Auto Feeder Liquid Frozen Food (1 Viewer)

[RR-MAN]

How many of you guys feed liquid frozen food? There is such a great variety of frozen liquid foods but dosing becomes a chore. My favorite one is oyster feast plus I can make my own recipe to feed the tank.

I'm sick and tired of walking back and forth to the kitchen fridge to get the frozen liquid food and dose the tank manually. I definitely want to automate this process with the new larger tank. Thanks "reefdudes" for the idea.

Got the tiny little fridge on amazon (under $40 on sale). I can't believe how much space is inside this tiny thing. I can easily hook up a couple of dosing pumps for few different liquid foods. Probably have to refill weekly which is great. I still need to get a dosing pump - which shouldn't be too difficult since the market is flooded with a variety of dosing pumps.

I will attach some pictures.

 

[RR-MAN]

Pic:

 

[Stickboy97]

Seen these done before, can't wait to see your results! That is a cool little fridge, been looking for something like that but a freezer for my new little fish room.... I usually feed frozen.

 

[Erin]

How many of you guys feed liquid frozen food? There is such a great variety of frozen liquid foods but dosing becomes a chore. My favorite one is oyster feast plus I can make my own recipe to feed the tank.

I'm sick and tired of walking back and forth to the kitchen fridge to get the frozen liquid food and dose the tank manually. I definitely want to automate this process with the new larger tank. Thanks "reefdudes" for the idea.

Got the tiny little fridge on amazon (under $40 on sale). I can't believe how much space is inside this tiny thing. I can easily hook up a couple of dosing pumps for few different liquid foods. Probably have to refill weekly which is great. I still need to get a dosing pump - which shouldn't be too difficult since the market is flooded with a variety of dosing pumps.

I will attach some pictures.

Where will the tubing exit the fridge?

 

[RR-MAN]

Where will the tubing exit the fridge?

The top portion feels hallow - drill two holes and insert two rigid 1/4" tubing and dab of silicone so it's air tide. Some people use hot glue.

Also, the return line should not be too long. You don't want frozen food sitting/rotting in the line (depends on how many times a day you feed). It's a good idea to place it really close to tank or sump (by return pump). My tank is 30" tall so I'm thinking placing it right by the sump in the return pump area. I have tons of room in the stand.

Seen these done before, can't wait to see your results! That is a cool little fridge, been looking for something like that but a freezer for my new little fish room.... I usually feed frozen.

Yeah with all the frozen fish food variety - we need something like this to keep close by the reef tank.

 

[gregg]

This is interesting... my first concern would be how to flush the line after each feeding. I would think that whatever is left in the tube outside the refrig would rot. The longer the distance from the frig to the tank, the more rotten food would go into the tank each time, If it was a very short run and you could figure a way to flush the line with ro water each feeding might help.

 

[Cody]

The top portion feels hallow - drill two holes and insert two rigid 1/4" tubing and dab of silicone so it's air tide. Some people use hot glue.

Also, the return line should not be too long. You don't want frozen food sitting/rotting in the line (depends on how many times a day you feed). It's a good idea to place it really close to tank or sump (by return pump). My tank is 30" tall so I'm thinking placing it right by the sump in the return pump area. I have tons of room in the stand.



Yeah with all the frozen fish food variety - we need something like this to keep close by the reef tank.

I will be making some of these for my fish room once I get things up and running for when I go on vacation. The secret is to do a closed loop from the tank to inside the refrigerator then back to the tank. Dose the food there so the food is always fresh and the line is always clean.

 

[Cody]

How many of you guys feed liquid frozen food? There is such a great variety of frozen liquid foods but dosing becomes a chore. My favorite one is oyster feast plus I can make my own recipe to feed the tank.

I'm sick and tired of walking back and forth to the kitchen fridge to get the frozen liquid food and dose the tank manually. I definitely want to automate this process with the new larger tank. Thanks "reefdudes" for the idea.

