Automatic Fish Feeder Went Online Today

[Jim Fisk]

Well this could be considered a banner day around here as the Trout will be so happy to get their meals on time. I only have around 40 Trout divided between two 330 gal ibcs so I only needed 2 feeders at the moment (the few other fish in the other tanks aren't nearly as demanding) and since they are pretty well divided up I decided to use one impulse timer to run both feeders as the quantity is not rocket science.

So here are some pics and I will do a video one of these days: The time clock is a Brinks 2 times per day from Wally World for less than 15.00 and has battery BU. The augers are just old brace and bit with the drive cut off. These are 3/4" but 1" should be fine if you use S&D pipe as it has a bit larger dia.. I used an old chem pump timer rated 220v but it runs both gear motors on 120v just fine. It actually did better (smoother) when both motors were on line than one. The gear motors can be purchased on Ebay as "Commercial washer drain motors" The impulse timers seem a bit harder to find but if you are running on a PLC or PIC that should work fine as a timer as well. I'll be changing over to my Mitsubishi controller soon myself and that should do away with the timer and clock.

Any questions just ask and I'll now upload the pics again as they just now all went away again because I made a correction in my text above. Anyone else have that happen? Not sure what causes that.

[tide resurgence]

Do very sophisticated，I chose this dog feeder

[TCLynx]

beware some of those dog feeders are not able to adjust to a small enough amount of feed for an average backyard aquaponic system and may grossly over feed your fish.  I would recommend a feeder that you can adjust down to the second.

[Jim Fisk]

Well the feeders have made it thru the Summer with just the occasional need of a clearing due to clogs, due to moisture just as TC warned. I will set them higher off the lids in the future. (right now the bio-filter is sitting on one of them:-) They are a great peace of mind knowing that the trout are fed 4 times a day right now as they are big (and delicious)

[TCLynx]

Having automatic feeders in a situation where you are very good about checking on things daily (often about 15-30 minutes after a feeder feeds) to make sure there isn't excess leftovers and all is still well.  The feeders make for good consistent feeding and great growth.  But OH are auto feeders dangerous when there isn't good supervision.

[Jim Fisk]

I use a skimmer as well as a solids pu so any leftovers are soon swept out to the GBs and soon to be bio-filter (for the raft system). The water quality stays primo with no floaters. This might not work with slow feeders but trout know how to get the job done. In fact when I give them some extra you better stand back if you don't want to get wet. As busy as we are right now I only check on the fish once a day. I do appreciate TC's warnings because auto feeders in the wrong hands could kill. She speaks from experience and there is no substitute, as lessons learned goes

[TCLynx]

Here, peak in the fish tank right there, I'll feed the fish so you get to see them he he he

[Jeff S]

Been a while since any posts here but I was just wondering why if you're going away for a week don't you just cut back by 50% or  stop feeding all together for safety?

[Jim Fisk]

Personally we never go away long enough to worry. I built the fish feeders so I don't have to always be there at feeding time or times depending on species and age. (young trout like 4 feedings a day) I have enough items on my schedule without adding one more thing I have to tend to. I still ck on them every day and take temperature readings, ck for any uneaten food (which tells you if you are over feeding or not) and give a hand feeding accordingly or not. That is a part of my daily AP schedule along with checking sump water level (you know right away if there is even a slow leak somewhere as even a small leak can really add up over 24-48hrs even in a 2000+ gal system), a look at all the plants and conditions on the hot house side of the system as well. In the hot house I look for insect damage and over all color and growth progress. Takes from 5 to 10 mins a day. Of course when it's 25F outside and 80F in the GH I just might strip off the heavy cloths and enjoy it a tad bit longer

So having a little automatic control can also make a big difference in time spent. Even my temperature monitor 250 feet from the GH with the read out in our kitchen/2nd living room can save a great deal of angst (not to mention walks) just knowing that all is well in the GH on those 20 below zero nights. Anything to make our AP experience less work and more enjoyment is all worth the effort. Even my GH woodstove is digitally controlled. As soon as I can find my old iButtons I will be able to monitor the cabin, GH and system water temp right on the computer and over plain old phone lines. Before next Winter for sure.

[TCLynx]

Jeff,

   That is actually a highly recommended practice.  Fish are usually killed by overfeeding and they are usually better off going hungry than being accidentally over fed.

Jim's practice of using the automatic feeders as a labor saving and scheduling device when still checking on them regularly is a good thing and the primary way I would recommend any automatic feeders be used.  When I have had automatic feeders hooked up, I still liked to go out and check on the fish during or right after feeding time whenever I could just to see how well they were eating and make adjustments to the feed amount as needed.

This time of year down here though when our temperatures can swing from warm enough to feed a little to warm enough to feed a fair bit and then back down to too cold to feed at all, I would have to disable the feeders until the temperatures warmed up to consistent feeding again sometime in March or April.

[Jeff S]

I'm thinking of starting a second system in my basement for the harsh winters here in Michigan. Where is the best place to post a discussion so as not to restrict responses? Don't get me wrong Jim and TC, I really like the input you have on all subjects.LOL

[TCLynx]

Well Jeff,

   You could go back to the home page of the site home and scroll down to the bottom of the Forum Box and click Add a discussion or you could go to the Group page for whatever Group you find most appropriate and go to the bottom of the Forum Box on that group and click "Add a Discussion" there to start your own Discussion thread for whatever you like.

[Jeff S]

Thanks TC I'll give it a shot.