
Ideally, it will be made in America!

Hmmm. Eheim and Tunze are German brands?

 

[Conesus_Kid]

Agreed. I think the biggest design challenge is the fact that we keep these feeders in extremely humid environments. Not a good combination with any sort of fish food.

Eheim addresses this somewhat with their "Feed-air" system, but in reality, that little fan is just pulling humid air into the food. That said, Eheim is my go-to brand for auto feeders. (I'm currently using three of them.)

 

[ReddyW]

What features would a feeder need to make it great?

 

[Allmost]

what are the Issues with Eheim ? been using it for years no Issues.

except that Im on my 4th one now, they keep falling in the tank when im working on the tank lol

what we need is a frozen food feeder ! dont you think ?

 

[E_rock]

frozen food feeder...i'd buy that

 

[cardiffgiant]

What features would a feeder need to make it great?

A lot of what's out there is designed for fresh water tanks, in which it would sit on a plastic hood and drop flake food onto the water surface. I'd switch feeders in a heartbeat if one had:

-Better control over portion size
-Design that would vary to pellet sizes
-Could feed into the water column so that half of the food doesn't just float into the overflow
-Mounting to the side of the tank so that it doesn't:

.. keep falling in the tank when im working on the tank lol

(I'm on my 2nd for this reason)

I'd save up for one that could do something to automate frozen foods. How freakin cool would that be?

I like the scheduling options and reliability of the feed air. I don't like that I had to build a make shift platform out of PVC and eggcrate, then mount a portion of a soda bottle to it in order to get it to function for a reef tank. I also have to raise my tek fixture up a bit higher than I would like to so that it has enough room to operate.

I'm with Gary. The market for these devices in the reef community could be taken over by a well designed product.

 

[cardiffgiant]

How ghetto is this:

 

[Conesus_Kid]

How ghetto is this:

Nice!

FWIW, my newest Feed-air came with the traditional clamp mount for mounting on the side of the aquarium. On both my display and my QT system I have the Feed-air dumping NLS pellets into a funnel-->tubing-->return pump.

I agree with your comments on better portion control and ability to use multiple pellet sizes. I currently just push the 1mm NLS pellets through and hand-feed the 3mm pellets when I'm at school.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

cardiff hit all the key points.

Eheim currently reigns but there are improvements to be made!

 

[Randrew215]

I use the ehiem air feeder as well, and am generally satisfied. I know that some people have used small refrigerators (hold a six-pack) purchased cheaply in combination with an air and a dosing pump to feed pre-mixed frozen or suspension foods. I would definitely spring for a sleek, integrated unit. My feeling is that I'm only good for a set amount of maintenance hours each week, so the more things I can automate the more things actually get done on the tank.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I want a big holding chamber to deliver large pellets

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

thanks to someone's suggestion

thanks to someone's suggestion


here's a useful link to feeders

 

[redrider911]

How about something like the ice dispenser on my fridge door!! Something with a timer on it and ker plunk, one frozen cube into the tank lol

 

[Mike31154]

Eheim dual chamber feeder with diy bracket to hang on rim of tank works well for me. Rectangular extension on water side keeps flakes from floating away on the surface. They soak until they sink or my Singapore Angel comes up & pulls them down.

 

[block head]

here ya go gary. gravity feed deer feeders are big business with us redneck types. designed for pellets and out
door use . some might even be appropiate sized for larger tanks as is

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

here ya go gary. gravity feed deer feeders are big business with us redneck types. designed for pellets and out
door use . some might even be appropiate sized for larger tanks as is

This could work. I was hit in the eye by a corn kernel yesterday tending the feeder we use for our Tamworth sows. Our feeder is an American hunter "kit" model that cod easily attached to a smaller than 5gallon pail; a 1gal bucket might be a perfect fit. A shrowd would need to be modded on to keep the feed from spreading. I believe Gary uses a funnel to direct feed into the return pump. The nice thing about the feeder is it has 16 time settings alOng with 1-30 duration.

My Eheim feeder went south; the contacts off the cam shaft that tells the machine where to stop turning corroded in storage. I looking at other options for auto feeders, but for what I need I keep returning to the Eheim. Anyone happy with any other brands of feeder?

 

[uny2bld]

My Eheim feeder went south; the contacts off the cam shaft that tells the machine where to stop turning corroded in storage. I looking at other options for auto feeders, but for what I need I keep returning to the Eheim. Anyone happy with any other brands of feeder?

Check out Aquatic Ecosystems or do a DIY unit if you can. I like auger units best bc they are the most accurate and reliable imo. Vibratory feeders are nice too

 

[tropills]

My girlfriend is my systems auto feeder.. she feeds everyday at the same times the same amount.. and she keeps a real good close eye on the entire system.. its like having a living controller that also makes You dinner and mixes you drinks everyday when you come home.. lol

 

[Randrew215]

My girlfriend is a living is a living controller too, minus the dinner and drink prep.

Ah, I jest, but it was the low-hanging fruit.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

"Girlfriend feeders" can develop mechanical and/or emotional breakdowns over time