Neptune Aquatics

Avast auto feeder question

gmdcdvm

gmdcdvm

Supporting Member
BARcard
Hello,
Well, after two year of it sitting in the box I finally got around to setting up my Avast auto feeder. While doing some test runs I noticed some of the food floats and won’t get sucked out into the tank. How do you guys sets up your on and off times for the pump to get deal with this?
Do you stagger it so the food drops into the column and sits there for a while rehydrating prior to turning on the pump? Do you turn the pump on and off several times after a feeding to get the food cleared out? Turn then pump on first then the feeder?
Just wondering what has worked for others. Thanks
Gerry

Ps thank JVU, that power strip worked out well.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: JVU
I just followed their recommendation and leave the pump on all the time. For a mix of reef jerky, pellets, and freeze dried mysis I use the 5th setting on the dial on the bottom.

If yours is 2 years old you make have the old style of pump chamber control and I believe they do make an upgrade kit for them if that’s the case.
 
If your plank is older you almost certainly have the older style pump assembly - consider yourself lucky, as I really dislike the new ones. I think the dial is an over-complication and I've already broken both of mine (the junction between the extended tube thingy and the main dial).

Because you can no longer pull the pump out the top, you have to feed the wire in through the mount and push everything out the bottom - much more difficult to clean now. AND they require cleaning more often because of all the little bits around the dial clogging up. I emailed Dan this feedback and he said to try cleaning it without disassembling...and if that doesn't work he'll send me the 3d print file for the originals so we can print some up for the club.

And yeah with mine broken I am basically just running the things wide open. No real downside to this other than for certain freeze-dried foods they don't get enough time to hydrate and will immediately float to the surface. I am OK with this since my CBB has learned to pick them off the surface anyway so he gets the lion's share which is the intent.
 
Agree to do as they recommend and leave it on. I actually turn it off for a while at night to hopefully let snails crawl out and debris to dislodge.

The Dove snails I got a while ago keep getting stuck in the 3D printed channel that directs the outflow of the mixing pump. Super annoying since it’s such a PITA to clean now- near total disassembly including cord management. If I could pull it up and clean more easily I’d be interested in that for sure @derek_SR
 
JVU said:
Agree to do as they recommend and leave it on. I actually turn it off for a while at night to hopefully let snails crawl out and debris to dislodge.

The Dove snails I got a while ago keep getting stuck in the 3D printed channel that directs the outflow of the mixing pump. Super annoying since it’s such a PITA to clean now- near total disassembly including cord management. If I could pull it up and clean more easily I’d be interested in that for sure @derek_SR
Click to expand...

Right? I knew it can't just be me with this feedback. The old version was honestly just better in every single way...ugh!

Having to deal with the cable management every time is a nightmare. That cord is so stiff in the channel it's a non-trivial task.
 
Would it make sense to turn the feeder on, let the food drop and soak for 10-20 minutes, and then have the pump turn on to avoid food that is not fully hydrated?

From you description I can't tell which version I have, but it sound like it might be the updated version. The cord for the pump goes underneath the housing of the feed chamber through a small groove.What is the easiet way to tell them apart?

Thanks,
Gerry
 
I think I figured it out. Looks like I have the old version of the Avast set up. I went to the Avast site, and saw the Plank 3.6 Mixing Pump Upgrade. This does not look llike what is at the end of my pump. Mine has the lite colored adjustment nob (I'm color blind, looks like a grey/tan to me) that goes on the end of the sicce pump. You remove this, place the pump into the holder, and then this little plastic cover attaches on the other side. It does not look like the black cover that I see on their site.
This is what mine has below:

this is the upgrade kit from Avast.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top