Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

..
Necessity is the mother of invention..
I want a Fish Feeder, and the bride won't do that, so thought about machines for the purpose..

I looked at available feeders , but am not convinced of their value and serviceability..

So I started to think just how one could be made.. and I thought how I could make a machine that will service TWO fish tanks..

The obvious thought is a farm implement.. a Grain Auger, but on a small scale..

Instant thought - a auger-bit from my father's unused Brace-n-Bit set..

I'll cut to the chase.. Take a 7/8" Auger Bit and grind the square drive back to the normal round shaft size... Grind the cutting head down until the same size as the helical auger portion..
Take Irrigation fittings and fabricate the body of the machine

The 7/8" diameter is just right for 25mm irrigation parts.. High Density PE has a low friction coefficient..

Use a T piece as the input for the feed, and two elbows as the outputs...
Trim the two elbows to suit the size of the auger length..

bodgie up spacers for each end, to keep the auger in the correct position
Join the parts together with some suitable PVC or rubber flexible tubing...


Once I worked out the parts needed, it took about an hour to get it working..

Turn one way and feed comes out one side... turn the other way and it comes out the other..
when it wears out - just buy new Irrigation fittings..

So here is the challenge - Arduino Aquaponics Controller - incorporate a program to turn on a highly geared DC motor, to turn the auger in whatever direction, as often as needed and for as long as is needed..

I am beyond having an interest in learning how to program the Arduino or ??? ,
and thought someone might like to have a go at that module for their Arduino Aquaponics Controller..

Any takers..???

It could be programmed to read the temperature of the water... programmed for the mass of the fish stock, and calculate the required repetition rate and volume to suit the estimated stock..
or.. KISS
It could be just manually programmed... eg.. each two hours from dawn to dusk and X-Seconds drive for one feed, and Y-Seconds reverse drive for the other..

the program module could be either part of a complete Arduino Aquaponics Controller, or simply a dedicated Arduino Fish-Feed Controller... Given that the Arduino or R'Pie are so relatively inexpensive..
..
.
PS - tested with 2mm and 4mm pellets just fine.. the 4mm crunches more, as would be expected.. necessitating stronger "Clamping" to prevent the elbows from pushing off..
Not an issue as I see the whole device being mounted to a board, supporting the motor/drive..
..
.
I see the device being mounted high-ish above the FT's and 25mm irrigation tube sloping down to the FT's
..
.

I'm happy to give you a hand with it, but they are finicky to get the code right, and sometimes doesn't work when uploaded.

And you'll still need to get the software and drivers installed on your PC, which isn't the easiest (surprisingly tricky).

It really depends on what you want it to do. Setting it to go off every 7 hours is easy, for x amount of time, and to reverse the speeds, you'd need two relays, which send the voltage in different directions. But if you want to speed it up or down, or do any fiddling around with it, it requires more, a number pad, screen to see what you're doing, and they add up the price/complexity. Or the ability to go into the sketch and fiddle with the numbers to make it do different things.

You can't get buy without learning some of the code.
I found this series of tutorials handy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCxzA9_kg6s


Or just get something like this (make sure it'll do what you want though):
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DC-12V-Power ... 45fa651074

Whilst saying that I really don't want to develop a love for CODE, I am always prepared to give anything a go... at least for the diminishing attention-span...

The Bride calls me "Gunner" for a good reason..

Seriously - I think that the best KISS program , would be to emulate (say) a twenty function time clock..
Set the TIME and Set the PERIOD and Set the POLARITY (ie which relay)

Given the pure simplicity of the mechanical design, I could see it as a simple project for anyone..

It would be nice to see it completed as a DIY project for ANYONE to have a go at.. Even to the point where an "Arduino FEED Controller" could be supplied on request to members who can handle the mechanics/electrics..

I suspect that getting the Auger-Bit will be the real challenge.. Mine would have to be over 80yo..

So - KISS - How best to "Program" a device... eg. a simple program on a tablet or Lap-Top and USB cable to the Arduino Aquaponics Controller..???
..
.

