Going on vacation for a week...trust Ehiem auto feeder?

Blazer88 · 06/07/2007, 01:27 PM

I normally pay someone to stop by my house every few days and feed while I am on vacation. I am thinking I can just get the Eheim auto feeder and feed pellets once a day and not worry about it. My ATO has been running flawless for a few years now so I'm not worried about that (I'll just use a larger tub for the RO water). I've been on multiple vacations and none of my equipment has ever had a problem in the past and I think it should do just fine. Should I just get an auto feeder and not worry about paying someone to stop by? Is the Ehiem the best option?

Blazer88 · 06/07/2007, 02:20 PM

I'm leaving tomorrow, I'd love to hear some feedback.

thelostrican · 06/07/2007, 02:29 PM

i use a rena auto feeder ands its been good, however i have someone come in everyother day...

adambaron · 06/07/2007, 03:09 PM

I used the ehiem and it worked fine.

rbursek · 06/07/2007, 03:16 PM

I am the beliver of having someone stop in, neighbor, friend, ect, if a heater sticks on, ect, ect, I have been told by many that an estabilished tank can go for q week without feeding fish food, let them live off the rock.
Bob

-=DieselDave=- · 06/07/2007, 03:17 PM

I use Ehiem auto feeder it works great for flake food I had to mod mine with tape for pellets, You can have it feed up to 4 time per day, they are built well.

greenbean36191 · 06/07/2007, 03:33 PM

I don't even bother with feeding unless I'm going to be gone for more than two weeks. Fish don't need 3 meals a day and they're perfectly capable of finding food on their own when they are hungry. An autofeeder is just another thing to malfunction.

I learned my lesson once when I put an autofeeder on the tank and while I was gone the power went out for a few hours, so the lights and the autofeeder were out of sync when the power came back. The feeder worked perfectly but it was feeding the tank when the lights were off and no one was up to eat it. I came back to a huge mess.

Blazer88 · 06/07/2007, 03:42 PM

Thanks for the feedback guys, I appreciate it. Interesting point about not needing a feeder. Can I really go a week without any feeding? I considered the Ehiem feeder since it's battery operated so I don't have to worry about power outages, I'm just hoping it will work with spectrum pellets. I may just get the feeder (or skip it) and ask my neighbor (who has a freshwater tank and understands that fish aren't supposed to float) to stop by every other day or so and just make sure the tank has water in it and things are still alive. My tank has been running for two years and I'm confident my ATO functions properly and my equipment won't malfunction. I also have my heater on a Ranco controller so I'm not worried about it sticking.

Blazer88 · 06/08/2007, 06:23 AM

Ok, I got the Eheim auto feeder and I can't seem to figure it out. I put the batteries in and nothing happens. Is there a on/off switch somewhere? Also, -=DieselDave=-, why and how did you mod it for pellets?

samtheman · 06/08/2007, 06:55 AM

I feed with a feeder all the time. It is more consistant than I am and if you run it all the time, you don't worry being gone for a few days.

Blazer88 · 06/08/2007, 07:49 AM

Do you just have to put batteries in it to turn it on? I think I may have a dead unit. Not off to a good start!

LobsterOfJustice · 06/08/2007, 07:49 AM

I use a eheim feedair and I love it. I use it all the time to make sure my fish get fed multiple times every day (I feed when I'm home, and turn on/off preset times later in the day). I go away for one or two weeks and everything is fine, just change the batteries before you go. If you put pellets in it, the hopper is too heavy. I went to a craft store and got some sticky velcro and velcro'd it to my center brace (I believe that is the "modification" he was talking about). To a point I agree with greenbean... angelfish, butterflies, tangs, they all will find food (they are grazers)... open water fish will not be able to find as much. I would certianly not be comfortable leaving my four anthias for a week without food.

I got mine a while ago so I dont remember about it starting. Obvious step is to try different batteries, make sure you have them facing correctly, read the directions.

Blazer88 · 06/08/2007, 08:00 AM

Thanks for clarifying how and why it needs to be modded for pellets. I tried different batteries and put them in every configuration and it still doesn't turn on. Hopefully the LFS has a replacement as I'm leaving this afternoon.

sabbath · 06/08/2007, 08:04 AM

I use a feeder when I'm at my cabin most every weekend vac... Works for me. I don't want my fish getting so hungry that they are more apt start to checking out the corals.
Using battery powered with good batts.

