Auto fish feeders Pro's and con's ???
- Thread starter MarksReef
- Start date
slief
RC Sponsor
If you have an Apex, it's a no brainer. Get the Apex feeder. Programming it is simple and making changes to the program are equally as simple. It's well made too. You can feed once a day or multiple times a day while also controlling the amount you feed at any given time. If you travel, an auto feeder is a must have unless you have a reliable person to manage feeding duties.. I really don't see any cons in using an auto feeder. While I wouldn't suggest using that as your only feeding source, it certainly is beneficial for complimentary feedings to augment regular feedings. If you have smaller fish like Chromis, Anthias etc, the auto feeder will insure that their needs are met as well because fish like that need to eat multiple times a day.
I have the Apex feeder myself and use it to feed various pellets and flake once a day. It does a daily noon feeding and I do my daily hand feeding of nori, more pellets and frozen foods every night. Like I said, I wouldn't depend on it as the only source of feeding but it is certainly beneficial for complimentary feedings at different times of the day when you may be indisposed.
I have the Apex feeder myself and use it to feed various pellets and flake once a day. It does a daily noon feeding and I do my daily hand feeding of nori, more pellets and frozen foods every night. Like I said, I wouldn't depend on it as the only source of feeding but it is certainly beneficial for complimentary feedings at different times of the day when you may be indisposed.
msderganc
New member
Careful with where you put the Apex feeder. I had mine dumping into the sump and it failed from the humidity.
After contacting Neptune, they indicated that they hadn't considered people putting it in the sump area, and it's not built to resist humidity. So put it on your display, if anything.
After contacting Neptune, they indicated that they hadn't considered people putting it in the sump area, and it's not built to resist humidity. So put it on your display, if anything.
shermanator
New member
I have an Apex, but (given that I leave my pumps on while feeding) I don't know if there is any advantage to the Neptune AFS over the Eheim everyday auto feeder. The Eheim works flawlessly and is super cheap.
If you are looking for something only when you are out of town, I'd skip the expensive Apex unit and get the Eheim (like $30).
If you are looking for something only when you are out of town, I'd skip the expensive Apex unit and get the Eheim (like $30).
slief
RC Sponsor
The Apex feeder gives the added benefit of easily tying feed timers to shut down pumps or power heads when the feeder is dropping in food. Like you, I don't shut down pumps when I feed but I still like it's ease of use. It's so easy to make programming changes with the Apex feeder like feeding amount or intervals should you change the food type that's almost brainless. You don't need to futz with small buttons on the feeder. Just log into the controller or Fusion and make a change. Yes the Eheim is cheaper but the Apex feeder is so easy to use and so flexible, especially when coupled with Fusion that it's upside outweigh it's only real downside which is cost. I've used other feeders before, albeit not the Eheim but the Apex feeder is so simple and easy to program that I can't imagine why (other than cost) one wouldn't want to use it. Then again, like you said, if the only use of the feeder is while you are out of town then the Eheim certainly has it's merits.
slief
RC Sponsor
With the Apex feeder? If so, there is 1 adjustment that is a slider that restricts how much food enters the section where the food drops from. From there, it boils down to how many rotations which you set through the application. I use one rotation and adjust the slider to the point where it is almost all the way closed for smaller pellets and or my mix. I've never had an issue with dropping too much food but f you don't adjust the slider properly for the food type, I can see there being an issue. It's all a matter of understanding how the feeder works and adjusting it properly for your needs and food type.
slief
RC Sponsor
That all depends on how & where your tank is setup & what you consider to be noisy. Not sure I would lend to much credence into a reviewer who faults the feeder for dumping all their food in at once. that is clearly user error & not a design flaw. Sounds like a review from a hyper sensitive person who is quick to judge. Then again, noise is subjective. My tank is enclosed with a huge soffit enclosing the top. I can't hear it at all. Even so, when I tested it during setup, I didn't find it to be terribly loud at all. If anything, the sound would let the fish know foods coming. That said, it's a purpose use device that is motorized so a bit of noise for a few seconds isn't a big deal for many while for others it could be. To me, it's a non issue & the feeder works great.
