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Auto Feeder; For that one midday feeding when you can't be there....
Topic Started: Mar 30 2010, 08:59:00 AM (346 Views)
Post #1 Mar 30 2010, 08:59:00 AM	Suzy
Hey, Guys! I have to show you guys this feeder I made a few years back. I want to think I invented it, but I wonder if I saw something somewhere back in the 80's. But, there were no was no www way back then so I dunno...Anyway, this works great for one feeding when you can't be home. I work 12 hours shifts, which is way too long to not feed fry. This contraption will provide one feeding. If you need more, you can make 2! You will need: A DP bottle (any plastic bottle will work but only Commies drink diet Coke) Rigid and flexible tubing Silicone Timer Small air pump First, drill 2 holes that are the size of the tubing into the lid of the bottle. Use the drill bit that seems too small to start and work up to a larger size until you can manhandle the rigid tubing into the lid. The tighter it fights, the more you can handle the contraption once it is done. Over a few years, as you manipulate the tubing, it can lose the seal, I would think, if the tubing can wiggle. I have used the same one for years, though. Next, cut 2 pieces of rigid tubing. One piece needs to go all the way to the bottom, the other just needs to be above it anywhere. Insert the 2 pieces into the lid, making sure the one piece is at the very bottom, and seal the tubing with silicone. Now, putting it into action! Using flexible tubing, assemble a piece of flexible tubing to the piece of rigid tubing that goes all the way to the bottom. This tubing goes to the nursery. The shorter piece of rigid tubing needs a piece of flexible tubing to go to the air pump, with a timer. Posted Image	Seahorse Whisperer Posts: 3,047 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: June 28, 2008
"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there" Too Funny!
Post #2 Mar 30 2010, 09:16:53 AM	Suzy
How it works First, fill the bottle with your needed food. I use live phyto and bbs with pods and mysis larvae. The live phyto makes sure the food organisms are gut loaded, plus it keeps them alive for the 4 or 5 hours or so before the fry get lunch. As the air is pushed into the bottle, the liquid goes up the tube and into the nursery! Posted Image Attached to this post: Untitled___Sign.jpeg (2.13 MB)	Seahorse Whisperer Posts: 3,047 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: June 28, 2008
"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there" Too Funny!
Post #3 Mar 31 2010, 01:28:31 PM	Suzy
12 views and not one comment? Geez, guys! What does a girl have to do to get a reply? This post even has 2 really cool sketches!	Seahorse Whisperer Posts: 3,047 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: June 28, 2008
"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there" Too Funny!
Post #4 Apr 1 2010, 04:18:00 PM	Amie
Sorry Suzy, I looked at it yesterday, I should have commented. I use this method and love it. I don't understand why it's a one-time shot though. Just get a timer that you have a little more control over...either a digital one or one that works in 30-minute increments. Then slow the air going into the container so it doesn't drain the entire thing in 30 minutes. I am going to set something up like this but i'm going to have the container in a small refrigerator and the tube will be going through the side of the fridge. I'd like to get a little back-flow when the time shuts off so anything in the tube goes back into the container and doesn't get stuck in the tube until the next feeding. The tube will have to be out of the water, of course, or I'll end up draining the tank into the refrigerator. ;-)	stormy, stormy nights Posts: 2,362 Group: Admin Member #4 Joined: June 29, 2008
http://www.spawar.navy.mil/sandiego/technology/mammals/interns.html Tell them Adam sent you.
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