Fish Feeder For Long Trip. Rena Vs Pentair Feeder. Which Is Best? Need

[valmont007]

Hello.

I am going away for the summer and I am looking for an automatic fish feeder which can feed my fish for several months.

It seem like the two long term feeders are

1.Rena automatic aquarium fish feeder by aquarium pharm.
http/www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/216517/i/7/product.web

Which advertises to be able to hold about 3.5 OZ of fish flakes

2.Automatic fish feeder with hopper by Pentair aquatics
http/www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/198908/product.web

Which advertises being able to feed twice a day for 4 months.


I was wondering if anyone here own these feeders or any other fish feeder for long term trips and can tell me your thoughts on these.

The second one I mention said that it can feed for 4 months but does not say exactly how much food it holds, so I have a hard time comparing them to each other.

If anyone could let me know much many grams or OZ of fish flakes the pantair aquatics can hold, that would really help out too.

Thanks again for all your help.

 

[rdd1952]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Using auto feeders is very risky. They are notorious for jamming and not putting any food in the tank or dumping it all too fast. Neither is a good option. Your best bet is to find someone you trust to come by once a week and feed them. They can easily go a week or more without food. You can pre-measure the food into cups and just instruct them to pour one cup in each week. Hid the rest of the food so they can't add more than is necessary. Regardless of whether you use the auto feeder or not, you still need someone to check on them occasionally to make sure the filter hasn't stopped or something like that.

 

[valmont007]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Using auto feeders is very risky. They are notorious for jamming and not putting any food in the tank or dumping it all too fast. Neither is a good option. Your best bet is to find someone you trust to come by once a week and feed them. They can easily go a week or more without food. You can pre-measure the food into cups and just instruct them to pour one cup in each week. Hid the rest of the food so they can't add more than is necessary. Regardless of whether you use the auto feeder or not, you still need someone to check on them occasionally to make sure the filter hasn't stopped or something like that.

The last time I had someone over to feed my fish. They thought it would be funny if they got a million feeder fish into my tank.

When I got back, I found my fish introduced to so many diseases that it eventually killed all the fish. I had to buy so many medicines none of which worked. I am going to plug my fish feeder and air pump into a UPS in case the power goes out.

Thanks.

 

[Mikaila31]

I've never had any luck w/ automatic feeders and completely agree w/ what rdd said. Just make sure its someone you trust. Also you will most likely need water changes done if you are going to be gone for months, or else you may have problems with the water, like high nitrates with can lead to problems with the fish.

 

[valmont007]

I've never had any luck w/ automatic feeders and completely agree w/ what rdd said. Just make sure its someone you trust. Also you will most likely need water changes done if you are going to be gone for months, or else you may have problems with the water, like high nitrates with can lead to problems with the fish.

Are even the $40 + feeders bad. I could understand about the ones which are like $10. The RENA is like an $80 feeder.

You have given me a lot of think about.

Thanks.

 

[rdd1952]

From my experence with their air pumps, I think RENA makes good products so theirs may work just fine. But for that long a time, any power falure from an electrical storm could easily make it go haywire or malfunction. I certainly understand your concerns about someone messing up the tank though. Tough call there.

I'm also going to move this to the Tropical Discussion forum so more people will see it and hopefully give you more help.

 

[derbrit]

I've never had any luck w/ automatic feeders and completely agree w/ what rdd said. Just make sure its someone you trust. Also you will most likely need water changes done if you are going to be gone for months, or else you may have problems with the water, like high nitrates with can lead to problems with the fish.

Are even the $40 + feeders bad. I could understand about the ones which are like $10. The RENA is like an $80 feeder.

You have given me a lot of think about.

Thanks.

Did you ever decide on how to solve your "absence challenge"? I have the same issue.