Hey BuiDui,

Have a look at the following YouTube link...

This is from Larry Athey, who is the fellow who built the first V-tower Aquaponics vertical towers, as a cheaper DIY project alternative to the commercial zip-towers...

Anyway, in this series, Larry has built a wood-pellet fired stove... That uses exactly the same wood auger drive to feed the stove. The thing is, the same 'feed system' could certainly be used as a fish feeder... As you are proposing...

Anyway, if nothing else, it should give you some inspiration and confidence that you are on the right track...

Cheers,

Andrew

http://youtu.be/MKrdON-5sM4

The old drill bits work perfectly.

A short length of plastic fish tank air hose to connect your motor to the auger will stop a lot of the wear because it acts like a uni-joint and allows the auger to run true even if it doesn't line up perfectly with the motor shaft.

If you do it with a PICAXE chip, I already have the code you would need.

The code has been recently cleaned up for someone else that wanted to make one.

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=14584&start=555&hilit=demand+feeder

I just skyped tigger03 and asked them to post the final version of the code that became their science project last year so the code should be there soon. It might have something useful in it. Also there is a schematic that might be of use in that link.

..
Thanks for the thought chaps.. I'll look into those links..

PS - the PICAXE circuit is only mono-directional.. a small issue if I want ONE device to feed TWO tanks..
..
.

Nice idea, I think I will do this also when I 'finally' get some free time. What motor did you use? I will buy one now so I have it ready, also my board is a Arduino Mega, will I need an expansion card or a different shield?

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/3pcs-N20-DC-6V-30-450RPM-Gear-Motor-of-Miniature-Low-speed-stepper-Motor-Metal-Gear/1592056536.html

I was thinking of this rather extravagant little baby.. three for 11 bucks
or
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/13GB-12V-DC-42RPM-45mA-Torque-Gear-Box-Electric-Motor-For-ROBOT/2027744052.html
which could be even better as it will mount FLAT, which kinda suits the drive concept..
..
.l

..
PS - if anyone wants one, I can get multiple for a group project..
42rpm and 12V and about $15 US
..
.

A stepper motor will work, but they lack torque, so it will be likely to jam if a large piece of food gets stuck.

BuiDoi,

You have to love this statement in their product description "THIS IS a poorly running or downright faulty gear box motor" emphasis theirs.

..
Indeed, some of their trannslations are ridiculous ..

I have changed tack on the drive, looking now at a very slow rpm, so that as to give better control on feed delivery..
Something more like 10rpm

Or better..

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shi ... 59652.html

Two RPM..... that has to give good control and massive torque

Something to add, is that its worth a careful grind of the shaft end of the helix... just shape it better to reduce the shaft material which might affect delivery at that end...
..
.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/1pc-Japan-TAKANAWA-555-metal-DC-gear-motor-Dia-38mm-3v-24V-DC-gear-motor-high/2031761909.html

I think that I have settled on this one, as it give complete complete control.. said to be "Refurbished" but Japanese..
Benefit - Deliver is then controlled by TIME and VOLTAGE
( I am assuming that it will reverse with polarity )

Notice:It not new.it's used refurbished.
[Suitable voltage ] 3v-6v-12V-24V

[ Speed ] 10-20-40-80 rev / min

[Weight] 500 g


Model: DC motor RS-555
Rated voltage : DC12V case
No-load speed :3000-3500r / min or so
------------------------------
Rated voltage : DC24V case
No-load speed :7000-8000r / min or so
Shaft Length : 16mm
Load Current : 0.8A ( starting current 1.3A)
Rated Current : 2.5A.
Weight : 0.30KG
Dimensions: Diameter 38mm, length 57mm
..
.

If you are doing a group but I would like to get one as long as they are compatible with Arduino motor shields, or can be used with arduino's

Thanks

It might be a bit agricultural, for you, but your average car windscreen wiper motor is geared to low, very low rpm. Heaps of torque, long life... 12v DC which seems like what your looking for...