I got a second Plank too for similar reasons
AVAST Plank Feeder Q&A
- Thread starter Alexander1312
- Start date
They say:
“For all cases, we recommend leaving the mixing pump running 24/7. This helps to keep the feeding chamber flushed and clean at all times and is also a convenient place to drop extra food or additives into the tank manually at any time.”
I’ve noticed the same. I’ve also had a snail crawl over the mixing pump and reduce flow!
I have the mixing pump throttled down because it allows a longer mixing time for freeze dried mysis to rehydrate and less likely to suck a floater out that isn’t rehydrated yet. This significantly reduces how much mysis winds up floating in the tank after coming out of the feeder tube.
My opinions:
* Incredibly overpriced
* Super ugly
* Overly complicated machinery
* Easy for it to get gummed up and not feed and hard to catch given you touch it so infrequently
I however use one on my frag tank, feeding the reef jerky with a bunch of extra freezer dried mysis added, dumping into my sump return. I removed the return pump completely and instead have a small powerhead in my return section which serves to mix and push the food to my return pump.
This obviates many of the issues, particularly that I don't have to look at it. For timing I use a home assistant managed smart plug, primarily because I wanted to ensure it would trigger the device for a controlled amount of time and then turn off. Most smart plugs aren't receiving commands of "run for 1 minute", they're receiving "turn on at 12:00"+"turn off at 12:01" and as a distributed system person that's not reliable enough for me. Kasa however does the timing controls on device, and has an auto off timer, which should be reasonably safe. I still didn't really trust it for this though.
My display has a cheap, Amazon, drum feeder + TDO pellets and I think it's realistically just as good.
* Incredibly overpriced
* Super ugly
* Overly complicated machinery
* Easy for it to get gummed up and not feed and hard to catch given you touch it so infrequently
I however use one on my frag tank, feeding the reef jerky with a bunch of extra freezer dried mysis added, dumping into my sump return. I removed the return pump completely and instead have a small powerhead in my return section which serves to mix and push the food to my return pump.
This obviates many of the issues, particularly that I don't have to look at it. For timing I use a home assistant managed smart plug, primarily because I wanted to ensure it would trigger the device for a controlled amount of time and then turn off. Most smart plugs aren't receiving commands of "run for 1 minute", they're receiving "turn on at 12:00"+"turn off at 12:01" and as a distributed system person that's not reliable enough for me. Kasa however does the timing controls on device, and has an auto off timer, which should be reasonably safe. I still didn't really trust it for this though.
My display has a cheap, Amazon, drum feeder + TDO pellets and I think it's realistically just as good.
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Depends on if you have sinkers or floaters..
For the floaters it does work -but it requires really small pellets though. Otherwise it gets all smashed up and gummied in the feeder itself..
Alexander1312
Supporting Member
kinetic
Supporting Member
I have had the first generation one for awhile, controlled by an Apex. No issues other than the mixing pump failing and then when I got a new one, that failed too.
The new tank setup is getting this installed in the sump's return chamber. I'll have a more reliable powerhead in that chamber, and the feeder will just dump food right into it. I won't use the cylinder and just let it fall and get mixed by that powerhead. If that mixing powerhead is strong enough, I think it'll keep the food suspended and not gunked up. That's the hope at least.
I'll just be using the Reef Jerkey in there, and I'll supplement with TDO hand fed.
The new tank setup is getting this installed in the sump's return chamber. I'll have a more reliable powerhead in that chamber, and the feeder will just dump food right into it. I won't use the cylinder and just let it fall and get mixed by that powerhead. If that mixing powerhead is strong enough, I think it'll keep the food suspended and not gunked up. That's the hope at least.
I'll just be using the Reef Jerkey in there, and I'll supplement with TDO hand fed.
TheRealMadMax
Supporting Member
I’ve had mine down in my sump for about six months. I’m using a clear tube with some holes drilled for mixing vs the included mixing pump. My sump does get a lot of flow given it drives 630 gallons of display tanks. I clean the tube out every couple weeks.
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Just installed mine using this, thank you!