Got the tiny little fridge on amazon (under $40 on sale). I can't believe how much space is inside this tiny thing. I can easily hook up a couple of dosing pumps for few different liquid foods. Probably have to refill weekly which is great. I still need to get a dosing pump - which shouldn't be too difficult since the market is flooded with a variety of dosing pumps.

I will attach some pictures.

What liquid frozen food are you referring to? Reef nutrition?

 

[decimal]

I have also looked at the small fridges. They are passive cooling (Peltier cooling) and I wondered how effective the cooling function is. The closed loop is defiantly a good answer as long as the warmer water doesn’t prevent the fridge from cooling properly

 

[Cody]

I have also looked at the small fridges. They are passive cooling (Peltier cooling) and I wondered how effective the cooling function is. The closed loop is defiantly a good answer as long as the warmer water doesn’t prevent the fridge from cooling properly

The smaller ones I'm referring too are the college dorm room styles that hold more than a 6 pack of beer, I mean cola, and aren't Peltier. Anything using Peltier probably isn't large enough for my design. Now that I have more more and outlets/amps I'm going to implement the design that I've been thinking of for years. It will be a real life saver now that the person that used to feed my tanks when I was out of town moved farther away. It will be a real life saver. Although, It's nice to have a reefer put a set of eyes and ears on your system while you're gone incase anything is acting up. They know how to fix it.

 

[decimal]

True dat.. alone the terminology, to the uninitiated, is a major hurdle. I guess facetime could help. I have researched larger, desk sized or smaller, refrigerators for dosing things like AB+, phyto and other refrigerated products. As an added benefit, I pursued the idea that I might be able to chill water even if only a few degrees. That proved out to be a dead end since it is not feasible. Even stuffed with coiled water line there was not enough dwell time to affect tank temperature. The smaller Peltier type coolers are big enough to hold 3-4 refrigerated products so I can’t wait to see how RR’s project turns out.

 

[foos]

Two dosing pumps in the fridge. One from refrigerated liquid food to a T that goes out to the tank. Second in from top off water then to the T. Dose food, then enough top off to flush the line.

 

[BigRick]

Definetly following... may finally have use for my little red bull fridge!

 

[Cody]

Two dosing pumps in the fridge. One from refrigerated liquid food to a T that goes out to the tank. Second in from top off water then to the T. Dose food, then enough top off to flush the line.

Just use a single Jebao doser with four heads and you're done. That way, one circulates water from the tank, through the fridge, and back to the tank both prior and after the food dosing has started, then three heads to inject up to three different varieties of food into the first loop from the tank that you made.

 

[foos]

Just use a single Jebao doser with four heads and you're done. That way, one circulates water from the tank, through the fridge, and back to the tank both prior and after the food dosing has started, then three heads to inject up to three different varieties of food into the first loop from the tank that you made.

I would still use top off water to flush the lines. I have enough stuff growing in my fridge to know that cold only slows it down. I should clean my fridge....

 

[RR-MAN]

If there are multiple feedings/dosings per day nothing should rot. Remember the feed line will be less than 10 inches from the sump so it’s not going a long distance.

This is a simple process but can be made as complex as possible

 

[decimal]

they make special passive heat exchanger dosing lines that can eliminate this problem all together. only $316 per linear foot. All i can say is " A fool and bis money will soon... how many linear feet did you need? "

 

[Cody]

they make special passive heat exchanger dosing lines that can eliminate this problem all together. only $316 per linear foot. All i can say is " A fool and bis money will soon... how many linear feet did you need? "

So you're saying I should re-tube my auto water change system in and out of the attic with this stuff?!!

 

[RR-MAN]

^^^

 

[decimal]

On the subject of cooling and further options to keep refrigerated stuff cool under the sump.. I just came across this

Amazon.com: SKKAH Beverage Cooler Cup 350ML Fast Cooler Electric Cooling mug and cup Portable Mini Desktop Food-grade Aluminuug for: Home & Kitchen

Online Shopping for Kitchen Small Appliances from a great selection of Coffee Machines, Blenders, Juicers, Ovens, Specialty Appliances, & more at everyday low prices

a.co

Aquarium application



Looks like it could be a viable option.