Auto feeders...anyone use these...???

Z

zimbra11

Do you guys ever use these? I think it would be nice to use one for the morning feeding when I am away at work, that way I can let the lights do there programmed sunrise without having to turn the lights on prior to the cycle...does anyone use them for this purpose? Also, I will be going on vacation soon and need a reliable unit...which one do you guys recommend?
Thanks !!!
 
I use an Eheim Autofeeder to drop in pellets twice a day. Love it. They are available at Petsmart.
 
Thanks Marc...do you have any of those feeder contraptions in stock, the things that help the food sink ??...if you do, let me know and I will place my order.
 
http://www.petco.com/product/112644/Petco-Auto-Fish-Feeder.aspx?cm_mmc=CSEMGoogleAdExtProd%20-_-Feeders-_-Petco-_-1313061&gclid=CK2Mtc2EprgCFUxp7AodfQYAWA

I use these

Have a bunch of them

No problems with them so far.
 
Great, thanks for the replys guys...I forgot that I actually have an auto feeder, but it is a cheap one and can only be set to feed once or twice per day...the major flaw in it's design is that if you want to feed twice per day...it has to dispense 12 hours apart. It only has 2 settings...so one of those feedings will occur in the dark [smilie=surprised.gif] ...so I will invest in a better one.
 
I use the same one Marc does with one of his chimneys, it's perfect for feeding pellets. I will actually be getting the new feeder for the apex when it's available.
 
Bumped an old thread it seems, tapatalk put this at the top of the list. Testing tapatalk for just a day and hate it even more than before.
 
@Wes wrote:
Bumped an old thread it seems said:
Hey Wes I like tapatalk lol I mean is not that bad I guess but that's all I've used, what other app could I use that supports this and other websites?
Click to expand...
 
I use a hydor feeder when I go on vacation. Not sure where I got it but it works great. I don't use it on a regular basis though.
 
@Wes wrote:
I use the same one Marc does with one of his chimneys said:
It's not difficult to mod most any feeder to be controlled by apex. Could do it off a power port or vdm.
Click to expand...
 
@Ben Runnels wrote:
[I]@Wes wrote:[/I][quote="I use the same one Marc does with one of his chimneys said:
It's not difficult to mod most any feeder to be controlled by apex. Could do it off a power port or vdm."]
You have steps to do this? Most feeders I have seen are run off batteries you just cut leads and run them to variable port?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
 
I use the Eheim feeders on my fresh water guys and it helps keep a measured amount....I tend to get in a hurry at times and give them too much food.
 
@kuyatwo wrote:
[I]@Ben Runnels wrote:[/I][quote="[I]@Wes wrote:[/I][quote="I use the same one Marc does with one of his chimneys said:
It's not difficult to mod most any feeder to be controlled by apex. Could do it off a power port or vdm."]
You have steps to do this? Most feeders I have seen are run off batteries you just cut leads and run them to variable port?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk"]
+1
Click to expand...
 
@kuyatwo wrote:
[I]@Ben Runnels wrote:[/I][quote="[I]@Wes wrote:[/I][quote="I use the same one Marc does with one of his chimneys said:
It's not difficult to mod most any feeder to be controlled by apex. Could do it off a power port or vdm."]
You have steps to do this? Most feeders I have seen are run off batteries you just cut leads and run them to variable port?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk"]
There are a couple of topics on the RA forums explaining how to do it but it's essentially switch it to power from external source and control the power by with the energy bar. I think it could be done easier by using a transistor hooked up to the manual feed button and then momentarily pull a pin high to simulate the button press. I'm not sure how you do that with the apex but I think the breakout module should allow you to do so.

I found this guide on manhattan reefs forum for the eheim. Should be able to adapt to most any feeder. http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/diy-do-yourself/126777-successfully-hooked-eheim-feeder-up-apex.html#post1177927
Click to expand...
 
You could use the breakout box (you can build your own....there nothing secret inside one) to work a relay that pushes the button, thus cycling the unit or you can take the button out and put a relay in that the controller pulls down simulating the button press thus doing a cycle as well.....its a hack no matter how you want to do it for the feeder but, you can make a jack that you can plug in to the feeder when you want it controlled or pull out the control line when you want to go manual....just some thoughts.
 
Yeah, it's a little hardware hacking but it's not hard for sure. Good project for some people to cut their teeth on :)

I'm just not so familiar with the apex as I don't have one so I didn't want to say something was possible if it wasn't. I'm loving my reef angel but I'm a programmer and hardware hacker so it's perfect for me.
 
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