Recommendations: Sinking pellets for auto-feeder

[beesnreefs]

TL;DR version: looking for recommendations for pellets that:

1. Sink fairly quickly
2. Work well in a HYDROS auto-feeder
3. BONUS if they are good for multiple types of fish

Longer version: All my fish are trained to eat both frozen and pellets. While home I feed them three times a day. I also travel for work frequently. I bought a HYDROS auto-feeder so I can feed them pellets while away. However the TDO Chroma Boost pellets don’t sink very quickly so I end up losing a bunch of them into the overflow. I’m looking for recommendations on pellets that might sink quicker than the TDO and work well with this auto-feeder

 

[ninjamyst]

You need feeder ring. Plenty available on Amazon but I recommend one with a magnet vs suction cup if you are going to be away for a few days.

 

[ninjamyst]

MagFeeder Magnetic Feeding Ring

Max Tank Thickness - 3/4" Feeding rings are a great idea for pretty much any tank that utilizes a type of overflow weir or wish for a repeatable place for finicky fish to find food. Most foods will float a slight bit, and when food is added to the aquarium many reefers will notice most of it...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I use the NLS medium sinking pellets #1 & 2. Does just fine in the cheapo Amazon wifi feeder (eerily looks like hydros).

 

[beesnreefs]

MagFeeder Magnetic Feeding Ring

Max Tank Thickness - 3/4" Feeding rings are a great idea for pretty much any tank that utilizes a type of overflow weir or wish for a repeatable place for finicky fish to find food. Most foods will float a slight bit, and when food is added to the aquarium many reefers will notice most of it...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Thanks! I’ve thought about this as well. I do have a custom mesh lid and have looked into getting a feeding ring that installs to it.

That said if I can find a pellet that just sinks quicker if like to go that route first.

 

[beesnreefs]

I use the NLS medium sinking pellets #1 & 2. Does just fine in the cheapo Amazon wifi feeder (eerily looks like hydros).

Thanks! Do the NLS sink fairly quickly?

 

[JGT]

I use PE pellets and Ocean Nutrition. Both come in different sizes and sink quick.

 

[exnisstech]

For pellets my go to is ocean nutrion formula 1 and 2, I mix them. They sink pretty quick and all my fish eat them.
Well all but my copperband. They have different sizes also

 

[WirelessMike]

You need feeder ring. Plenty available on Amazon but I recommend one with a magnet vs suction cup if you are going to be away for a few days.

How did I not these were a thing? Lol thanks @ninjamyst

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Thanks! Do the NLS sink fairly quickly?

Yes, indeed.

 

[KStatefan]

The Nyos pellts sink quick.

 

[ninjamyst]

Thanks! I’ve thought about this as well. I do have a custom mesh lid and have looked into getting a feeding ring that installs to it.

That said if I can find a pellet that just sinks quicker if like to go that route first.

These go in the tank and attach to the glass. Lid doesn't affect it. There are no pellets that will 100% sink from the water surface. It's not about the pellets....it's the water surface that's preventing the pellets from sinking when they drop from the feeder. The only other thing you can is to increase water surface agitation. Instead of looking for pellets that sink, look for the best nutritional pellets which many will agree is TDO. You actually don't want pellets that sink too fast. You want them to be floating in the water column so your fish gets to them before they fall into the sand bed.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Finally got around to being home long enough. Here is a vid of feeding from the auto feeder/manual feeding with the pellets.

I used to use a feed ring, but back when I had a rabbitfish, it was a pig and would hover at the ring @ feeding time and not allow anyone to eat.

 

[beesnreefs]

Finally got around to being home long enough. Here is a vid of feeding from the auto feeder/manual feeding with the pellets.

I used to use a feed ring, but back when I had a rabbitfish, it was a pig and would hover at the ring @ feeding time and not allow anyone to eat.

Thanks for sharing this! Ordering some NLS pellets now :)

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Thanks for sharing this! Ordering some NLS pellets now :)

Formula 1&2, small size. The NLS ones work too, but these do it better IMHO.

 

[homer1475]

You really need a ring. Why feed inferior food when all you need is a ring so they don't float down the overflow?

All my fish have gotten used to my ring, and actually wait at it.

 

[HBtank]

Also recommend a ring. I personally make a mix of pellets and have my pumps on a feed mode schedule the 4x a day it feeds.

If I were to recommend any it would be PE Mysis pellets and TDO Chroma Boost Pellets to start. I just use small size pellets as they work with the common auto feeders on lower settings (the Eheim style ones, many rip-offs of these around) and I have not seen any fish "reject" pellets for being to small.

 

[HBtank]

MagFeeder Magnetic Feeding Ring

Max Tank Thickness - 3/4" Feeding rings are a great idea for pretty much any tank that utilizes a type of overflow weir or wish for a repeatable place for finicky fish to find food. Most foods will float a slight bit, and when food is added to the aquarium many reefers will notice most of it...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

This one works good for me.

 

[HBtank]

Thanks! I’ve thought about this as well. I do have a custom mesh lid and have looked into getting a feeding ring that installs to it.

That said if I can find a pellet that just sinks quicker if like to go that route first.

I have never seen them uniform like this, even sinking ones will have some % that seem to have more air in them and float long enough to make it to an overflow.

 

[homer1475]

This one works good for me.

Same one I have!

Great product, works well, and is easy to disassemble and clean.