aF4 Auto Feeder Discussion - Problems, Issues, Usage Nuances

[GoogleWasMyIdea]

I wanted to put something out here so that everyone using the aF4 can talk about their experiences, good and bad, tips, tricks, etc., and everyone else can learn since it has been in everyone's hands for a couple months now. So please post your experiences.

I got my aF4 when it was first released, back in November, and have it connected through my Hydros system and was over the moon to have this up and running.

I will start things off with this...I find that if I refill my reservoir with say 10 cubes (I use Hikari cubes...primarily Omega Enriched Brine and Mysis) and feed 1 cube a day, it should last me roughly 10 days. What I find is that after 4 or 5 days, the amount being dispensed decreases, sometime dramatically, and by the 10th day a minimal amount or just a couple flakes are being dispensed. But when I then go to empty/change the reservoir, there is still a good amount of food left in there. And there are no clogs in the lines.

What type of cubes is everyone using and have you run into this issue? I hate wasting food, but more than that, I want to be able to reliably depend on the aF4 when I am away.

 

[SantaMonica]

Sounds like typical fluid pressure as a function of depth in the container.

 

[Nan.roti]

I wanted to put something out here so that everyone using the aF4 can talk about their experiences, good and bad, tips, tricks, etc., and everyone else can learn since it has been in everyone's hands for a couple months now. So please post your experiences.

I got my aF4 when it was first released, back in November, and have it connected through my Hydros system and was over the moon to have this up and running.

I will start things off with this...I find that if I refill my reservoir with say 10 cubes (I use Hikari cubes...primarily Omega Enriched Brine and Mysis) and feed 1 cube a day, it should last me roughly 10 days. What I find is that after 4 or 5 days, the amount being dispensed decreases, sometime dramatically, and by the 10th day a minimal amount or just a couple flakes are being dispensed. But when I then go to empty/change the reservoir, there is still a good amount of food left in there. And there are no clogs in the lines.

What type of cubes is everyone using and have you run into this issue? I hate wasting food, but more than that, I want to be able to reliably depend on the aF4 when I am away.

I literally have the same issue. Unfortunately, @ind.aquatics would just say its user error. I've reached out to them twice and gotten this response. Most recently they wanted me to take my AF4 offline and mail it to them for service. They dont have an advanced replacement program available and we would effectively do the opposite this product was supposed to solve. From what I experienced, it really comes off as they rushed to production and released an incomplete product.

ATP I use a Wyze Camera with a ModMag and watch my feeds. If the food looks too light, I'll check the reservoir when I get home and stir. 13 cubes last me around a week at 5ml. 2 stirs in between.

Hopefully someone comes out with a better product that they stand behind. I cant wait to throw this in the garbage where it belongs.

 

[obanarama]

I experience the same food drop off thing with my af4, but overall I totally love it. And a quick swirl of the liquids fixes the clog up issue.

And I'm fairly certain that they are aware of the issue as they've redesigned the cup: https://www.indaquatics.com/products/high-flow-cup

I'll certainly be purchasing the new cup when they get it back in stock.

But overall I do love the thing. I load it up with lots of frozen as well as live phyto, reef energy ab+, and benepets so it also feeds the corals when it feeds the fish. Not only are the corals hecka happy, and the fish fat, I've now kept a Purple Queen Anthia alive for many months - which I wasn't able to do before. The Purple Queen is now getting nice and chonky as well.

I do three frozen af4 feedings per day (on the lowest food setting amount) and two feedings of pellets per day (also on a very low setting) via my Apex auto feeder. Everything loves the consistency. And it's an office tank so there's no feeding drop off on the weekends.

 

[tuscani]

great idea, but I am debating ditching it given the inconsistent feedings and the fact I have to add water to it constantly to mix up the slurry. I think a bit in stirrer would be a huge help. I have had no issues with the Wifi personally.

 

[Ehunforfun]

I personally haven’t experienced the food drying up issue but I just use a mixture of brine, mysis shrimp and PE mysis… it does leave some remnants behind at the last 10mL or so and yeah I agree it definitely feeds heavy day 1-3 though.

I will say - my experience with support was amazing. My unit was out of warranty and I admittedly spilled my skimmer cup over the top of it which caused the unit to short out.

I emailed support expecting to be told to kick rocks… they charged me $35 for shipping and not only replaced the electronics I damaged but updated all the internal parts to the latest versions for FREE