Eheim vs Apex auto-feeder?

[fessoclown]

I would like to purchase an auto feeder. I have an Apex. Can anyone chime in on why the Apex auto-feeder would be a better choice (if it indeed would be?) considering the price difference is about $40-50... Is the Apex feeder that much better?
Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated...

 

[hkgar]

I have the Apex but am using the Eheim auto feeder. The Apex wasn't available when I got the Eheim but see no reason to change.

The only benefit I can see with the Apex would be no worries about battery failure.

 

[slief]

I have an Apex and have been using the Apex auto feeder since they were first released. I like the fact that I can control via the Apex when it dispenses and how much it dispenses. A bigger advantage is being able to spot feed via the Apex interface on an as needed basis. This can be handy if I am traveling or not going to make it home in time for my nightly hand feeding. All I need to do is activate the feed timer associated with the AFS and food will be dispensed. Also nice is the ability to have pumps shut off in conjunction with the AFS. I don't need that feature but you can program the feed to coincide with power head or pumps shutting down.

 

[soulpatch]

as said above the ability to turn on and off pumps as the feeder goes off is why I like my apex unit.

 

[scooter31707]

I am tagging along with this thread also..so if I purchase the Eheim feeder, I can still have my pumps shut off/on at a specific time right. For example, if I sat the Eheim feeder to feed at 6pm, I can still have my Apex program to turn the pumps/powerheads off at 5:55pm. Does my question/statement make sense?

 

[soulpatch]

yes you can but it requires more programming and the need to ensure that the times all align between units. The apex I just set it for the pumps to be off for 10 minutes on feed A and an hour on feed D (I use feed D when feeding corals manually)

 

[hkgar]

I am tagging along with this thread also..so if I purchase the Eheim feeder, I can still have my pumps shut off/on at a specific time right. For example, if I sat the Eheim feeder to feed at 6pm, I can still have my Apex program to turn the pumps/powerheads off at 5:55pm. Does my question/statement make sense?

I have APex controller but as stated Eheim feeders. I have Apex programmed to shut down 5 minutes before the Eheim is scheduled to feed. The return stays off for 18 minutes

Just can't convince myself to spend the 100 since what I have seems to work just fine.

 

[johnlewis]

Gary I am not far away I've been using a http://www.super-feed.com/ for years

 

[scooter31707]

Good to know. I have heard many reefers say the Apex is very noisy. That's why I am debating which one to get.

 

[rimless75g]

I would go with the Eheim, it has always been stable so far.

 

[FSUwxman]

The control functionality with the APEX interface and the fact that you don't have to worry about a battery failing on the APEX AFS are the selling points to me over the Eheim.

 

[africangrey]

The Apex feeder is LOUD, and the sound it makes is very unpleasant to me, so I ditched the Apex and went with Eheim, couldn't be happier.

 

[fessoclown]

Thanks for all the input. I think I will save a few bucks and just go with the Eheim for now. It seems like it would be easy enough to program my Apex to shut down the return pump at feed times.... I am also just using an Apex Jr. at the moment and would like to save on the Module space....

Cheers!

 

[hkgar]

yup pretty simple here are the lines I use

If Time 13:58 to 14:13 Then OFF
If Time 17:58 to 18:13 Then OFF

The Eheims are set to feed at 2 minutes after the hour, so four minutes to settle down then 11 minutes for the fish to eat. When the pumps go off, the fish begin gathering around the area of the tank where the food is dumped. Yup they learn.