Help for feeding while away

[alphacenturi]

Hi,

am fairly new to this hobby and urgently need some advice if possible. I have a mixed reef tank and am due to have to go away several times this year for up to 5 days at a time. Currently I have a flat lid (2 piece perspex) on top of the tank but when I am away there will be no one available to come in and fed the fish so think I need to get an auto feeder but will then have to get a new lid so can get one with a hole cut in to accommodate it. I need to decide on a feeder first and there are so many out there and such mixed reviews I would appreciate advice from anyone who has experience of them. Am very wary of those that end up dumping all the food into the tank when they go wrong! My main concern is being able to feed my longhorn cowfish as the others would probably be fine going without for a few days but I dont think she will. TIA for any advice.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Look into the Avast PLANK auto feeder. Heard good things about those

 

[alphacenturi]

Unfortunately no, on these occasions the person who would normally do this is not available ;o(

 

[fishface NJ]

I like the Eheim. Not too expensive. Easy to program and works as advertised

https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/e...r-eheim/?searchid=9335688&search_query=feeder

 

[fostersj]

I have used the Eheim for the past few years, only problem I have had with them is when I am doing maintenance, I have knocked them into the tank destroying them. Now I have it placed on the the mounting bracket beside the lights and my lid is perspex with netting so the food falls through

 

[Skippy The Meh]

Not sure if youve ever heard of “Rover” its an app where you can hire someone to take care of your animals while gone. Idk where you live but most places have people participating in the app. To me, thats option 1 because feeding is really my least concern when it comes to salt water.

Next dont go by an expensive lid to accommodate a feeder. You can go on amazon and buy a roll of plastic screen and go to hardware store and buy some 1” wide x 1/2” thick trim and use that to make a custom lid. Then shoot it with some spray paint and your good to go ive done this for years.

BRS has some quality auto feeders i recommend getting your pellet food and feeders there. If your going the pellet food route its important to get a decent food, some are loaded with toxins. Vitalis is my current favorite.

If you have some money to spend BRS also has a auto feeders that feeds frozen food.

use some cheap blink cameras from amazon to keep an eye on stuff while im gone, it can either be piece of mind or a life savor.

 

[Blitheran]

Avast Plank Feeder. I just left for Hawaii for 6 days came back and tank was perfectly fine. My tank is ACRO only.

 

[mbuxton]

I'd also suggest Eheim. They last for years and the one I had that did go wrong just stopped working. I also have a Hydros Auto Feeder which is nice as it logs each time it feeds, but you have to invest into the Hydros eco system.

 

[get-salty]

I've using the Eheim for 4 yrs and it works flawlessly. I have a Top Lid lid - i have it taped on the left side using small size TDO pellets. The small sz pellets falls thru the mesh netting and onto a food ring - something like this from amazon

Amazon product ASIN B0DZ5M2SRS
The setup works fantastic for me and it wont break your wallet and can be removed.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I also use eheim feeders, mine are 5+ years old and still work perfectly.

 

[alphacenturi]

I have used the Eheim for the past few years, only problem I have had with them is when I am doing maintenance, I have knocked them into the tank destroying them. Now I have it placed on the the mounting bracket beside the lights and my lid is perspex with netting so the food falls through

Thank you for yiuradvice,any chance of a picture your lid? Would be interested to see how lots with perspex and netting

 

[alphacenturi]

I also use eheim feeders, mine are 5+ years old and still work perfectly.

thank you, is there any particular model you recommend? I notice they have a few different ones

 

[alphacenturi]

I've using the Eheim for 4 yrs and it works flawlessly. I have a Top Lid lid - i have it taped on the left side using small size TDO pellets. The small sz pellets falls thru the mesh netting and onto a food ring - something like this from amazon

Amazon product ASIN B0DZ5M2SRS
The setup works fantastic for me and it wont break your wallet and can be removed.

Havn't seen Top Lid Lids in the UK (still searching) but sounds like a good idea. My LFS got me a lid when I first got the setup but it was really expensive as only two pieces of flat perspex, no handles or cutouts. (I have mobile phone pop holders stuck on so I can lift it out ;o) Any chance of a photo?

 

[alphacenturi]

Look into the Avast PLANK auto feeder. Heard good things about those

Thank you, will do

 

[alphacenturi]

Not sure if youve ever heard of “Rover” its an app where you can hire someone to take care of your animals while gone. Idk where you live but most places have people participating in the app. To me, thats option 1 because feeding is really my least concern when it comes to salt water.

Next dont go by an expensive lid to accommodate a feeder. You can go on amazon and buy a roll of plastic screen and go to hardware store and buy some 1” wide x 1/2” thick trim and use that to make a custom lid. Then shoot it with some spray paint and your good to go ive done this for years.

BRS has some quality auto feeders i recommend getting your pellet food and feeders there. If your going the pellet food route its important to get a decent food, some are loaded with toxins. Vitalis is my current favorite.

If you have some money to spend BRS also has a auto feeders that feeds frozen food.

use some cheap blink cameras from amazon to keep an eye on stuff while im gone, it can either be piece of mind or a life savor.

Hi, thank you for all your advice but I am in the UK and think you may not be? Don't think we have "Rover" over here but prob defo not where I live as am out in the country. Will look into a "blink" camera - have ben trying to find an underwater camera that I can view while I am away but no luck so far. Any suggestions ?

 

[alphacenturi]

I like the Eheim. Not too expensive. Easy to program and works as advertised

https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/e...r-eheim/?searchid=9335688&search_query=feeder

Thank you, appreciate the advice

 

[fostersj]

Thank you for yiuradvice,any chance of a picture your lid? Would be interested to see how lots with perspex and netting

Sorry the quality isn't great, I had it custom made by ClearView lids back in 2022, there is a Perspex cover that can go over the netting but I leave it off

 

[alphacenturi]

Sorry the quality isn't great, I had it custom made by ClearView lids back in 2022, there is a Perspex cover that can go over the netting but I leave it off

thank you for getting back to me so quickly, gives me food for thought, I need the perspex lid as well cos I have some "jumpers" in the tank ;o)

 

[get-salty]

Havn't seen Top Lid Lids in the UK (still searching) but sounds like a good idea. My LFS got me a lid when I first got the setup but it was really expensive as only two pieces of flat perspex, no handles or cutouts. (I have mobile phone pop holders stuck on so I can lift it out ;o) Any chance of a photo?

This is before I taped it on the lid - in red is where it sits now

 

[Chocka]

Plank all the way and a cheap Wyze camera and Avid mount so you can check in a few times at feeding time