Automatic Fish Feeder

Fish need food to live. Sometimes we can't be around to always feed them. An automatic fish feeder can solve this problem for you.

Tripod stand (This is where I got mine: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0963XHVF4)

Cardboard

Styrofoam

Glue

Arduino Uno (or any microcontroller that can connect to a servo)

USB A to USB B cable (probably comes with microcontroller)

Servo (I used this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073F92G2S)

3 Jumper wires

2 Funnels

Tape

2 Rubber bands

Paper

Cut out a strip of cardboard. Then cut out 3 small blocks of styrofoam and glue them onto the cardboard so that they will align with the legs of the tripod.

Stab a hole into each of piece of styrofoam and insert the legs of the tripod. Glue the legs to the styrofoam base.

Setup your microcontroller and servo. This step is rather complex step but this guide can help: https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/akshayjoseph666/servo-motor-interface-with-arduino-uno-9693ad

I connected everything to a breadboard first but this isn't necessary. Attached the jumper wires to the Arduino like in this schematic. This schematic connects the servo to pin 3 but I used pin 9. Which pin you use doesn't really matter, just remember it when you write your code.

After setting this all up you will need to install Arduino IDE on a computer and connect the Arduino with the USB A to USB B cable to your computer. I have attached the code I used which you can use as well. Upload it to the microcontroller.

Set the larger funnel on the tripod and align the servo next to the funnel. Create the servo arm and attach it to the motor. I did this by folding a piece of paper and attaching it with two rubber bands. Once the arm is attached, mark how high on the funnel the arm reaches with a pen. Cut off this tip of the funnel so that the arm can slide underneath the funnel.

Attach the microcontroller and servo to the cardboard base. There are countless ways you could do this, but I just glued them on.

Cut a hole in the cardboard underneath the arm and funnel. Set the second funnel in this hole and attach it to the tripod with tape or any other desired method. Securely attach the top funnel to the tripod. You can also reinforced the tip of the top funnel with tape so that it matches the shape of the arm. This will prevent food from spilling out.

Set the project above your tank and your fish feeder is now complete! You will probably have to make small adjustments to the code and the structure. To get the device working simply dump food into the top funnel and plug the Arduino to a power source. The code will automatically start running and the servo will drop food into the tank. Adjust how often it drops food by changing the second delay in the code. It is measured in milliseconds, so 1 second = 1000. 1 hour = 3,600,000. 1 day = 86,400,000. etc.

Hope this was fun and you enjoy your new fish feeder! Feel free to contact me for help or questions.