Auto Feeders

[Faebinder]

My biggest beef with autofeeders for ponds is that they are not designed well. They don't have a long tube that sends the food well into the water so it becomes a struggle setting them up on the rocks around the pond.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Ok, how about this in response to the OP's thread question:
The best auto feeder is to have a variety of native plantings that encourages local insect activity around the pond.
Done.

Considering that the average insect is 50% protein (or more) only supports the use of high protein fish food.

 

[MitchM]

Considering that the average insect is 50% protein (or more) only supports the use of high protein fish food.

Are you saying that it's not possible to keep koi healthy without supplemental feeding?

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Are you saying that it's not possible to keep koi healthy without supplemental feeding?

No. Re-read Post #6 in this thread. There has to be an adequate supply of natural food.

 

[MitchM]

No. Re-read Post #6 in this thread. There has to be an adequate supply of natural food.

That gets back to my goal of a balanced ecosystem.
Very few fish, essentially.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

That gets back to my goal of a balanced ecosystem.
Very few fish, essentially.

Especially in a lined pond.

 

[MitchM]

A lined pond is restrictive, no doubt.
In my lined pond, operating since 2012, I have yet to see any outbreak of hair algae, there is a minnow population that seems to have stabilized at about 1000 in number. With the exception of last winter's die off, the goldfish population will probably level out at about 6 individuals and from what I have learned to date, my pond will not sustain any population of koi.
The last thing I want to do is provide supplemental feeding. My location is a bit unique though. Maybe a similar pond located further south could be configured differently in order to accommodate perhaps a couple of koi.