AVAST Plank Feeder Q&A

[Alexander1312]

Since this feeder - https://www.avastmarine.com/products/autofeeder - has become more popular, I am starting a new thread here (great price, BTW, currently!).

Per @derek_SR advice, I bought the Hydros XP8 to feed in as little as 30 seconds instead of the minimum 1 minute that the KASA controller allows.

A couple of questions:

1. How should I set up the feeder exactly in the Hydros app to feed 4 times a day for 30 seconds? I tried and could not replicate what I could do in the KASA app.

2. How long and what timing do you use to run the pump vs. the drum? I used to start the pump 3 minutes before and let it run for 5 minutes after the drum runs. Does this make sense, or are there smarter ways to do this?

 

[dangalang]

I setup a generic output for mine and enabled advanced settings for the internal schedule.

If you use the schedule in the screen shot below, that will give you four 30 second feeds every 4 hours starting at 8a.

 

[JVU]

Avast recommends you leave the mixing pump on 24/7. It’s easier and they claim better too. That’s what I do.

 

[Alexander1312]

I setup a generic output for mine and enabled advanced settings for the internal schedule.

If you use the schedule in the screen shot below, that will give you four 30 second feeds every 4 hours starting at 8a.

View attachment 63486

Thats great - thanks so much!

 

[Alexander1312]

Avast recommends you leave the mixing pump on 24/7. It’s easier and they claim better too. That’s what I do.

I did not know this, thank you. Will keep this on 24/7 then.

 

[MarcosDelgado0]

Question for you- do you feel like it’s an eyesore? I have been debating getting one for my new tank but it has a eurobrace and the unit looks somewhat bulky. Or did you just get used to it?

 

[Alexander1312]

Question for you- do you feel like it’s an eyesore? I have been debating getting one for my new tank but it has a eurobrace and the unit looks somewhat bulky. Or did you just get used to it?

Mine is a Eurobrace too. And yes, I do not actually like it too much visually but the others are not better either. And the functionality of this seems so much better than the standard feeders.

 

[Darkxerox]

Good timing, I'm setting mine up this week too!

 

[dangalang]

Question for you- do you feel like it’s an eyesore? I have been debating getting one for my new tank but it has a eurobrace and the unit looks somewhat bulky. Or did you just get used to it?

You could put it in the sump and have the output be above/near your return pump. Probably have to use the french cleat mount with that setup depending on how much room you have.

 

[finalphaze987]

Question for you- do you feel like it’s an eyesore? I have been debating getting one for my new tank but it has a eurobrace and the unit looks somewhat bulky. Or did you just get used to it?

I felt that eayy after first installing at first, but got used to it...I was going to get am AFS for pellets, but ended up going with a 2nd plank after reading horror stories of people with AFS issues..with the symmetry, I don't mind them anymore.

 

[Darkxerox]

I felt that eayy after first installing at first, but got used to it...I was going to get am AFS for pellets, but ended up going with a 2nd plank after reading horror stories of people with AFS issues..with the symmetry, I don't mind them anymore.
View attachment 63495

You and I are the opposite. I've got all this equipment sitting dry off the filled tank, you've got it on the tank dry with no water lol.

 

[finalphaze987]

You and I are the opposite. I've got all this equipment sitting dry off the filled tank, you've got it on the tank dry with no water lol.

Everytime I'm about to fill it, I find a new wire to tuck away and roll the tank out..im trying to get my $120 worth for those casters until that sucker is filled and planted in place lol

 

[L/B Block]

Avast recommends you leave the mixing pump on 24/7. It’s easier and they claim better too. That’s what I do.

Realiy? Interesting.,
@Alexander1312 -i generally kick off the pump same time the avast feeder goes. The feeder goes for 30 secs, the pump 3 min although I may just change that now after @JVU’s comment

 

[L/B Block]

Question for you- do you feel like it’s an eyesore? I have been debating getting one for my new tank but it has a eurobrace and the unit looks somewhat bulky. Or did you just get used to it?

After awhile you get use to it.

 

[derek_SR]

I run my plank pump 24/7. I think pumps turning on and off is generally a lot worse than running continuously - it's what they were designed to do. My old tunze pumps, which were tanks, would occasionally lock up because I had the wave pulse go to 0% and it was really hard on them.

I tried mounting the plank in the sump above the return but it's almost impossible to get all of the pellets into the return pump - and they would accumulate in the sump. If you have a large enough pump and it sits close enough to the surface of the water you could maybe make it work. But then you're exposing the dry food to humidity, salt creep, and all that...maybe not a huge deal, I dunno.

 

[dangalang]

I run my circulation pump 24/7 because that's what Avast recommends, but also because of the old adage that turning A/C pumps on and off is not good for the pump.

However, I did reach out to Sicce and asked if there would be any issues turning the Sicce Nano pump on and off a few times a day and they said the pump should be able to handle that with no problem.

 

[Alexander1312]

I run my plank pump 24/7. I think pumps turning on and off is generally a lot worse than running continuously - it's what they were designed to do. My old tunze pumps, which were tanks, would occasionally lock up because I had the wave pulse go to 0% and it was really hard on them.

I tried mounting the plank in the sump above the return but it's almost impossible to get all of the pellets into the return pump - and they would accumulate in the sump. If you have a large enough pump and it sits close enough to the surface of the water you could maybe make it work. But then you're exposing the dry food to humidity, salt creep, and all that...maybe not a huge deal, I dunno.

I would also not be fan of moving the feeder to the sump for the stated reasons. I am also intentionally running the return pump at a very low setting so I am not sure if this would then pull in all the pellets. Still, an interesting idea but it seems to create more problems than it solves.

 

[scuba71]

Avast recommends you leave the mixing pump on 24/7. It’s easier and they claim better too. That’s what I do.

Any idea why? I personally find it unnecessary. I actually don't start up mine for 30 minutes after the feed starts. This way the food get socked and is rehydrated. But I guess it depends on what you're feeding.

 

[newfly]

Anyone have their Plank flow in the feeding chamber slow down over time? I find myself keep adjusting the pump intake opening a couple of time a week. Its getting annoying,

 

[derek_SR]

Anyone have their Plank flow in the feeding chamber slow down over time? I find myself keep adjusting the pump intake opening a couple of time a week. Its getting annoying,

Yeah it gets gummed up. Why not just keep it wide open from the start? I just tossed that little adjuster piece and let it run max until it needs to get cleaned (every couple months). I can't think of anyone reason to minimize the flow with that adjuster...