Avast Marine Plank Feeder - Timing Suggestions?

[907_Reefer]

Hey all, setting up my new Avast Marine Plank Feeder today - curious for those that are running this feeder, what are your timer settings or suggestions? I'm running it standalone, no aquarium controller.

I'll also be running both the pump and feeder plugs on one amazon wifi timer to start, but I have read it can be beneficial to stagger the pump setting slightly to allow the freeze dried plankton to soak before pumping in (future improvement perhaps). Otherwise I have seen a few posts so far, some running 3 minutes 3x per day with some 1 minute intervals in between, some just running longer a few times per day, some running more often shorter, etc. Open to all thoughts!

As this depends on stocking also, we have a 55 gal mixed reef with livestock including:

Clown pair
Melanurus Wrasse
Royal Gramma
Pistol Shrimp
Yellow Watchman Goby
3 Pajama Cardinals
Misc snails and crabs (15-20 total combined)

Thanks!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hey all, setting up my new Avast Marine Plank Feeder today - curious for those that are running this feeder, what are your timer settings or suggestions? I'm running it standalone, no aquarium controller.

I'll also be running both the pump and feeder plugs on one amazon wifi timer to start, but I have read it can be beneficial to stagger the pump setting slightly to allow the freeze dried plankton to soak before pumping in (future improvement perhaps). Otherwise I have seen a few posts so far, some running 3 minutes 3x per day with some 1 minute intervals in between, some just running longer a few times per day, some running more often shorter, etc. Open to all thoughts!

As this depends on stocking also, we have a 55 gal mixed reef with livestock including:

Clown pair
Melanurus Wrasse
Royal Gramma
Pistol Shrimp
Yellow Watchman Goby
3 Pajama Cardinals
Misc snails and crabs (15-20 total combined)

Thanks!

View attachment 2996752

I have mine at 5 cycles per day starting at 10a

 

[907_Reefer]

I have mine at 5 cycles per day starting at 10a

How long do your cycles run for?

 

[vetteguy53081]

How long do your cycles run for?

30 seconds but based on 38 fish

 

[907_Reefer]

30 seconds but based on 38 fish

Thanks, definitely going to start off on the low end here!

 

[907_Reefer]

Circling back on this, still adjusting but currently running 3x per day for 2 minutes each, seems like I could cut that back but the fish eat everything up. I'm thinking maybe 5 times for 1 minute instead, may try that out..

Since I discovered my dual Kasa smart plug CAN run both plugs independently, I am running the pump staggered - feeding keg starts at minute 0, pump starts at minute 1, keg ends at minute 2, pump ends at minute 3.

They are in love with the freeze dried plankton!

 

[All_talk]

I'm currently 3 times a day. Screw and pump start at the same time, screw runs for 30 seconds, pump stays on for 30 minutes.

 

[laconic]

I'm currently 3 times a day. Screw and pump start at the same time, screw runs for 30 seconds, pump stays on for 30 minutes.

Could you share your code for this @All_talk? Will the code trigger feed mode

 

[All_talk]

Could you share your code for this @All_talk? Will the code trigger feed mode

My current coding does not trigger a feed mode. I have backed off my feed time to 25 seconds. The pump is now on for 20 minutes. I have arranged the coding in one hour blocks so I can easily add as many feed times as I like through out the day. And the feed amount set independent of when it feeds.

Feed Screw

Fallback OFF
OSC 000:00/000:25/059:35 Then ON
If Time 00:00 to 09:58 Then OFF
If Time 10:02 to 14:58 Then OFF
If Time 15:02 to 19:58 Then OFF
If Time 20:02 to 24:00 Then OFF

Feed Pump

Fallback OFF
OSC 000:00/020:00/040:00 Then ON
If Time 00:00 to 09:58 Then OFF
If Time 10:30 to 14:58 Then OFF
If Time 15:30 to 19:59 Then OFF
If Time 20:30 to 24:00 Then OFF