Who Uses Feeding Timers?

[Dan F]

I'm curious who uses feeding timers on their return pumps and/or filters. I'm also wondering what brands are out there.

I use a Blueline Tsunami wavemaker. I have my return pump and canisters (purely mechanical) on the feeding timer. My biological filtration is run off a different pump, so I don't have to worry about killing bacteria. I set it for the longest delay (about 40 minutes) - I could probably get by with a shorter time, but I have eartheaters that tend to be very slow feeders.

It really cuts down on wasted food and the nitrates that go with it. It is kind of cool the way the fish react to the pumps shutting off as well, definitely a Pavlovian response.

I attached a couple photos showing the way I mounted the timer in the cabinet:

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Only use them when I go on vacations

Really takes a large % of fun out of fishkeeping if you ask me.
One of the reason im excited to go home everyday after school is to feed my fishes.

 

[aclockworkorange]

Hey Dan! Hows it going? Your tank is looking great!

I recently bought some of the eheim feeders for my vacation over Christmas and they have worked great so far.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Heard eheim feeders cost a ton. I just use those cheap ones which doesn't have so many features. Basically anything that can drop food once a day is good for me. But just in case, i got my dad to look out incase the feeder isn't working properly.

 

[aclockworkorange]

Heard eheim feeders cost a ton. I just use those cheap ones which doesn't have so many features. Basically anything that can drop food once a day is good for me. But just in case, i got my dad to look out incase the feeder isn't working properly.

Got them on sale at petsmart for $30 each. You can program up to 4 feedings a day. Not too shabby...

 

[Dan F]

Hey Dan! Hows it going? Your tank is looking great!

I recently bought some of the eheim feeders for my vacation over Christmas and they have worked great so far.

Thanks, the tank is finally starting to fill out as things grow.

 

[Dan F]

I guess I wasn't very specific as to what I meant by "Feeding Timers".

What this timer does is shut down the return pump, circulation pumps, and filtration for a certain amount of time. You push the "Feed" button on the wavemaker and it shuts off everything for anywhere from 30 seconds to 40 minutes - I have it set for the maximum delay, 40 minutes.

 

[frnchjeep]

I guess I wasn't very specific as to what I meant by "Feeding Timers".

What this timer does is shut down the return pump, circulation pumps, and filtration for a certain amount of time. You push the "Feed" button on the wavemaker and it shuts off everything for anywhere from 30 seconds to 40 minutes - I have it set for the maximum delay, 40 minutes.

What's the point of it? so the food doesn't end up in the sump?

 

[Dan F]

What's the point of it? so the food doesn't end up in the sump?

Exactly - It keeps food out of the sump and filters. If I add flake or floating pellets without turning off the pumps a large portion of the food goes right down the overflows and into the filter socks.

Benefits:
No wasted food
Less filter maintenance
Less nitrates

 

[frnchjeep]

Nifty. I put all mine on the same power strip and turn that off. With the timer, you don't have to hang around to turn it back on. Nice. What does that unit go for?