Aquarium fish create comfort in the house. It is believed that these are pets that are easiest to care for. Therefore, usually fish are brought by those who are not at home all day and often leave for a long time. It seems to them that the fish will not suffer in the absence of a host. But in fact, these pets require the same attention and care as everyone else. And besides maintaining the atmosphere they need in the aquarium, it is very important that their food is regular. Therefore, travel lovers are faced with the following problem: how to feed the fish in their absence? The best solution in this case is an automatic feeder for the aquarium. You can buy it at a pet store or in the market, then it will provide a normal diet for pets for a long time. If the owner of the fish leaves for a short time, you can do this yourself.
What is an aquarium feeder
In order for the fish to feel good, to be active and beautiful, they need to be fed regularly. But what if sometimes there is no such opportunity? This happens if the owner leaves for several days - on vacation or in the country, in offices and organizations that are closed on weekends or holidays.
In these cases, you can use the
fish feeders in the aquarium. These are devices that dispense a dose of feed at a time allotted for this purpose. They are designed to feed adult fish with dry food. Such feeders are mounted on the wall or lid of the aquarium, and are powered by a mains or finger batteries.
Auto feeders
All such devices for the aquarium have the same principle of operation. It consists in the fact that at a certain time a certain amount of food is poured out of the container into the aquarium. Different feeders can differ by the presence of various additional functions, such as a digital display or fan.
1. The most commonly used rotary container feeders. The principle of their action is that when you turn the drum through a hole in the tank, a certain amount of feed is poured.
2. A simpler device has disk feeders. In them, the container is divided into a certain number of compartments, which are subsequently emptied during rotation of the disk.
3. The most expensive - an electronic automatic feeder for the aquarium. In it, with the help of a given program, a stub opens at a certain time, and part of the feed is poured.
The disadvantages of such devices
1. They are designed to supply only dry food. Through such devices you can not feed the fish live or frozen food. Therefore, long-term feeding in this way can lead to a lack of nutrients and diseases of pets.
2. You cannot feed fry with the help of automatic feeders. They need a special diet and diet.
3. Another drawback is that the feeder for the aquarium is very expensive. Its price ranges from 1.5 to 7 thousand rubles.
The most common car feeders
1. One of the most popular now is the company Hydor. Its advantages include a convenient digital display, 10 different options for servings of food and the regime of two or three meals a day.
2. Eheim also produces popular models of feeders. They are characterized by a convenient rotating feed hopper, a built-in fan to prevent food spoilage and a variety of feeding modes.
3. One of the cheapest is Juwel's feeder. Its feature is ease of use, the ability to install anywhere in the aquarium and a two-time feed.
4. Hagen is the smallest aquarium feeder. The food in it can be used even very small, although it only fits 14 grams.
How to use auto feeders
The mechanism of their action is simple. For the feeder to work, you need:
- pour dry food into the container in the form of granules, flakes or tablets;
- program the feeder for one or two times a day;
- adjust the amount of poured feed;
- strengthen the feeder in the aquarium and turn it on.
Typically, such devices have convenient mounts and are powered by finger batteries. If an auto-feeder for an aquarium is plugged in, it can be inconvenient for long-term use, as possible voltage fluctuations can bring down the settings. Therefore, in this case, it must be connected to the battery. In order for the automatic feeders to serve for a long time and correctly, it is necessary to clean them regularly and do not forget to change the batteries.
DIY aquarium feeder
The device of such devices is very simple, but their prices are quite high. Therefore, many aquarists make them themselves. The disadvantages of home-made auto-feeders include the inability to regulate feed portions and the feeding regime.
1. The most complex design is available only to craftsmen who are versed in electronics. For its manufacture, an engine with a gearbox is needed. The shaft should rotate at low speed. You can take parts from children's toys or use two timers. A plastic container with a lid is attached to the shaft. On one face you need to cut a narrow long gap. Part of the feed will pour out through it when you turn the container.
2. Anyone can do a simpler device. To do this, you need an alarm clock with a thick clockwise and a small lightweight plastic container with a twisting lid. It cuts a hole for the rash of feed.
The box is attached to the hour hand of a watch. And twice a day, the hole is below. So that a lot of feed does not spill out at once, you can glue the partition inside or skip a small tube into it.
3. The most interesting one-time feeder is very simple. You need to take a plastic bottle, cut off the bottom of it and fix it with the neck down over the unscrewed lid above the aquarium so that the food does not spill out immediately. In a bottle directly into the feed you need to put a cell, set to vibration mode. And at a certain time you need to call this phone. How long the call will last, so much food will be enough to sleep. You can use this method if you need to unexpectedly leave for a short while.