Aquabacs' Cadlights Artisan 50 Azooxanthellae Tank build
- Thread starter Aquabacs
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Aquabacs
New member
I was looking for a small frig since I saw the pick that Mike (Uhuru) posted up of Steve's Weast's autofeeding system. Steve's design had me sleepless after seeing it. One issue that I had was I needed to find something that have WAF (wife acceptance factor) since my aquarium is in my dining room. With a little compromise and searching, I found the refrigerator above. It looks to be large enough to fit atleast 2 dosing pumps inside. There should not be an issue drilling the sides for the water line to pass through. So this the first part in the design of "Weast-O-Matic" (sorry Steve).
Mike
slapshot
Active member
I was looking for a small frig since I saw the pick that Mike (Uhuru) posted up of Steve's Weast's autofeeding system. Steve's design had me sleepless after seeing it. One issue that I had was I needed to find something that have WAF (wife acceptance factor) since my aquarium is in my dining room. With a little compromise and searching, I found the refrigerator above. It looks to be large enough to fit atleast 2 dosing pumps inside. There should not be an issue drilling the sides for the water line to pass through. So this the first part in the design of "Weast-O-Matic" (sorry Steve).
Mike
Mike, make sure you have a way of preventing a vacuum. The first time I built mine I did not think about it. The fridge door seals and as you pump stuff out you create a vacuum. I solved mine by adding an air pump on the same circuit as the air pump so it ran when the pump ran. The pump had to be outside the fridge of coarse.
Aquabacs
New member
Thanks for the tip.
The plan was to run a 1/2" line through the frig, this was going to sealed the 2 pass through points. Now, when I build it I will take this into consideration.
With your dosing pumps, were they located inside or outside of the refrigerator? I can see an issue of vacuum being created if the dosing pump was on the outside.
I am putting together my order list of John Guest fittings and pvc parts needed for the project. Just looking for one more part and then I will place the order.
The plan was to run a 1/2" line through the frig, this was going to sealed the 2 pass through points. Now, when I build it I will take this into consideration.
With your dosing pumps, were they located inside or outside of the refrigerator? I can see an issue of vacuum being created if the dosing pump was on the outside.
I am putting together my order list of John Guest fittings and pvc parts needed for the project. Just looking for one more part and then I will place the order.
slapshot
Active member
It is on the outside but it should not matter. If you are removing matter from the inside and it is sealed you will develop a vacuum. It will reduce the amount of food being pumped. Besides that the air pump stired the food as it was being pumped.
I was looking for a small frig since I saw the pick that Mike (Uhuru) posted up of Steve's Weast's autofeeding system. Steve's design had me sleepless after seeing it. One issue that I had was I needed to find something that have WAF (wife acceptance factor) since my aquarium is in my dining room. With a little compromise and searching, I found the refrigerator above. It looks to be large enough to fit atleast 2 dosing pumps inside. There should not be an issue drilling the sides for the water line to pass through. So this the first part in the design of "Weast-O-Matic" (sorry Steve).
Mike
Oh watch out. Most TEC mini fridges I have tested are fine for wine and such that like to be above 50f but very few actually held below 50f in a room that was 70-80f.
Many of the ones built for wine will not get below 50f period as wine(white) IIRC wants to be at around 50-57f.
Aquabacs
New member
OK.
Didn't know how much a pump outside a sealed refrigerator moving material out would cause a vacuum more or less than a pump inside a sealed refrigerator moving material out. Been a while since I took physics.
Just found the last piece I was looking for. It was a 1/2 T: .5" slip socket by .5" Slip Socket by .25" Female Pipe Thread. (in the middle). A .25" threaded JG fitting will go into this section of the T.
Mike
Aquabacs
New member
That was one thing I was worried about. It is said to hold temperature to 36° F. If it doesn't, it is getting sent right back.
Mike
Aquabacs
New member
Here is the store I purchased it through
http://www.smarthome.com/91312/Deluxe-Digital-Mini-Fridge-Cooler-Warmer-MR-148/p.aspx
http://www.giftsatprincess.com/display.asp?CategoryID=164&styleId=96818&intAbsolutePage=1
Mike
http://www.smarthome.com/91312/Deluxe-Digital-Mini-Fridge-Cooler-Warmer-MR-148/p.aspx
http://www.giftsatprincess.com/display.asp?CategoryID=164&styleId=96818&intAbsolutePage=1
Mike
Last edited:
Aquabacs
New member
Ran into a snag with the refrigerator. It is going to be back ordered to atleast the 28th of May. Might need to look into alternatives if this becomes an issue.
For now I am going to work on the dosing part of the system. I decided on going with the Bubble Magus BM-T01, it is a 3 unit dosing pump system. It can also control an additional 4 unit slave dosing pump. The unit was well priced and has been fairly accurate according to reefers that have been using the system.
