New Apex Auto Feeder

[Hopkins]

Man, Neptune keeps making killer products that are so easy to install and program. All I had to do was update the firmware and plug the AFS into an open USB port. Programming was super easy as well.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/19/vy9y7emu.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/19/a3u3u5a6.jpg

Now I can leave the house for a few days and not worry so much.

[MizTanks]

Lot a wires close to that water. Your making me nervous-lol

[Hopkins]

Just from the lunar simulator. I haven't had a chance to tidy them up yet

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Vey nice. How's the noise level when it's feeding?

Tom

[jimsflies]

Are you using the auto feeder routinely or just when you're away?

[Hopkins]

It's not very loud at all. I mean, I can hear it working, but it's not too bad. I have it set to feed once a day at 5pm right now and it is on the smallest amount of food that I could set. I'll be watching the next couple days to see if I need to make any adjustments.

I think the next thing on the menu is a breakout box and some float switches. I had an issue where my top off bucket stopped refilling with RODI water. The Tunze auto top off ran dry for a couple days and I didn't notice. The salinity was jacked up but thankfully I didn't lose anything. I'm going to add a float switch to my top off bucket and sump to detect the water level. Might even add one to my skimmer cup to detect overflows.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Good to know.

I hear you on the breakout box. It is on my wishlist for the same ATO sensing issue.

Tom

[Detour]

How does it attach to your center brace? I have used the Eheim automatic feeder for years without any issues - but I have to admit that I'm curious about the AFS and integration into the controller.


Man, Neptune keeps making killer products that are so easy to install and program. All I had to do was update the firmware and plug the AFS into an open USB port. Programming was super easy as well.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/19/vy9y7emu.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/19/a3u3u5a6.jpg

Now I can leave the house for a few days and not worry so much.

[Hopkins]

There is a plastic adapter for mounting to the rim of an aquarium, but they also included a piece of Velcro. I have it Velcro'ed there right now and my fingers are crossed. Hopefully, it is still attached when I get home.

[Detour]

Yeah - I'm there too - Too many times I've turned off the Tunze ATO to shut down the high-water float alarm because I've just changed a filter sock and the water is a bit high and/or the skimmer is off because I just changed the filter sock, I'm floating new corals, etc. - only to forget to turn it back on. It would be nice to have three water sensors - one to shut down the return pump if the water level drops where it would start pulling air, etc., 1 to monitor the level for operating level, and 1 to monitor too high of levels - more for notification purposes (although I could shut down the ATO and kalk to prevent adding any more water to the sump).

I actually own a break out box (got one with a water bug sensor a number of years ago - but never set it up) - so one of these days, I should look into float switches... and a pump to replace the Tunze ATO pump.



Good to know.

I hear you on the breakout box. It is on my wishlist for the same ATO sensing issue.

Tom

[jimsflies]

I had an auto feeder connected to the controller for a while, but I realized my fish were no longer excited to see me. :( I ended up taking it off. Besides propping up my fishkeeping ego, being there when they are fed gives me a chance to assess their condition and make sure everyone is accounted for.

The plus side of having an auto feeder in place all the time though is its one less thing you have to worry about if you do go away for a few days. Putting it on the tank the day before a two week vacation can be a recipe for disaster. Auto feeders definitely need some tweaking to feed the correct amount.

When you feed, do you have the controller turn off your return pump?

[Hopkins]

I didn't program it to do anything other than dump food in the tank. Maybe someday I will get fancy with it. I have a few pig fish that don't let food stay in the tank very long.

[Hopkins]

Seems to be working well so far. I set the time for 5pm, so I can at least watch the fish eat.