Should You Use An Automatic Fish Feeder
February 23, 2009 · Print This Article
It is best to feed the fish in the aquarium every day, even better is to feed them more than once every day as they then get food sparingly throughout the day however what do you do when you are away from home.
In my opinion it is best to have someone come around to the house to look after the aquarium whilst you are away. If someone else looks after your aquarium whilst you are away then they can top up the water, look for and react to any potential issues etc, however, this it is not always faesible or possible.
In these circumstances you can always install an auto top-up device if your aquarium will require water replacing due to evaporation whilst you are away. You can install an auto shut off device in the sump to protect the equipment in the sump if anything happens.
But what about the fish?
The fish are going to need to be fed. There will be food in the aquarium which the fish can eat – dependent upon the fish however this may not sustain them so it is better to provide some way to faciliate the provision of food.
This can be accomplished in a number of ways.
The first one is to prepare some food before you leave and then use something like a perastaltic pump on a timer to provide food throughout the day. The trouble with this option is that the food will not last for long before going off.
The second option is to use an automatic fish feeder. These devices are normally battery powered and have little compartments which the dry food is located. On the device is a timer which you can program to feed the fish throughout the day/week. Basically when the timer reaches a time which is feeding time the compartment opens and the food falls into the aquarium. They are very simple devices and very simple to use – you place some food, normally flake food into the compartments, set the timer and you are good to go.
The main trouble with some of these devices is that the dry food in the compartments becomes damp and then when the compartment opens at feeding time the food does not fall out as it is stuck to the sides. Some devices have in-built air blowers which attempt to keep the food dry however I have found that in a reef tank with higher water movement they still do not completely prevent the food from becoming damp therefore not all the food will be dispensed however some of it will and some food is better than no food at all.
So are they worth it?
In my opinion automatic fish feeders are worth it if you are not able to get anyone to look after your aquarium whilst you are away – afterall some food is better than no food at all.
Related Posts - Consider Before Buying Marine aquariums are great. They make a terrific hobby and it really can feel that there is a ‘slice of the ocean’ in the home....
- If You Upgrade To A Bigger Tank How Do You Transfer The Corals And Fish? This exercise is very similar to moving an aquarium from house to house, but escapes some of the disruption and the need for transport. This...
- What Is The Best Algae Eater? That is a difficult question, and one which I cannot directly answer because most algae eaters have a type they are most fond of and...
- Is This Hobby Shrinking, Increasing, Confusing or Complex? Nothing like getting value for money - four questions in one. Fair enough. The answers are: No. Yes. Yes. Yes. That was easy, off for...
- How To Change A Fish Only Aquarium Into A Reef Aquarium caniThe aquarist running a fish only aquarium has gained a great deal of valuable knowledge about husbandry. He/she has also been able to keep fish...
Related Websites - 33 Essential Items For Your Bug Out Bag Imagine the following scenario. You are awakened in the middle of the night by the jolt of a powerful earthquake. Your house is leveled, but...
- Website Traffic And Fishing The Internet is like a huge ocean, full of different types and forms of fishes, criss-crossing the length and breadth of the ocean, hungry and...
- More Fishing and Boating Lexicon Fishery - This is a term that is used for lakes, rivers and streams where it is possible for people to come and catch fish,...
- Finding and Killing Nemo along with my Debt Snowball About 4 months ago, I found a 75 gallon tank, wooden stand, glass tops and light for $150 on Craigslist. New, this equipment would cost...
- Fishing Report: June 11, 2010 Lakes/Saltwater Almanor: Trolling fishing the most successful in the area. Salmon toward the east side. Bass fishing has been decent, but inconsistent. Anderson: Those looking...
So, which auto-feeder do you recommend?
Well, I have never owned an auto-feeder but have looked into them for a good reason…I bought one for Peter.
This was at least two years ago and I don’t suppose much has changed since then.
After research (looking at reviews and comments) I chose the Eheim auto-feeder which is battery driven. It is only suitable for flake food and can feed this several times during the day for many days.
One problem is that flake food can get damp because the feeder is above the seawater, and damp flake won’t release properly. This is combatted to an extent as the Eheim incorporates a small drying device.
The small drying device didn’t cope however….Peter dropped the auto-feeder into the aquarium. For some strange reason it wouldn’t work properly after that!
Johns last blog post..Should You Use An Automatic Fish Feeder