With the system's design I am taking a few things into consideration. First, I need to make sure it is covering everything I would like to dose and keep within a reasonable budget. If we want for non-photosynthetic niche of the hobby to grow we have to keep it within the budget of the average reefer. Now I know, maybe putting a $300+ doser in a plumbed refrigerator might be a little out of the means of a few. Put this into consideration, how much it would cost to set up a basic calcium reactor in a SPS aquarium? Mike (Uhuru) is onto something with his thread. If a basic, proven system is created for reefers to set-up to autofeeding system for their non-photosynthetic aquariums, I truly believe more would venture into our realm. Hell, I saw on the DIY section that reefers that are not even keeping non-photosynthetic aquariums are interested. Well, I guess after anyone saw that piece of eye candy that Steve created why wouldn't you want to make one.
So the project moves on...
Mike
For now I am going to work on the dosing part of the system. I decided on going with the Bubble Magus BM-T01, it is a 3 unit dosing pump system. It can also control an additional 4 unit slave dosing pump. The unit was well priced and has been fairly accurate according to reefers that have been using the system.
With the system's design I am taking a few things into consideration. First, I need to make sure it is covering everything I would like to dose and keep within a reasonable budget. If we want for non-photosynthetic niche of the hobby to grow we have to keep it within the budget of the average reefer. Now I know, maybe putting a $300+ doser in a plumbed refrigerator might be a little out of the means of a few. Put this into consideration, how much it would cost to set up a basic calcium reactor in a SPS aquarium? Mike (Uhuru) is onto something with his thread. If a basic, proven system is created for reefers to set-up to autofeeding system for their non-photosynthetic aquariums, I truly believe more would venture into our realm. Hell, I saw on the DIY section that reefers that are not even keeping non-photosynthetic aquariums are interested. Well, I guess after anyone saw that piece of eye candy that Steve created why wouldn't you want to make one.
So the project moves on...
Mike
dosing from inside a fridge has been done before. for nps corals even, it just never got popular.
Aquabacs
New member
This project is to create a simple refrigerated, multi- liquid dosing system that can be easily replicated. This system would help with the liquid dosing of food through out the day.
I am quite aware that this method in not new or revolutionary. Now this practice may not have been "popular" in the past but neither was the keeping of non-photosynthetic corals.
As more reefers look to keeping non-photosynthetic corals they will need to have the proper tools for doing so.
Most people in general want to feel "safe" and "secure" before they take the risk of doing something. Whether it is in life or even their first post on a forum. It is part of human nature.
Feeding methods and husbandry practices need to be clear for our community. They also need to be proven that they work, no smoke and mirrors.
This project is a learning expierience for myself too. Currently liquid dosing of foods are consistantly fed in the a.m. and through the evening but not during the day for 9 hrs/6 hrs at night. During that time, as with the rest of the day, the aquarium is dry fed 24/7. I want to reduce the lapse in time of liquid feeding and have more consistancy of the dosing intervals when I am away for work or vacation. In addition with doing this, I also want to see the effects on the aquarium, see what is actually needed with feeding and what isn't.
Mike
I am quite aware that this method in not new or revolutionary. Now this practice may not have been "popular" in the past but neither was the keeping of non-photosynthetic corals.
As more reefers look to keeping non-photosynthetic corals they will need to have the proper tools for doing so.
Most people in general want to feel "safe" and "secure" before they take the risk of doing something. Whether it is in life or even their first post on a forum. It is part of human nature.
Feeding methods and husbandry practices need to be clear for our community. They also need to be proven that they work, no smoke and mirrors.
This project is a learning expierience for myself too. Currently liquid dosing of foods are consistantly fed in the a.m. and through the evening but not during the day for 9 hrs/6 hrs at night. During that time, as with the rest of the day, the aquarium is dry fed 24/7. I want to reduce the lapse in time of liquid feeding and have more consistancy of the dosing intervals when I am away for work or vacation. In addition with doing this, I also want to see the effects on the aquarium, see what is actually needed with feeding and what isn't.
Mike
slapshot
Active member
Mike, the problem that I have, and it is a computer issue, is the computer runs in increments of 1 minute. So I have to water down the "mix". Then I can't keep enough to feed to feed more than 48 hours. I am not gone very much, so it is fine for me, but if you intend to be gone for more than that you will need a pumping system that can be ran in seconds. I think more often with less food would be better.
I am feeding 8 times in a 24 hour period. Plus, I manually feed other times that I am around. I would rather feed half as much 16 times. So, if your starting from scratch I would look for a dosing system that ran on seconds instead of minutes. Can't wait to see your project!
i tried calling a friend from Bush Gardens, he had NPS with a fridge back in the early 90s ( hes the one who told me about cal dosing in the 80s) and his wife said he passed away 
i told her my problem and she said alot of his pictures and work were ruined in a hurricane
its a shame because he was really ahead of the game as far as reefing is concerned and i wanted him to post here.
i told her my problem and she said alot of his pictures and work were ruined in a hurricane
its a shame because he was really ahead of the game as far as reefing is concerned and i wanted him to post here.
Aquabacs
New member
Thanks! Here is a quick vid of the BM pump. (not my finger
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Mike
(ordered their shelf kit also) Looking forward to testing it tonight to see how accurate it actually is. Similar threads
