Project Overview
Marine tank fish require a varied diet delivered several times a day to stay healthy, which makes manual feeding impractical — especially during holidays. This project solves that problem with a fully automated frozen food dispenser. Three beakers of fish food are stored inside a small fridge: two containing small food particles and one in the centre capable of dispensing slightly larger food such as mysis shrimps. At random intervals throughout the day, the food is mixed using magnetic stirrers and fed directly into the tank. A continuous line of tank water is pumped through the fridge so that food particles never sit outside the cold environment, maintaining quality at all times. The system runs reliably over several days, giving complete peace of mind during extended time away.
How It Works
Cold Storage
Three beakers of frozen food sit inside a compact fridge, preserving freshness and quality between every feed cycle.
Magnetic Stirrers
At randomised intervals, magnetic stirrers mix the food in each beaker to ensure a consistent and even portion is delivered each time.
Tank Water Line
A flow of tank water is pumped continuously through the fridge, carrying dispensed food straight into the aquarium without any exposure to room temperature.
Randomised Feeding
Feeding times are randomised throughout the day to mimic natural conditions, encouraging healthy behaviour and variety in the fish's diet.
Technical Details
Microcontroller
ESP32
Wi-Fi capable, handles all timing and motor control logic
Motor Drivers
Dedicated driver modules
Power the stirrer motors and dispensing mechanism
Food Beakers
3 beakers total
2 × small food particles & 1 × large (mysis shrimps)
Manual Override
2 buttons on the enclosure
Manually trigger small or large food dispensing at any time
Fridge Unit
Compact cold storage
Keeps frozen food at the correct temperature between feeds
Water Pump
Tank water recirculation
Ensures food stays cold and is delivered cleanly into the tank
Build Photos
