a solution to fish feeding

[steveburns]

When ever any one leaves on vacation trusting their fish to an automatic timer feeder, or worse, a house sitter a considerable amount of worry results. What if a new invention was manufactured that utilized a site player to feed your fish on a network. At any area where you could access the internet, you would be able to feed your fish up to four different foods, whenever you wanted. The tank would also have a backup timer that would be programmed in case you forgot to feed the fish. This would incorporate the best of timers, and your control, it would allow you to feed granular, dry, wet, and flake food in different amounts. Would you consider bying a product of this type? A webcam to monitor the fish wood be included, pH or temperature sensors may be included.

 

[desertgoldhound]

If you need a programmer I will help with it!

 

[tai95]

No I wouldn't buy it. Most vacations are two weeks or less and healthy fish should be just fine without food for that amount of time. Why risk killing your fish with an accidental overfeeding. If you are gone longer than 2 weeks feeding the fish without water changes could be harmeful, So unless you somehow incorperate a water change into the system it would be way to risky.

 

[NeonJulie]

I'm thinkign about a wireless webcam. If I get a pH Alert, along with my Ammonia alert and thermometer, and can aim it at this and check it at least half way through the day, I'd be happy.

Otherwise, I'd rather have someone I can trust administer food, (just tell them less than the usual amount or something), and can call on the phone periodically?

But hey, nothing would please me more than YOURTANK.com continuous live feed video monitoring.

 

[daniel364]

How would it know you havent fed them, The tank would have to be pretty vlose to a computer or laptop and i dont get how its going too work is it just going to be plugged into the usb? Its a bit dangerouse with wires and electricity.

Other than that sounds good

 

[jm1212]

believe it or not, underfeeding fish every now anda gain helps them stay in top shape, and any leftover food from the previous feeding is eaten up.

those auto feeders overfeed horrendously too.

 

[steveburns]

the feeder is conected to a ethernet conection that is hooked up to a router that is connected to the internet which alows the computer to be far away even around the world and this is to eliminate the clumsy auto feeders that are on the market know a days and replace it with a comand center that has a webcam and othe features to make fish keeping an easy even if you like in nyc and are in japan

 

[tai95]

the feeder is conected to a ethernet conection that is hooked up to a router that is connected to the internet which alows the computer to be far away even around the world and this is to eliminate the clumsy auto feeders that are on the market know a days and replace it with a comand center that has a webcam and othe features to make fish keeping an easy even if you like in nyc and are in japan

What would the cost of this be? How would you control water quality? If the fish are fed daily they will produce a normal amount of waste, which would mean a water change would be necessary. If you added a water change feature to this how much would it cost now.

What kind of backup measures would be installed? If one of the 4 feed chambers stuck open, how would you prevent all the food from entering the tank? How big space would be needed to install this on a tank? Would you have a battery backup on it in case of a power failure?

While it's a nice idea the need for such a thing isn't there. Like I said in my previous post If your gone for less than 2 weeks the fish will be fine without being fed. If you really want them to be fed while your away making pre package amounts of food and having someone fed them would be your best option.

 

[kjf91004]

While it's a nice idea the need for such a thing isn't there. Like I said in my previous post If your gone for less than 2 weeks the fish will be fine without being fed. If you really want them to be fed while your away making pre package amounts of food and having someone fed them would be your best option.

Yup, and it is a good time for someone new to learn about fish keeping the right way the first time! As long as they get detailed instructions, written down in case they forget, there shouldn't be problems. I did tell my house sitter to only feed every third day to factor in for possible over-feeding. There are usually trustworthy highschool kids in the family or the neighborhood looking to get away from mom and dad for a short period of time.

 

[sarcare]

I have some one coming in every three days to take care of my fish on my three week christmas holiday. She'll change 25% of the water once a week, and check up that all equipment is working, and feed prepackaged food. I'm paying her, but it is worth so much more then automatic feeders and cheeper. Particularly since I have so many tanks, I'd have to get six feeders! That would be very expensive!