Blazer88 · 06/08/2007, 08:34 AM

I'm glad to hear people have had good experiences with this feeder. I finally got mine to turn on by removing the screws in the back. I'm guessing the cover was pinching a wire or something. I'll keep it on all day to make sure everything will work properly. Thanks for everyones help!

corals b 4 bills · 06/08/2007, 10:09 AM

Whenever I use flake food I watch as it goes straight into the overflow, feeders can malfunction like anything else (like others stated during power outages), get your neighbor to check on it.

Jimbo327 · 06/08/2007, 11:07 AM

I've used it before and it works. I usually crush the flakes and pellets, and feed it once a day when I'm gone on vacation. No problems.

Village Idiot · 06/08/2007, 11:15 AM

Eheim has a new auto feeder that just came out...it can hold 2 types of food and no mods are needed for pellets. Here's a link: Eheim Feeder

piercho · 06/08/2007, 11:31 AM

I just noticed the new Eheim 2-channel screw feeder a couple of weeks ago. I wonder if anyone using it? Looks like a very precise way to feed different mixes of food.

InvertLover · 06/08/2007, 12:22 PM

power would still be a problem, unless your light timers are battery operated as well. ( or use a external clock that doesn't reset or stop counting when the power is out )

Village Idiot · 06/08/2007, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by InvertLover
power would still be a problem, unless your light timers are battery operated as well. ( or use a external clock that doesn't reset or stop counting when the power is out )

Unless your tank is in a room with no windows, I don't see the big deal in having the feeder feeding when the lights are off. There's plenty of ambient light in the room where my tank is located...plenty for the fish to find the food.

06/07/2007, 01:27 PM	#1
Blazer88 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 2,415	Going on vacation for a week...trust Ehiem auto feeder? I normally pay someone to stop by my house every few days and feed while I am on vacation. I am thinking I can just get the Eheim auto feeder and feed pellets once a day and not worry about it. My ATO has been running flawless for a few years now so I'm not worried about that (I'll just use a larger tub for the RO water). I've been on multiple vacations and none of my equipment has ever had a problem in the past and I think it should do just fine. Should I just get an auto feeder and not worry about paying someone to stop by? Is the Ehiem the best option?

06/07/2007, 02:29 PM	#3
thelostrican I hate to post Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Borinquen Posts: 222	i use a rena auto feeder ands its been good, however i have someone come in everyother day... __________________ Upgrading!!! 120 to 180.... Current Tank Info: 120 long tank...that looks like an investment bank....

06/07/2007, 03:09 PM	#4
adambaron Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pooler, GA Posts: 208	I used the ehiem and it worked fine. __________________ "In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move." -Douglas Adams Current Tank Info: 180 reef, 55gal african cichlid

06/07/2007, 03:17 PM	#6
-=DieselDave=- King of the brown sticks Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Lake Stevens Posts: 335	I use Ehiem auto feeder it works great for flake food I had to mod mine with tape for pellets, You can have it feed up to 4 time per day, they are built well. __________________ Thank you, David Current Tank Info: Elos System 100, Bubble King Mini160,.

06/07/2007, 03:33 PM	#7
greenbean36191 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 10,598	I don't even bother with feeding unless I'm going to be gone for more than two weeks. Fish don't need 3 meals a day and they're perfectly capable of finding food on their own when they are hungry. An autofeeder is just another thing to malfunction. I learned my lesson once when I put an autofeeder on the tank and while I was gone the power went out for a few hours, so the lights and the autofeeder were out of sync when the power came back. The feeder worked perfectly but it was feeding the tank when the lights were off and no one was up to eat it. I came back to a huge mess. __________________ Some say the sun rises in the East. Some say it rises in the West. The truth must be somewhere in the middle. Current Tank Info: tore them down to move and haven't had the time or money to set them back up

06/07/2007, 02:20 PM	#2
Blazer88 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 2,415	I'm leaving tomorrow, I'd love to hear some feedback.

06/07/2007, 03:16 PM	#5
rbursek Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: germantown,wi Posts: 2,339	I am the beliver of having someone stop in, neighbor, friend, ect, if a heater sticks on, ect, ect, I have been told by many that an estabilished tank can go for q week without feeding fish food, let them live off the rock. Bob

06/07/2007, 03:42 PM	#8
Blazer88 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 2,415	Thanks for the feedback guys, I appreciate it. Interesting point about not needing a feeder. Can I really go a week without any feeding? I considered the Ehiem feeder since it's battery operated so I don't have to worry about power outages, I'm just hoping it will work with spectrum pellets. I may just get the feeder (or skip it) and ask my neighbor (who has a freshwater tank and understands that fish aren't supposed to float) to stop by every other day or so and just make sure the tank has water in it and things are still alive. My tank has been running for two years and I'm confident my ATO functions properly and my equipment won't malfunction. I also have my heater on a Ranco controller so I'm not worried about it sticking.

