Integrating an Auto Feeder into Your Aquarium's Return Pump

💡 Why Integrate Your Auto Feeder with the Return Pump?

Before we dive into the how-to, let's look at the benefits of this discreet feeding method:

• Tidy Display: Say goodbye to unsightly feeders suction-cupped to your tank rim. Hiding the feeder in your sump keeps your display tank pristine.
• Multi-Tank Feeding: If you have multiple display tanks plumbed into a single return system, this setup allows you to feed all of them simultaneously from one central feeder. 🐟🐟🐟
• Optimal Dispersal & Saturation: Food dispensed directly into the return pump's flow gets immediately and thoroughly mixed into the water column, ensuring it's saturated and dispersed evenly throughout your system. This means less floating food and more direct consumption by your fish.
• Enhanced Mixing (with a separate mixing pump): For dry foods, the turbulence of the return pump chamber, especially when paired with an additional mixing pump, pre-saturates the food, making it more palatable and digestible for your fish.

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🛠️ Recommended Materials

To get started, here's what you'll need:

• Avast Marine Plank Auto Feeder: This unit dispenses dry food and has its own pump to push it through plumbing. You can find more details here. 🔗
• Kasa Smart Power Strip (or similar smart plug): This will be your key to precise, minute-by-minute feeding schedules for your Avast Plank Feeder. ⏱️
• PVC Pipe & Fittings (2" PVC for Avast): To extend the Avast Plank Feeder's output pipe for optimal placement in your sump. 📏
• Separate Mixing Pump (optional): An additional pump placed in your return chamber to create turbulence and aid in food dispersal and saturation. 🌊

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🔩 Installation Procedure

The goal is to direct the Avast Marine Plank Auto Feeder's output into your return pump's intake or return chamber, ensuring the food is immediately pulled into your system. Your separate mixing pump will then work to ensure any remaining food in the chamber is fully suspended and eventually drawn into the return pump as well. ✅

Step 1: Plan Your Feeder Placement

• Identify the best location for your **Avast Marine Plank Auto Feeder**. This will typically be directly over your return pump chamber in your sump. The feeder should be positioned so its dispensing spout can drop food into the water directly above or very close to your main return pump's intake, or into the flow created by your separate mixing pump.
• Consider Existing Plumbing: You'll be working with the Avast Plank Feeder's output pipe. Look at its length and determine if it needs to be extended to reach your desired drop-off point in the sump. 📐
• Height & Accessibility: Ensure the feeder is at a height where its integrated pump can push food effectively and is still accessible for refills and maintenance.

Step 2: Modifying Your Avast Feeder's Output Plumbing

To get the Avast Plank Feeder's output precisely where you want it and to ensure optimal dispersal, you may need to extend its standard 2" PVC output pipe.

• Measure Twice, Cut Once: Carefully measure the length of 2" PVC pipe needed to extend the Avast Plank Feeder's output pipe. 📏
• Cut and Dry-Fit: Use a PVC cutter to make clean cuts. Dry-fit all pieces together first to ensure everything aligns correctly before cementing. ✂

Example Extension: My setup required extending the default 2" PVC pipe from the Avast Plank Feeder to effectively reach the ideal drop-off point in the return chamber.

Step 3: Position Your Separate Mixing Pump

• Place your separate mixing pump in the return chamber. Position it to create significant water agitation where the food will be dispensed. This turbulence helps thoroughly saturate and mix the food before it enters your main display. 🌀

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⏱️ Programming Your Avast Plank Feeder & Mixing Pump with Smart Timers

This is where the magic of precise, customizable feeding schedules happens! Using Kasa Smart Power Strips allows you to control both your Avast Plank Feeder and your separate mixing pump with minute-by-minute accuracy.

Step 1: Program Your Avast Marine Plank Auto Feeder (via Kasa)

• Plug your Auto Feeder into one of the controllable outlets on your Kasa Smart Power Strip. 🔌
• Follow the Kasa app instructions to connect your smart power strip to your home Wi-Fi network. 📱
• Create Schedules: Open the Kasa app and select your smart power strip. Navigate to the scheduling or timer section for the specific outlet your Avast Plank Feeder is plugged into. Create a new schedule for each desired feeding time (e.g., 12:00 PM, 3:30 PM). 📅
• Set Duration to 1 Minute: For each schedule, set the "ON" duration to **1 minute**. This will activate your Avast Plank Feeder's integrated pump for exactly one minute, dispensing its portion of food. ⏳
• Choose Your Food Wisely: The "Reef Jerkey" food that often comes with the Plank is freeze-dried. Be cautious as freeze-dried foods can expand significantly if consumed too quickly, potentially causing blockages in some fish. ⚠️ I personally swapped to feeding PE Pellets for peace of mind. ✅
• Repeat as Needed: Set the schedule to repeat daily or on specific days of the week, according to your fish's feeding needs. 🔁

Example Avast Plank Feeder Schedule using Kasa:

Step 2: Program Your Separate Mixing Pump

Controlling your separate mixing pump with a timer is crucial for optimal food dispersal and saturation in the return chamber. 💧

• Set Mixing Pump Timer: Connect your separate mixing pump to a standard timer. Program this timer to turn on a few minutes before your Avast Plank Feeder activates and stay on for a period after the feeding. This ensures the food is thoroughly saturated and dispersed throughout your system. ⏳

Example Mixing Pump Schedule:

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✅ Final Tips for Success

• Test Thoroughly: Before relying on the automated system, do several test runs. Manually trigger the Kasa schedule and observe if the food dispenses correctly and disperses well in your tank. ✔️
• Start Small with Food: Begin with a smaller amount of food in your auto feeder and gradually increase if needed, carefully monitoring your fish's consumption and water parameters. Overfeeding can lead to nutrient issues. 🤏
• Test Water Parameters: Regularly test your water to ensure nutrient levels (like nitrates and phosphates) don't become too elevated due to increased feeding. 🧪
• Regular Cleaning: Periodically check and clean your auto feeder to prevent clogging. 🧼
• Monitor Fish Health: Always observe your fish for signs of hunger or stress. The automated system is a convenience, but your eyes are the best monitoring tool. 👀
• Manual Feeds Still Valuable: Automated feeding is great for consistency, but don't forget the value of manual feeding for variety and to personally interact with your fish. ❤️

By following these steps, you can achieve a truly streamlined and discreet feeding system for your reef aquarium, keeping your tank looking pristine while ensuring your aquatic inhabitants are happy and well-fed. 🐠🌊✨