So in a few weeks I'll be going on vacation and was wondering what everyone uses for a fish feeder. My fear is the feeder malfunctions and doesn't feed or dumps more than set and wreaks havoc with polluted water. I have 2 tanks..my cichlid tank and my son's 10 gallon w 2 guppies. I've been watching some videos and really not alot out there but what I've seen is the eheim. Curious on what everyone uses. Time away will be roughly 8 days
Auto fish feeder
- Thread starter Jeff5347
- Start date
Hello; First let me say that while eight days is a bit more than I usually have left my tanks, it is not out of the question to just let them fast. Do a WC before leaving. Feed well the last day or so, but not enough to sour the water, and leave them without food. Mature fish most likely will be fine.
That said I have used the automatic feeders. I used the sort run by an AA battery with a clock mechanism which turns a small drum. The battery will run one for several weeks and the drum can hold over a months dry food.
The key is to set up the feeder many days ahead of time. It will likely take several days to adjust the feeder. You may have to try a few different sorts of dry foods. There was a way to adjust the amount of food dumped on my unit. It dumped twice a day because a clock mechanism goes around twice a day.
It will also be necessary to work out the placement of the unit. At first my unit was dumping part of the food onto the top of the tank cover. I had to move it over a bit. It is also wise to keep it away from bubbler or other filter water spray or the food may get damp and clogg at the chute.
I had to leave my tanks for just over a month at one point and the autofeeder described worked just fine. I also had jobs for two years that only allowed me to come home on weekends. I used the feeders with good success during that time and discovered that the batteries and food drum were good for around six weeks.
One final note. DO NOT get someone to come in to feed the fish. Disaster is the more common outcome. It has happened to me and many others.
Best bet is to just leave them for the eight days. Likely a much smaller risk of a problem than any other strategy.
good luck
That said I have used the automatic feeders. I used the sort run by an AA battery with a clock mechanism which turns a small drum. The battery will run one for several weeks and the drum can hold over a months dry food.
The key is to set up the feeder many days ahead of time. It will likely take several days to adjust the feeder. You may have to try a few different sorts of dry foods. There was a way to adjust the amount of food dumped on my unit. It dumped twice a day because a clock mechanism goes around twice a day.
It will also be necessary to work out the placement of the unit. At first my unit was dumping part of the food onto the top of the tank cover. I had to move it over a bit. It is also wise to keep it away from bubbler or other filter water spray or the food may get damp and clogg at the chute.
I had to leave my tanks for just over a month at one point and the autofeeder described worked just fine. I also had jobs for two years that only allowed me to come home on weekends. I used the feeders with good success during that time and discovered that the batteries and food drum were good for around six weeks.
One final note. DO NOT get someone to come in to feed the fish. Disaster is the more common outcome. It has happened to me and many others.
Best bet is to just leave them for the eight days. Likely a much smaller risk of a problem than any other strategy.
good luck
8 days is nothing, I have left my fish for 2 weeks or even a little more without feeding, and they have beed fine.
The only time I have ever lost fish on vacation, is when I had someone else feed them, or had a malfunction with one of those feeders, since then, I have just stopped any feeding when gone.
By not feeding you also help to maintain better water quality, which to me is much more important than some missed feedings.
In nature periods of going without food for weeks can be normal.
The only time I have ever lost fish on vacation, is when I had someone else feed them, or had a malfunction with one of those feeders, since then, I have just stopped any feeding when gone.
By not feeding you also help to maintain better water quality, which to me is much more important than some missed feedings.
In nature periods of going without food for weeks can be normal.
Just do water change before you leave for Vacation, generally fish don't die without food for weeks, make sure to cover your tank so nothing can get in or out but enough for air exchange then you should be fine, don't over worry because they will be fine 
Ok thanks guys. Figure I'll be leaving on a Friday night or Saturday morning. I was already planning a water change right before we leave and feed a generous but not a rediculous amount...alsomcheck my filter and clean any crap or junk out to make sure no clogs. Assuming I'll get back the following Sunday so that day I'll WC and feed as well. My tanks are pretty covered so that should be fine.
I have a few guys I really don't want to lose such as my JD's and HRP as they are pretty sizeable fish
Should the guppy tank be ok as well? I would do the same checks on that tank too. My chichlid tank has no plants so I'll keep the líghts off but my guppy tank has water lettuce, anibius and Java fern so I'll have to let those light operate as normal
I have a few guys I really don't want to lose such as my JD's and HRP as they are pretty sizeable fish
Should the guppy tank be ok as well? I would do the same checks on that tank too. My chichlid tank has no plants so I'll keep the líghts off but my guppy tank has water lettuce, anibius and Java fern so I'll have to let those light operate as normal
They will be fine and the least to worry, they will eat plant matter like usual in the wild, you might even see new baby after you back from vacation lol
hello; I use a timer on all my planted tanks for the lights as a matter of day to day routine.
Yes sorry that's what I meant too, the lights are on a timer
If you absolutely have to have someone come feed the fish and check on your place, leave a dollar store labeled pill container out with the food in there, HIDE THE REST. That way they know how much to feed on one day and can only feed that. Write some clear instructions for other basic things.
Worked well when my fiance's coworker came by on our week and a half trip. Usually if it's only a week long I don't worry about food.
Worked well when my fiance's coworker came by on our week and a half trip. Usually if it's only a week long I don't worry about food.