06/08/2007, 06:23 AM	#9
Blazer88 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 2,415	Ok, I got the Eheim auto feeder and I can't seem to figure it out. I put the batteries in and nothing happens. Is there a on/off switch somewhere? Also, -=DieselDave=-, why and how did you mod it for pellets?

06/08/2007, 06:55 AM	#10
samtheman Moved On Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 605	I feed with a feeder all the time. It is more consistant than I am and if you run it all the time, you don't worry being gone for a few days.

06/08/2007, 07:49 AM	#11
Blazer88 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 2,415	Do you just have to put batteries in it to turn it on? I think I may have a dead unit. Not off to a good start!

06/08/2007, 07:49 AM	#12
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	I use a eheim feedair and I love it. I use it all the time to make sure my fish get fed multiple times every day (I feed when I'm home, and turn on/off preset times later in the day). I go away for one or two weeks and everything is fine, just change the batteries before you go. If you put pellets in it, the hopper is too heavy. I went to a craft store and got some sticky velcro and velcro'd it to my center brace (I believe that is the "modification" he was talking about). To a point I agree with greenbean... angelfish, butterflies, tangs, they all will find food (they are grazers)... open water fish will not be able to find as much. I would certianly not be comfortable leaving my four anthias for a week without food. I got mine a while ago so I dont remember about it starting. Obvious step is to try different batteries, make sure you have them facing correctly, read the directions. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

06/08/2007, 08:00 AM	#13
Blazer88 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 2,415	Thanks for clarifying how and why it needs to be modded for pellets. I tried different batteries and put them in every configuration and it still doesn't turn on. Hopefully the LFS has a replacement as I'm leaving this afternoon.

06/08/2007, 08:04 AM	#14
sabbath Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Twin City's Mn. Posts: 1,771	I use a feeder when I'm at my cabin most every weekend vac... Works for me. I don't want my fish getting so hungry that they are more apt start to checking out the corals. Using battery powered with good batts.

06/08/2007, 08:34 AM	#15
Blazer88 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 2,415	I'm glad to hear people have had good experiences with this feeder. I finally got mine to turn on by removing the screws in the back. I'm guessing the cover was pinching a wire or something. I'll keep it on all day to make sure everything will work properly. Thanks for everyones help!

06/08/2007, 10:09 AM	#16
corals b 4 bills Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Bay Area (Belmont). Posts: 2,381	Whenever I use flake food I watch as it goes straight into the overflow, feeders can malfunction like anything else (like others stated during power outages), get your neighbor to check on it. __________________ Reefkeeper - (ref-ke-per) n: Individual obsessed with placing disturbing amounts of electricity and seawater in close proximity for the purpose of maintaining live coral reef organisms. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon Bio Cube, HQI 150 watt Nanotuner~Vortech MP10W ES~Arctica Chiller~AC II~Tunze Osmolator ATO~ Tunze 9002 skimmer W/In Tank Cup~ Korallin Reactor W/PH Monitor~ Korallin Denitrator~APC Back-up~Phosban/Carbon Reactor.

06/08/2007, 11:07 AM	#17
Jimbo327 Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,363	I've used it before and it works. I usually crush the flakes and pellets, and feed it once a day when I'm gone on vacation. No problems. __________________ "If sometimes you feel little, useless, offended or depressed or get that loser feeling, always remember that you were once the fastest and most victorious sperm out of hundreds of millions..." Current Tank Info: 6gal JBJ NanoCube, DIY LED Mod, 1/15 JBJ Chiller, Tunze Osmolator, Homemade Kalkwasser Chamber

06/08/2007, 11:15 AM	#18
Village Idiot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 214	Eheim has a new auto feeder that just came out...it can hold 2 types of food and no mods are needed for pellets. Here's a link: Eheim Feeder

06/08/2007, 11:31 AM	#19
piercho Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Puget Sound Posts: 2,194	I just noticed the new Eheim 2-channel screw feeder a couple of weeks ago. I wonder if anyone using it? Looks like a very precise way to feed different mixes of food. __________________ Howard Current Tank Info: 65G reef shut down 2007. 25G planted.

06/08/2007, 12:22 PM	#20
InvertLover Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 143	power would still be a problem, unless your light timers are battery operated as well. ( or use a external clock that doesn't reset or stop counting when the power is out ) __________________ To reaquascape or no to reaquascape? What a question! Current Tank Info: Two tank system, one 30 gal and one 10 gal ( to become a filterfeeder tank), with sump.