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Two basic techniques can be distinguished for automatic feeders.
In the first technique, a slotted roller rotates under a hopper filled with feed. This technique comes z. B. used in the automatic feeder from Eheim.
In the other technique, the food comes in individual bowls or scoops, which are tipped or opened in turn, allowing the food to enter the aquarium. This technique is used in Grässlin’s Rondomatic.
With all feeders, care must be taken to ensure that no water condenses in the feeder. Otherwise the feed will stick together and can no longer be fed. The food can then become moldy in the machine. Spoiled food must no longer be fed because the fish could be poisoned. Good ventilation is therefore necessary so that it does not get too damp under the cover of the machine.
If possible, the feeder should be attached in such a way that only the feed outlet is above the water surface. With the Rondomatic, this works well in many aquariums with the help of the bracket supplied. A suitable opening can be cut in cover discs.
Despite all measures, it is not always possible to completely prevent the food from sticking due to the temperature and humidity differences between the aquarium water and the air in the room.
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With the Eheim feeder, different amounts of feed can be fed once or up to four times a day. This is set via the number of revolutions of the feed container.
Advantages:
- Battery operation, no additional wiring
- Regardless of any power failures.
- There is no limit to the number of feeding days.
Disadvantages:
- Lining sticks easily in the slit.
- Difficult to dose, especially with small amounts of feed
- The amount of food seems to increase from day to day.
- Cannot be set to feed only on specific days.
To prevent the feed from clumping in the storage container, the container should only be filled halfway. If the amount of feed is set low, even a gradual increase in the amount of feed will not cause problems, e.g. B. overfeeding result.
Graesslin Rondomatic 400
The Rondomatic has 28 bowls that can be filled with food. A bowl is emptied at each feeding. It can be fed once or multiple times a day.
Advantages:
- The amount of food can be set individually for each feeding.
- Food tablets can also be used.
- Different types of feed can be used.
- The bowls are easy to remove and clean.
- No problems with dead batteries.
Disadvantages:
- The Rondomatic is very large and therefore difficult to attach to the aquarium.
- If the lid is not removed, the food can stick in the bowls.
- Feeding once a day can be fed for a maximum of 28 days.
- Less suitable for small aquariums.
- The feeding bowls are relatively small.
- Filling the shells is cumbersome.
- In the event of a power failure, the Rondomatic stops, so the feeding times are postponed when it restarts.
A small U made of thin plastic with a leg length of approx. 3 cm at the outlet of the automat prevents food from being spilled over the entire aquarium cover when the feeding bowls are folded out. If necessary, the feeding opening of the aquarium can also be enlarged.
If a few small pebbles of 2 to 3 mm in size are also placed in the bowls, the food will be safely transported from the tilted bowls into the aquarium.
A piece of cardboard wrapped in aluminum foil can serve as a ramp for the food so that as much of the food as possible reaches the tank.
There are various ways of preventing the feed from sticking in the machine. It is easy to remove the lid. Alternatively, the Rondomatic can be attached to a wooden board, e.g. B. with screws. A size 40 hole is drilled into the board for the lining. A PC fan is attached directly over the hole.