Auto-feeders & food used

I'm very interested to hear who uses auto-feeders and a little about your feeding schedule, and what food you use in the auto-feeder.  When I had freshwater fish, I used this auto-feeder  (http://www.marinedepot.com/Eheim_Feed_Air_Automatic_Feeder_Automatic_Fish_Food_Feeders-Eheim-EH3581-FIFDFEAF-vi.html), but it didn't work out very well because I was feeding New Life Spectrum pellets and they were too small for the adjustable opening on it.  Let's hear who is using auto-feeders and what you're feeding.  Thanks in advance!
--AJ

 

I use the Eheim feeder you linked above and feed flake in the autofeeder due to the ease of feeding it in this manner. When I do this I have the return pump on a timer so it shuts off 5 minutes prior to feeding and comes on after 1 hour so that the food isn't wasted (and polluting the water) by going straight down the overflow. We were gone for 3, one week vacations last year and it worked great. That coupled with a 20 gallon kalk ATO made the tank virtually on auto pilot but did have someone check on it and put a couple of gallons of RO/DI water in the ATO "just in case"...

 

Nice good info Dave...Thank you!

--AJ

 

i just posted this same question on reef central earlier today, and got the same answer. heres the link http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1974076

 

I use that feeder. But I modify to work right. First I only use New Life Spectrum pellets. They are kinda heavy so I fill it half way. If you fill it all the way and your batteries are on the way down you may not get the torque you need to make it turn fast. Also yeah the spacing is not right so I use electrical tape to secure the spacer right where I need it. I wrap it tight and NEVER adjust it......And change out your batteries often.

When I use this feeder with these parameters.......I find it to work great. I have tried other ones and this one is the best IMO. But they all kinda suck.

Oh, pump off 10 minutes before....off for 30 minutes after. The clock on this feeder does not drift much at all. Too bad Neptune doesn't make an auto feeder, huh?

 

Seems like most people use that Eheim feeder. Wish I wouldn't have sold it when I exited freshwater. Back then, I also used the New Life Spectrum pellets, but the Cichlid blend vs. the Saltwater blend, and I had to do the electrical tape trick too. Even then, I still found that it put in a little more food than I wanted it too. Maybe I just need to give the adjustments a little more work.

Jim, you mentioned that you turn the pump off 10 minutes before and 30 minutes after, but what about your powerheads? Do you leave them on? I have the WXM module so I can put my MP40s into feed mode on a given schedule, but I know you also have MP40s and don't do that...unless you feed when your MP40s are in "night" mode. I would like to hear more about this.

Also, how many times a day are you feeding with your auto feeder Jim? What about you Dave? I was hoping to auto-feed New Life Spectrum pellets twice a day, then supplement with frozen, nori and phytoplankton at night when I'm home.

Thanks for the info guys. Going into new regimens is a whole lot more comfortable knowing that it's a method that's been successfully used by others with great tanks.

--AJ

 

I use this one.  I am unfortunately on my second though after dropping the first into the tank and I tried taking it apart to make sure things dried.  Well taking it apart didn't go so well and I probably should have never tried.  I like this one though because each compartment holds quite a bit of food and can handles about anything.  I usually put some flakes, mainly pellets and some sort of powder coral food(not sure if this is worth it but I did it)
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.c...catid=4443

 

I feed once in the morning with it and then I feed frozen at night. I let the vortechs rip during the feed.

I do not have the WXM module yet (getting it from Craig tomorrow) but when I do I will put the vortechs in feed mode because as it stands now there is a violent flow that makes catching food a chore.

 

Hey Jim, let me know when you do and I can tell you how to program them. Or I can just let you log into my controller and see my config. It's pretty darn easy.

--AJ

 

I have been using the cheapo time clock style ones they sell at wall-mart for $12. http://www.petmountain.com/product/fish-feeders/11442-519248/penn-plax-daily-double-ii-automatic-fish-feeder.html
I put dried flake seaweed( http://www.saltysupply.com/Julian-Sprung-s-Sea-Veggies-Mixed-Seaweed-Flakes-p/tl3591.htm ) in mine for the tangs.
I think it helps with grazers diets. I still feed as usual though, seaweed clips, frozen, and home made frozen. Just have to make sure it stays dry in the tumbler.

 

I just scored a brand new Eheim auto feeders on eBay for $19 shipped. What a deal!

--AJ