How to decontaminate an Avast Plank

[JoJosReef]

I found out that the food reservoir of my Plank is contaminated and not dispensing food (it's all gummed up together). I don't know why there is so much moisture on the inside, but I suspect the mold/fungus is from ants getting inside of the plank and carrying it with them. Anyway, I have no idea how to clean this out. I got the majority of the grossness removed with a tester spoon, but I'm afraid to go into this with liquids. Can the auger/reservoir be removed without breaking the machine? I'd like to do a full decontamination, or at least a complete wipedown with isopropanol. @AVAST Marine any help? Thanks!

Also, if moisture is getting into the Plank, perhaps due to evaporation, what is the best way to prevent the food from gumming up? Keep the lid off of it? Thanks!

 

[rc8t6353]

Following along. I've been looking to get a plank for my tank.

 

[dmsc2fs]

You can take it apart i suppose. Myself I would plug it in and run a few lbs of corn meal through it followed by misting with 90% rubbing alcohol. Put a fan on it for a day and judge after that.

 

[dmsc2fs]

You could also ask Avast. They are quick to respond.

 

[JoJosReef]

You could also ask Avast. They are quick to respond.

Emailed them earlier today and tagged them here. Hoping to get a response soon. My wrasses are looking at me funny.

Edit: Should have looked at my email, as they already wrote earlier. I am asking to repost their response on here.

 

[JoJosReef]

You can take it apart i suppose. Myself I would plug it in and run a few lbs of corn meal through it followed by misting with 90% rubbing alcohol. Put a fan on it for a day and judge after that.

Aaron from Avast recommends NOT using rubbing alcohol as it can damage the apparatus. He recommends using an air can to blow it clean and using soap with damp cloth for more intense cleaning.

 

[dmsc2fs]

Aaron from Avast recommends NOT using rubbing alcohol as it can damage the apparatus. He recommends using an air can to blow it clean and using soap with damp cloth for more intense cleaning.

I guess that makes sense. I forget sometimes how fragile 3d plastic can be.

 

[VintageReefer]

I found out that the food reservoir of my Plank is contaminated and not dispensing food (it's all gummed up together). I don't know why there is so much moisture on the inside, but I suspect the mold/fungus is from ants getting inside of the plank and carrying it with them. Anyway, I have no idea how to clean this out. I got the majority of the grossness removed with a tester spoon, but I'm afraid to go into this with liquids. Can the auger/reservoir be removed without breaking the machine? I'd like to do a full decontamination, or at least a complete wipedown with isopropanol. @AVAST Marine any help? Thanks!

Also, if moisture is getting into the Plank, perhaps due to evaporation, what is the best way to prevent the food from gumming up? Keep the lid off of it? Thanks!

i too notice sometimes my food seems like it has collected some moisture, i Assume from humidity

I found these optional parts in the website and was considering them.

https://www.avastmarine.com/products/plank-desiccant-lid
https://www.avastmarine.com/products/plank-vacation-hopper-beta
Both have spots for moisture absorbing packs to be held

 

[JoJosReef]

i too notice sometimes my food seems like it has collected some moisture, i Assume from humidity

I found these optional parts in the website and was considering them.

https://www.avastmarine.com/products/plank-desiccant-lid
https://www.avastmarine.com/products/plank-vacation-hopper-beta
Both have spots for moisture absorbing packs to be held

I just bought the beta lid (and more reef jerky). I'll report back on how it's working.

NOTE: My Plank MIGHT even be more susceptible to moisture because I have an ant moat underneath it, so it's likely getting a bit of evaporation very close to it's opening. Sigh... once ant season is over it'll be better, I'm sure.

 

[VintageReefer]

Why not…kill the ant colony. I can recommend a good bait trap. They will bring it back wherever they came from. And you’ll never see them again

Watch them on the return trip so you know where to caulk after they are eliminated

 

[JoJosReef]

Why not…kill the ant colony. I can recommend a good bait trap. They will bring it back wherever they came from. And you’ll never see them again

Watch them on the return trip so you know where to caulk after they are eliminated

Office, so I can't be running around with a caulk gun. I did put some dry pellet bait that works really well at my house in the outskirts of the office on the sly. They've since disappeared. But this is Irvine, CA. It is basically one giant ant mound.

