Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Interesting... I definitely need to build one of these feeders... probably at least 2 actually (and eventually probably 2 more once I get the #3 and #4 IBC operational). My fish do not get fed nearly as often as they should... I toss a big handful in there once a day but would prefer to get something built to feed a few times a day. I have looked in to arduino projects just need to pull the trigger and build one.

Here is a link to the auto fish feeder I have been using for a few years now. They are made for indoors but I just build a cover for them to protect from the sun. The base is set up to be able to screw directly to things.

I got two.

Each feeder can be programmed for up to 4 feedings per day... with either 1 or 2 doses of feed per feeding.
There is a button the kids can press on top for an additional feeding when they want to see the fish.

I even used them uncovered for a year down in Alabama. In an open sided greenhouse. So every time the rain came in sideways they would stop working for a day or two... then start working again. You can just build a box around them with a door that opens.

Thanks to these puppies I was able to leave for a few weeks and my fish would still get fed.

They take around 30seconds to re-load. The feed doses are highly adjustable based on amount/or size of fish feed.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001F ... UTF8&psc=1

Amazon sells a massive array of different styles of feeders.

That feeder is too small for me. It’s capacity looks to be less than a single feeding for me

Well then... in envy you!

There are a lot of large feeders out there with the kinks already work out.

My problem with store bought feeders is they all seem to be poor quality and they are quite small. I toss a handful of food in at every feeding (granted if I was able to feed more than once a day then maybe I would feed less per feeding). They would only last a couple of days at any rate. My biggest issue though is that the feeders I've bought in the past end up getting knocked around and they fall in the water and one shot they're dead and worthless. If I build my own feeder I can remote mount most of the electronics so if it falls in the water then maybe only replacing the motor rather than the entire thing.

And with Arduino you are pretty much unlimited feeding adjustment, number of times per day etc. Could even rig up a demand feeder so the fish bump a switch it feeds them. The trout farm I visited had their trout feed trained so the color red meant food for them, then they had a demand feeder which was a 2 liter bottle with food and a small plate on the bottom for food to sit on, then a red straw of sorts that went down in the water so when the fish wanted food they bumped the straw and it dropped some food in for them. I built one of these originally when I had my trout but had some issues with it not being sealed and having food get wet and rot.

Sounds like a fun project.

If you are still just considering the easy/just purchase route... something like the one in the following link might work.
It can only feed 3 times per day though.
Holds 30 cups of feed.
Can be hard mounted.
https://www.amazon.com/Fish-Mate-00348- ... ond+feeder

Update:

Electronics worked OK but not worth the trouble. The (cheap) pH probe wasn't too reliable and plotting temperature wasn't too exciting. The tank temperature just follows outdoor temperature (with a lag). The most useful piece of equipment would be something that automatically measures pH and adjusts since I do that frequently--and probably not frequently enough to avoid pH changes (e.g, when I'm not here for a few days).

The perch I bought last year didn't grow as much as I would've liked but they're still alive and well. I have lots of big bass that I need to eat so the perch can (safely) go into the bass tank. That's a good problem I'm happy to have.

An animal got to the fish feeder (racoon, I think) and broke it. It wasn't able to get much food but was able to make the auger spin freely from the motor shaft. I tore it apart and re-built with a 4" pvc pipe for a hopper. It should be more robust--I'll see in the spring.

I got a 3d printer. Designed a new bell siphon:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3448628

It's been working now for a week or two and seems to work well. The idea is that the 'snorkel' breaking the siphon is delayed because it winds around the bell (See the link above). By the time the air slug gets to the top, the water level is low enough such that the siphon is completely broken. This has solved a problem I had with a bell siphon in one of my beds that, by design, has lots of flow (it takes all the overflow that doesn't go into the other bed) so I can't reduce flow.

I'm interested to know what people think of that design. So far, it is sized for 1.25 inch pvc standpipe. If someone wants to test a smaller version, I can spend a few minutes and post a different size.

Next I'd like to make an indexing valve for an air line. Specifically, to have a vacuum break on all of my bell siphons, then have a servo-controlled indexing valve to cycle through to shut each line in succession so each bed drains in succession. This way, I maximize total water in the system--keeping my fish-filled sump take happy. I haven't even started with the design but I think it would be similar in concept to this valve:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:8394
but with one line closed at a time instead of only one open.

Nice job with the siphon . I like your idea with having an air line indexing valve as well? Being able to manufacture your own opens up some interesting possibilities.

Overdue update for growing season 2019

Not enough time to make indexing valve worked out so continued as is. Didn’t eat enough fish so no new fingerlings.

Disaster struck while on vacation, roots clogged browned drain. Sump drained. All fish (but two) in sump died probably 40 largemouth bass at 500g each.

I have two pumps and one remained covered in water the other pump ran dry for an unknown period of time but still works fine. All fish in the constant-height fish tank survived (they had no flow but an air bubbler in the tank).

I’m on my way back from winter vacation now. No feed for 2 weeks in winter. I’m hoping they’re all still alive.
Next, I’m putting in a swirl filter. The beds that take drainage from the fish tank are constantly clogged up with poo and the plants never do as well as I think they should.




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The 3D printed siphon looks great. Do you have an estimate of what it costs in materials to make the siphon? Hope you don’t mind me asking - I know nothing about 3D printing but am looking at an angle to convince the wife we need one


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Typical plastic filament costs about $20/kg. The siphon is probably 100-200g, or $2-4 in materials.


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Thank you. Appreciate the quick reply.


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