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MarksReef
New member
Less automation is better so I would only use it to go away for a weekend trips and up coming 1 week away.
The only reason I haven't been on Vacation in 6 months is the tank. I have everything done except feeding. I would only use it while away. I have a clean rim less tank.
The only reason I haven't been on Vacation in 6 months is the tank. I have everything done except feeding. I would only use it while away. I have a clean rim less tank.
Raul-7
Member
slief
RC Sponsor
LOL.. The camera is 2' or less away. What do you expect?? :lol:
As you noted. It's not silent but it's really not that bad. I suppose it could be bothersome if it were in a bedroom on an uncovered tank but it's really not that bad. If you have a canopy, it would hardly be noticeable. Videos like that can unfortunately be deceiving. That and my coffee grinder is 10x worse! :thumbsup:
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slief
RC Sponsor
For many many years, I was a slave to my tank and wouldn't travel as a result. Automation made travel possible and my tank is healthier than it has ever been as a result. For me, automation became a necessary evil though. I'm gone up to 3 months a year for business. Automating things like water changes, top off and of course the ability to monitor everything via the Apex made travel a non issue. Everybody of course is different and for me travel is a necessity so automating things has paid major dividends. Heck, my Apex even saved me from a potential flood years back due to monitoring water on the floor. I was out of the country and got a text alert that there was water on the floor. I had the wife check and sure enough, a reactor was leaking. I had her close a valve and the problem was averted. Automating water changes was probably the best thing I ever did for my tank. 5 gallons a day does wonders for the health of a big tank like mine. The ability to do a very large continuous water change is an even better upside to automation.. Especially if you are lazy like me.
The feeder plugs into an EB8 or module via thee included aquabus cable. The cable is several feet long too which makes adding it easy if if your controller or EB8 is far away.
moondoggy4
Team RC
That model looks just like the Lifeguard model that I have but it is not Apex ready just its own program.
slief
RC Sponsor
Good eye. The Neptune feeder is based on the Lifeguard Intelli feeder but has obviously been modified to connect and be controlled by the Apex.
Lavoisier
Premium Member
I use the Neptune AFS and it is quiet. Not sure what is going on with this video but certainly not my experience. I had used Eheims previously and switched them for the absolute control of the Apex...especially when I'm traveling.
I have the Apex on my 210 and the Eheim everyday on my 65. Both work very well...
The Apex is a bit loud - but for all of about 20 seconds. Doesn't bother me one bit.
The stories of people dumping the entire bin of food is due to trying to remove the feed bin from the housing over the tank. I have my entire unit secured with industrial strength velcro on a cross-member in my canopy. When I need to fill it, I unplug the aquabus cable, detach the entire unit and then remove the bin. Same if I need to adjust the slider bar to control how much is dispensed per bin/drum rotation - although I have only had to this once. Once I had it set correctly, I never had to touch it again...
The Apex is a bit loud - but for all of about 20 seconds. Doesn't bother me one bit.
The stories of people dumping the entire bin of food is due to trying to remove the feed bin from the housing over the tank. I have my entire unit secured with industrial strength velcro on a cross-member in my canopy. When I need to fill it, I unplug the aquabus cable, detach the entire unit and then remove the bin. Same if I need to adjust the slider bar to control how much is dispensed per bin/drum rotation - although I have only had to this once. Once I had it set correctly, I never had to touch it again...
slief
RC Sponsor
That makes sense. I can see how that could happen if you're not careful. Mine is attached to a custom acrylic clamp I made. My top is 1" thick and I didn't want to use velcro. I just hold the feeder body and slide the bin out. While I have never had a spill, I'm not surprised others have. Like anything, there is a right way and a wrong way to do things. In this case, not being cognizant of what you are doing can result in a mess. This would apply to any feeder if you're not careful.
Here is how mine is mounted.
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