Fish Mate F14

Feeder

Rating:

The F14 by Fish Mate is a feeder that is a little different from the rest. It is one of few models available today in the wheel style, and because of the lack of a bulky rotating drum, it has one advantage above all other models on the market today: it has the capability to fit beneath a light fixture above a condensation panel. Unlike other wheel style feeders, the F14 offers more control over feeding time. It is battery operated, which also adds to its compact design. The feeder has an airline hookup - which is absolutely necessary if your aquarium evaporates quickly. The feeder is an odd shape, like a square sided pancake, due to its low center of gravity. If you are not in need of a feeder in an area with low clearance, this feeder may not be to your liking.

Overall, the F14 has a simple feature set. The large rotor is powered by a clock, with the option of feeding at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 hours based on a 24 hour quartz clock. This gives you plenty of time to dispense food for the maximum of four times during daylight. The feeder dispenses food over a course of 2 hours, which can be a plus or a negative based on the characteristics of your current stock. An airline hookup is located below the unit, which can be accessed through a slit in the lower back panel of the unit. In order to hold the line in place, the slit is cut tight, which slightly reduces your total airflow. This is not a huge problem, but in a high-humidity location, it is best to take all that you can get. The unit is powered by a single AA battery, which eliminates the need for the extra outlet, and is allows you to place the feeder in tighter spaces. If the unit is mounted to the side of the aquarium, included are two clips, which tighten with screws to make for a sturdy mounting. The only problem is the posts that hold the unit it place do not form a tight fit, causing the unit to wobble when disturbed. The underside is not my favorite design. The battery and clock are covered by a slip on cover. I would feel more comfortable if the cover snapped on, or the bottom was enclosed, keeping the battery and clock away from the water in the even that the battery leaks.. If you are not careful, you might miss the start switch, meaning your feeder will not be operating until it is set in the start position. This switch is located below the batter cover and is easy to miss.

The feeder is relatively light weight exactly 200 grams without food or battery. However, the feeder takes up a lot of real estate on the top of your tank, measuring 4.75" x 5.5" and standing a mere 1.75" tall on the suction cup mount. The rotor will accept pellet, flake, and granular foods in 14 available bins.

This feeder is unique to the market, because it is the only one tested to date (November 2009) that can easily slide between a hood and a light fixture. However, if you are mounting the unit to the side of the tank, it will look out of place on aquariums smaller than 55 gallons due to the unique shape. If the unit is mounted to a large tank, it will look right at home. The unit looks very simple, and the cover allows you to view the wheel inside to check the settings and bins that remain full.

The Fish Mate F14 fills a niche unaddressed by other drums - it is able to fit in a low clearance area. Unlike some other wheel style feeders, the F14 allows you to feed four times a day with as little as 3 hours between feeding times. The feeder drops food into the aquarium over a two hour period, which can be a pro or a con depending on your setup. The airline hookup allows the feeder to be located in high humidity areas, and allows the food to stay out of the way of vapors which will quickly spoil the food inside. The feeder is not for those with small tanks, or those who need to feed fish at certain times outside the three hour intervals. However, this feeder is the answer if you need it to fit in a tight area between your condensation cover and light fixture.

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This product was sent for testing at no charge. Read more about this here.