 

[Stevorino]

I had a similar issue with mine last year, I don't think it's an ant thing lol

What I ******* love about Avast Marine is that I reached out to them about it, they quickly responded with some tips, and then months later actually proactively reached out telling me this was built to combat the issue.

My theory is that either water is splashing up on the output and it seeps up, or that it's in a humid environment... both could be true in my case.

I just moved the tank and haven't had a chance to try it yet, but I love their support and products. The Mutiny and Kalk Stirrer are also great.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

IME...
Windex works well on ant trails... I think the ammonia knocks out there trail scents. They also usually won't cross it.

 

[KrisReef]

Aaron from Avast recommends NOT using rubbing alcohol as it can damage the apparatus. He recommends using an air can to blow it clean and using soap with damp cloth for more intense cleaning.

Yup, maybe run rice (dry) through the unit to collect moisture and scour out the funk? Then air.

 

[JoJosReef]

Email from Aaron at Avast:

Hi Joe,
Wow... I'm so sorry. This looks funky!
To clean this out we recommend dumping the old food and using a can of air to blow it clean.

Please do not (please do not) use any rubbing alcohol to clean it - it will damage the unit.
After the food is out, you can use a very mild dish (or veggie) soap on a damp paper towel to clean it. If you use soap, make sure you use a clean damp (water only) paper towel to remove any soap before adding food again.

Not a must, but putting this out there in case moisture is a recurring issue - we have an in-beta lid with a 5-gram silica gel desiccant pack holder - link HERE and our Cannonball HERE cover to keep the food from collecting moisture. The cannonball will be back in stock soon.

Please keep me posted on how the cleanout works for you.
Best,
Avast Customer Support

 

[karees]

After I purchased my Avast Plank, I saw some posts about moisture in the food chamber.

I came up with a solution. I purchased low flow air pump and a automotive air desiccating chamber, and an airline flow adjuster. I will list the info later. All available on Amazon. I have the air pump outside of the aquarium high moisture environment capturing normal room air. I drilled a hole in the chamber lid. The tubing fit fairly snuggly, but I placed two O-rings, one on the outside, and one on the inside to make sure that it remains stable. It flows through the desiccating chamber into the vast plank, food chamber at a VERY LOW rate.

I have had food in the chamber for two months, and it is still dry and flaky.

I discussed my solution with the folks at Avast. They were not at all interested in the idea and suggested I posted on reef to reef.

Nicrew nano silent aquarium pump - $12.99

Motor guard model Motor Guard DD 1008 (you’ll need 2/4 inch adapters for either end of this unit to connect to the tubing.) $31.31 for two air drying chambers.

 

[VintageReefer]

After I purchased my Avast Plank, I saw some posts about moisture in the food chamber.

I came up with a solution. I purchased low flow air pump and a automotive air desiccating chamber, and an airline flow adjuster. I will list the info later. All available on Amazon. I have the air pump outside of the aquarium high moisture environment capturing normal room air. I drilled a hole in the chamber lid. The tubing fit fairly snuggly, but I placed two O-rings, one on the outside, and one on the inside to make sure that it remains stable. It flows through the desiccating chamber into the vast plank, food chamber at a VERY LOW rate.

I have had food in the chamber for two months, and it is still dry and flaky.

I discussed my solution with the folks at Avast. They were not at all interested in the idea and suggested I posted on reef to reef.

Nicrew nano silent aquarium pump - $12.99

Motor guard model ModelDD 1008 (you’ll need 2/4 inch adapters for either end of this unit to connect to the tubing.) $31.31 for two chambers

Why not get this for 8$

https://www.avastmarine.com/products/plank-desiccant-lid

 

[karees]

edit:

You will need 2 1/4 adapters for the Motor Guard unit.

 

[karees]

Why not get this for 8$

https://www.avastmarine.com/products/plank-desiccant-lid

I did review your link about the Plank desiccating lid several weeks ago. But when I read that it hadn’t been tested, yet I started thinking about a possible alternative. I’m glad to hear that it’s having success.

Since my solution has dry air passing through the food chamber, and out the delivery orifice, the food at the orifice is dry and flaky. I’m very pleased with that outcome. I was just thinking other people might like to try it. That’s why I’m sharing.

 

[VintageReefer]

Your idea is a good one! I wouldn’t mind building it. Some “may” find it overcomplicated or cumbersome. So I shared a simpler cheap alternative as an option for others who dot want to assemble anything and just want to swap a part out