Really cool Auto Feeder

[mockery]

So I posted this in another thread but thought it deserved its own.
http://glassbox-design.com/2010/azoox-nps-coral-continuous-feeding/">http://glassbox-design.com/2010/azoox-nps-coral-continuous-feeding/</a>

The link above in about a guy who wanted an auto feeder for his Azoox tank. Ended up making one out of a mini fridge with holes drilled through it. I think this I a genius idea I'd wish there was a link to a build thread.

 

[weaglereefer]

Looks cool. Doesn't look too complicated, drill through the fridge, put venturi inline, tie in doser, bingo. I'd imagine it could even be accomplished with the small dorm room sized fridges (smaller than that one, even).

The thing I wonder is how does the water running through there affect the cooling ability in the fridge? And is this method better or worse than target feeding?

 

[jead85]

If I were to do it I would use a pipe as thick as possible for insulation. My question is the dosing pumps, how long will it last at cold temps

 

[mockery]

au01st;557315 wrote: Looks cool. Doesn't look too complicated, drill through the fridge, put venturi inline, tie in doser, bingo. I'd imagine it could even be accomplished with the small dorm room sized fridges (smaller than that one, even).

The thing I wonder is how does the water running through there affect the cooling ability in the fridge? And is this method better or worse than target feeding?

I don't think it would, PVC is a pretty good insulator and with the speed of the water should have very little effect. It depends on fish in the tank and how the returns are placed. But if the Azoox has no fish then I think it would work fine.

jead85;557426 wrote: If I were to do it I would use a pipe as thick as possible for insulation. My question is the dosing pumps, how long will it last at cold temps

I think schedual 40 would be fine depending on the flow through the fridge.

That is something to think about. Although I don't have an answer you could just mount the dosing pump on the out side of the fridge, with lines leading from the food and back in to the pipe.

 

[jead85]

The problem with that would be the food in the lines, maybe a custom dosin pump mod where all the electronics are on the outside and the pumping parts on the inside

 

[weaglereefer]

Mockery;557437 wrote: you could just mount the dosing pump on the out side of the fridge, with lines leading from the food and back in to the pipe.

No you couldn't. There is no way to flush the lines, so there is always food in the lines. If it stayed in lines outside the fridge for a period of time it would start decaying I would think.


I guess you could get some of that pipe insulation for the PVC running through there.

 

[rsg4]

jead85;557441 wrote: The problem with that would be the food in the lines, maybe a custom dosin pump mod where all the electronics are on the outside and the pumping parts on the inside

From the looks of it the food stuck in the lines would still be in the fridge. Water still flows through the pipe to flush the food out. Maybe have that timed to flow little longer than when dosing pump is on.

 

[jead85]

Yeah in this setup but I'm taking about protecting a $300 dosing pump from condensation and temperatures

 

[rbredding]

be sure you get the right fridge, lots of those little fridges have the cooling vanes inside, along the walls..

 

[enderg60]

Ive been planning a similar setup to feed my frozen food mash(thawed of course) in a 3 or 5 gallon bucket in a mini fridge. Just havent made my way that far down the list yet

 

[eric b]

EnderG60;557560 wrote: Ive been planning a similar setup to feed my frozen food mash(thawed of course) in a 3 or 5 gallon bucket in a mini fridge. Just havent made my way that far down the list yet

I saw where you had posted in another forum on building one of these and was wondering if you had done it yet....Let me know when you attempt it I will be more than willing to help because it looks like a fun project. :up:

 

[enderg60]

its not all that complicated. Just a dosing pump, a timer, a bucket and a fridge. Run your return line through the fridge with a tap as show in the link and youre done.

Only think I might add to that is a small powerhead in the bucket to keep it uniformly mixed.

Only variable I have not delt with yet is how long the food slushie will stay fresh. If its less then a month It might not be worth doing.

 

[eric b]

Don't know if the slush would stay fresh that long even in refrig.....So might not be worth it in the long run.

 

[enderg60]

We'll see. I know cylopeeze is only good for 2 weeks, but most of the other stuff I use should be fine for that long.

I might just thaw a few samples and leave them in the fridge till they fail the smell test.