In modern aquaculture, feeding management directly affects fish growth speed, feed conversion ratio, and farming profits.
Traditional manual feeding methods are not only labor-intensive and time-consuming, but also inconsistent. Uneven feeding can easily lead to feed waste, water pollution, and unstable fish growth.
This is why more and more fish and shrimp farms are choosing an automatic fish feeder system.
With an automatic feeder installed beside the pond, farmers only need to fill the feed hopper and set the feeding interval and feeding duration. The machine will then automatically distribute feed at scheduled times without continuous manual operation.
For commercial aquaculture farms, this means:
- Reduced labor costs
- More accurate feeding control
- Better feed utilization
- Faster fish growth
- Lower feed waste
- More stable farming management
How Does the Automatic Fish Feeder Work?
The working principle of the automatic fish feeder is simple and highly efficient.
Feed pellets are stored inside the upper feed tank.
When the machine starts operating:
- The sub motor delivers feed from the hopper into the spreading disc.
- The main motor drives the spreading disc at high speed.
- Feed pellets are evenly thrown across the pond surface.
- Fish automatically gather to eat the feed.
The feeding distance can reach between 2 and 20 meters, making it suitable for both small ponds and large-scale aquaculture farms.
The feeder spreads feed evenly, helping fish access feed more uniformly while reducing feed accumulation in one area.
STLZ-120 Automatic Fish Feeder Specifications
Model: STLZ-120
- Main Motor Power: 120 W
- Submotor Power: 16 W
- Main Motor RPM: 2,800 RPM
- Tank Volume: 0.19 m³
- Feeding Distance: 2–20 m
- Spreading Angle: 120° ± 20°
- Effective Coverage Area: 20 mu (13,333 m²)
- Maximum Feeding Capacity: 300 kg/hour
- Feed Crushing Rate: ≤5%
The low crushing rate helps maintain pellet integrity and reduces feed powder waste during feeding.
Feeding Control System Explained
One of the biggest advantages of this automatic fish feeding machine is its adjustable feeding control system.
The controller on the right side allows users to easily manage feeding duration and feeding intervals.
1. Power Switch
Used to turn the feeder on or off manually.
2. Main Working Time Setting
The built-in timer allows the machine to operate continuously for up to 90 minutes before automatically stopping.
If your feeding schedule is simple, this function alone may already meet your daily needs.
3. Feeding Duration Setting (1–11 Seconds)
This controls how long the spreading disc rotates during each feeding cycle.
For example:
- Set to 5 seconds = the disc rotates for 5 seconds each cycle.
- Set to 10 seconds = more feed is distributed each cycle.
4. Feeding Interval Setting (0–18 Seconds)
This controls the waiting time between each feeding cycle.
Examples:
- 0 seconds: continuous feeding without stopping
- 7 seconds: feed for several seconds → stop for 7 seconds → feed again → repeat automatically
Farmers can adjust the feeding rhythm according to fish feeding behavior and appetite.
This flexible control system helps prevent overfeeding while improving feed efficiency.
Use an External Timer for Automatic Feeding
Many farmers ask:
“Fish need feeding multiple times every day. Do I need to keep the machine running all day?”
Or:
“What if the fish finish eating early and the machine keeps wasting feed?”
This is where the external programmable timer becomes extremely important.
The timer does not directly control the feeder itself.
Instead, it controls the power supply to the machine.
When the timer switches the power on, the feeder starts operating according to the feeding interval settings on the main controller.
When the timer cuts the power off, the feeder completely stops.
This allows farmers to create a fully automatic feeding schedule.
How to Set the Automatic Feeding Schedule
The programmable timer allows users to set:
- Hour
- Minute
- Day of the week
- Multiple feeding periods per day
Example Feeding Schedule
Morning Feeding
- ON 1: 08:00
- OFF 1: 09:00
The feeder automatically starts at 8 AM and stops at 9 AM every day.
Evening Feeding
- ON 2: 17:00
- OFF 2: 18:00
Night Feeding
- ON 3: 22:00
- OFF 3: 23:00
After setup, the feeder automatically operates every day according to the programmed schedule.
Farmers no longer need to manually turn the machine on and off.
Benefits of Using an Automatic Fish Feeding Machine
Reduce Labor Costs
Manual feeding requires workers to repeatedly visit ponds every day.
An automatic feeder dramatically reduces manpower requirements.
Improve Feeding Consistency
Fish receive feed at consistent times and quantities, improving growth performance.
Reduce Feed Waste
Controlled feeding intervals help avoid excessive feeding and feed loss.
Better Feed Conversion Ratio
More accurate feeding improves feed utilization and lowers farming costs.
Suitable for Large Aquaculture Farms
The large hopper capacity and wide feeding coverage make the feeder ideal for commercial fish farming and shrimp farming operations.
Ideal Applications
This automatic feeder is widely used for:
- Fish ponds
- Shrimp farms
- Tilapia farming
- Catfish farming
- Carp farming
- Intensive aquaculture systems
- Commercial aquaculture projects
Achieve Fully Automatic Feeding
Once you test and adjust the correct feeding amount for your fish, daily management becomes extremely simple.
You only need to:
- Refill feed into the hopper
- Periodically inspect the machine
- Let the system automatically handle daily feeding
The feeder will automatically start and stop according to your programmed schedule.
This is true intelligent aquaculture feeding management.
Looking for an Automatic Fish Feeder Supplier?
If you are looking for:
- An automatic fish feeder manufacturer
- A reliable aquaculture equipment supplier
- Wholesale automatic fish feeders
- Fish feeder distributors
- OEM aquaculture feeding machines
Please leave a message on our Feeding machine product page or contact us directly through WhatsApp.
Email:tim@futi.com
We provide professional aquaculture equipment solutions for fish farms and shrimp farms worldwide.
