Going on vacation, what feeds fish?

V

Vipex23

Large Fish
#1
May 26, 2003
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#1
Can someone here recommend a product that'll automatically feed my fish while I'm away. I'm going away for 7 days next month so I still have time to get the product. I have 3 tanks which are listed below, so I need 3 different feeding devices.

Also, is something sold that'll automatically turn on my tank lights on?

Thanks.
 

Leopardess

Leopardess

Superstar Fish
#2
May 3, 2003
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#2
For the lights, go to walmart and pick up a timer. Then, just set the time you want the lights to be on and off, plug it into your lights and the wall - and forget it! (just set it...and forget it! LOL). I use a timer on the 55 anyway, that way I don't have to remember to do it;)

for food, they do make things that you drop in the tank that dissolve over time, but I wouldn't use them. You have to have the right water conditions, and they can dissolve too quickly or too slowly.

BUT...they do make something called an automatic feeder. It clips onto the edge of the tank..and has a timer built into it, and as a peg on the timer goes around, it releases some food into the tank. I've never used one, but I have seen them around here:)
 

Aquaman

Aquaman

Large Fish
#5
Oct 22, 2002
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South Africa
#5
My 2 cents:

1. Friend = Bad Idea. They overfeed, forget to feed, feed triple at one sitting etc
2. For just 7 days, I reckon that the dissolving blocks are the way to go. Sure, it's not ideal, but at least your fish will be getting some food. The dissolving blocks contain an assortment of food, and are inexpensive, and last for differing periods. The ones I've used last for up to 14 days. Use more than one block per tank, if necessary.
3. As Leopardess said, get a electric timer for your lights. These are not complicated devices. I set mine for 12 hours, but with a 2 hour "siesta" at lunch times with the lights off.
 

W

wayne at home

Large Fish
#9
Jan 19, 2003
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Stavanger, Norway
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#9
Skip the feeder blocks. I've just been awa for 2 weeks and had no losses while away. What I did was
1. Put all lights on timer.
2. Get some floating plants a month - before - great natural filters (remember no water changes while you're gone)
3. Big water changes before you go, or rather, a aseries of small like 10%,20%,10% in the 3 days before I left.
I didn't hoover the bottom in my fry tank asI wanted a good layer of debris to grow infusoria as unfortunately my apistogramma spawned a week before I left.
4. Frien with tank cam round every 3 days and followed written instructions.

I got back,. a bit of algae, no dead large fish in tanks plus it looks like a bunch of 2 week apistogramma norberti made it.
 

V

Vipex23

Large Fish
#10
May 26, 2003
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#10
I have been hearing horror stories about those things that dissolve in the tank over time so I want to go with an automatic feeder. Any recommendations for each of my tanks listed below. I make my online purchases from Petwarehouse (not Petswarehouse). This is the link to the automatic feeders section.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/sc_view.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=7951

What would you recommend for my 55 gallon, 10 gallon and other 10 gallon?

Thanks :)
 

B

blueinfinity

Medium Fish
#13
Jul 14, 2003
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#13
if i found a GOOD automatic feede rid probably use it instead of feeding manually
this would give my fish eve steady meals

some of the feeders have multiple chambers to allow for different foods

but as for what u want.. im not sure. small ones for the 10's maybe 2 larger for your 55?
 

Scrumpy

Scrumpy

Large Fish
#14
Oct 22, 2002
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London, UK
#14
I've got a Hagen automatic feeder for my 33 gallon tropiquarium. I've had it a few weeks and so far so good. The tank has an automatic light timer which is great.
I followed advice and didn't bother with food for my male Betta when I went away for 6 days recently...or light. There's no way I can fit a timer to a 20 litre tank...or automatic feeder. :(
I fed him well and did lots of water changes and gravel vacuuming before I left...but came back to a severe case of fin rot. The first time ever.
I don't know if he was stressed by the darkness and lack of food? I feel pretty guilty that's for sure.
I think another time I'll get a feeding block....and set a table lamp next to the tank on a timer so he gets some light.
 

Scrumpy

Scrumpy

Large Fish
#15
Oct 22, 2002
214
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London, UK
#15
Originally posted by Vipex23
Any recommendations for each of my tanks listed below.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/sc_view.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=7951


Thanks :)
Click to expand...
I have the Nutrafin ProFeed Automatic Feeder from that page. It does one or two feeds a day. It's pretty basic and only has one compartment for one type of food but it's ok for me. You can adjust how much food is released each time.
I simply put flakes and some broken up algae waffers in the food compartment....and hoped the cories would be ok on excess flakes and no sinking pellets. They were.
 

luvmygobies

luvmygobies

Medium Fish
#18
May 30, 2003
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#18
I've tried an automatic feeder before and I wasn't too happy with it.... Even on the highest release setting it didn't release enough food for my 30gal.... But those guys are power-munchers so I don't know if I could ever find something that would give them enough. ;)
 

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