Problem with automatic feeder?

[Ian Turkstra]

Has anyone had a problem with automatic feeders?  I have one that feeds flake food to my 10 gallon wild tank (that also has a bunch of snails, pygmy cories, and bristlenose plecos).  I looked at the tank today and it looked cloudy! As I was doing a water change, I saw that the feeder was empty and the gravel was covered with flake food.  The feeder was 1/2 full a few days ago and normally takes up to 3 weeks to need filling.

I've never had this happen before and my snails weren't happy.  Almost all of them were at the waterline (presumably for better oxygenation there).

Any similar stories?

[hyperfin]

Never had a problem like that...but then again I don't use the feeders that often... are you using flakes or pellets? I know pellets/ micro granules work better in those drum style feeders since it’s a more accurate amount of food that comes out each time. If using flakes be sure that they are all about the same size and that there are no clumps in between. problem can occur when using large flakes in the beginning but as the food gets crushed and smaller in size towards the bottom of the can more food can pass through the feeders reservoir and then into your tank.

That’s about all that I think could have happened unless the size of the feeders opening got changed while doing a filter clean or tank maintenance.