inD Aquatics aF4 frozen feeder

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Oh, ok. Do you have to do 10 minutes?

I am not sure if it will work with 1 min or 3 or 5 etc but in their apex control video they show/say to put 10 min so I programmed it that way. I never tried less than that.

At given time say 1pm the unit comes on and draws some tank water into mixing area and then mixes food from the food chamber into the water and then pushes the mixture out to tank while drawing more tank water to clean out the lines.

 

[jasonrusso]

I am not sure if it will work with 1 min or 3 or 5 etc but in their apex control video they show/say to put 10 min so I programmed it that way. I never tried less than that.

At given time say 1pm the unit comes on and draws some tank water into mixing area and then mixes food from the food chamber into the water and then pushes the mixture out to tank while drawing more tank water to clean out the lines.

Is there a solenoid that blocks off the food chamber from the flow lines?

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Is there a solenoid that blocks off the food chamber from the flow lines?

yes, its a multi input output solonoid. There is a dosing style motor or head that pulls tank water into mixing area by opening 1 port on the solonoid, then it opens 2nd port and pulls food in. once food and tank water are in mixing area, it mixes them and then open the tank water in and flushes everything out to the tank and keeps flushing a little after to clean out the line. Also after so many cycles it does an extra cycle of flushing to keep the unit clean.

 

[jasonrusso]

Is there a solenoid that blocks off the food chamber from the flow lines?

yes, its a multi input output solonoid. There is a dosing style motor or head that pulls tank water into mixing area by opening 1 port on the solonoid, then it opens 2nd port and pulls food in. once food and tank water are in mixing area, it mixes them and then open the tank water in and flushes everything out to the tank and keeps flushing a little after to clean out the line. Also after so many cycles it does an extra cycle of flushing to keep the unit clean.

Sounds like a good setup.

Does the solenoid also prevent siphoning if the feeder is below the tank level? The hoses are submerged.

@ind.aquatics

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Sounds like a good setup.

Does the solenoid also prevent siphoning if the feeder is below the tank level? The hoses are submerged.

@ind.aquatics

solonoid is always closed. It only opens for breif moment to do its job. There is never any water just running through the system. Although tubings might have some water if you were to take the unit off the tank.
My feeder sits 3-4 ft below the tank with tubes submerged from top of the tank.

 

[braaap]

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 12:30 to 12:40 Then ON
If Time 16:30 to 16:40 Then ON
If Time 20:30 to 20:40 Then ON

I had to cut back from 6 feedings to 3 per day due to high nitrates. I have it set for 30ml per feeding. that 10 min doesnt mean it will run for 10 min. That only triggers 1 feeding. feeding quantity is set on the device itself. Mine is at 30 ml every time.

Setting for 1 minute would work as well. But honestly it doesn’t matter.

 

[jasonrusso]

Setting for 1 minute would work as well. But honestly it doesn’t matter.

I watched the video after, it said 6 seconds of "on" time.

 

[jasonrusso]

solonoid is always closed. It only opens for breif moment to do its job. There is never any water just running through the system. Although tubings might have some water if you were to take the unit off the tank.
My feeder sits 3-4 ft below the tank with tubes submerged from top of the tank.

OK, this is what I needed to know. I'm going to put it on a shelf about 4 feet up.

After the initial air purge, I imagine the tubes are filled with water which is why siphoning was a concern.

One last question, tonight at least.

Approximately how big are the tubes, OD and ID. I want to print a better hanger. Also, what can fit through the tubes? Obviously mysis and brine, but can jumbo mysis fit? Krill?

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

OK, this is what I needed to know. I'm going to put it on a shelf about 4 feet up.

After the initial air purge, I imagine the tubes are filled with water which is why siphoning was a concern.

One last question, tonight at least.

Approximately how big are the tubes, OD and ID. I want to print a better hanger. Also, what can fit through the tubes? Obviously mysis and brine, but can jumbo mysis fit? Krill?

I will have to measure them tonight. I am going to guess 3/8 but I will confirm later,

 

[Mickey]

There are some really good articles/videos on the inDaquatics site. Be sure to check them out. It will answer some of your questions.

Larger food items are better chopped up first to smaller sizes.

I've had mine now for almost a year and love it. Ready to buy a second one.

 

[jasonrusso]

I made my own mount for the back of my Aqueon 210. I think it would fit a 180 and 120 also.

 

[Jasonak]

I made my own mount for the back of my Aqueon 210. I think it would fit a 180 and 120 also.

How is it working for you ? Been eyeing this and the manta system one.

 

[Mattiejay6]

so I love the frozen feeder.. but I def feel like a preservative/gel mixture is needed for this unit... ive been reading through the forum and have some ideas, but finding the proper ratio has been tough..

 

[jasonrusso]

I made my own mount for the back of my Aqueon 210. I think it would fit a 180 and 120 also.

How is it working for you ? Been eyeing this and the manta system one.

Good, I actually bought another one for my other tank .

I only filled it up once because I am planning on using it when I am away, not all the time. That might change though.

The manta one only uses cubes and doesn't exist yet. From every Kickstarter I have backed, take the expected date and add 6 months to a year.

 

[Jasonak]

Good, I actually bought another one for my other tank .

I only filled it up once because I am planning on using it when I am away, not all the time. That might change though.

The manta one only uses cubes and doesn't exist yet. From every Kickstarter I have backed, take the expected date and add 6 months to a year.

Is your food thawed the whole time or is it thawed each time it feeds ?

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Is your food thawed the whole time or is it thawed each time it feeds ?

There are 5 setting on the unit for temp control. 1 is 34F 2nd is 35 and so on till 5th setting.
I noticed if I keep mine at 1 it freezes the content. at setting 2 most stays slushy and maybe at bottom I might have a little frozen food. at 3 its remains lightly slushy.
My unit is in a room with 75F all the time

 

[Jasonak]

There are 5 setting on the unit for temp control. 1 is 34F 2nd is 35 and so on till 5th setting.
I noticed if I keep mine at 1 it freezes the content. at setting 2 most stays slushy and maybe at bottom I might have a little frozen food. at 3 its remains lightly slushy.
My unit is in a room with 75F all the time

I really only want this for a vacation feeder. Do you feel that the food is still safe after 2 weeks at this temp ? I could see a few days but weeks seems like a big stretch, doesn't seem feasible ? Have you tried it that long ever ?

 

[jasonrusso]

I really only want this for a vacation feeder. Do you feel that the food is still safe after 2 weeks at this temp ? I could see a few days but weeks seems like a big stretch, doesn't seem feasible ? Have you tried it that long ever ?

You use high salinity water (I used 1.035) mixed with the food. Salt water freezes at a lower temperature so you can have "melted" food below freezing so it should last a while. I thaw my mysis in a cup and it sits in the fridge for 5-6 days and it's fine.

 

[Jasonak]

You use high salinity water (I used 1.035) mixed with the food. Salt water freezes at a lower temperature so you can have "melted" food below freezing so it should last a while. I thaw my mysis in a cup and it sits in the fridge for 5-6 days and it's fine.

Thank you for answering my lazy person question I'm on the site doing research on it now. :)
Its always better to here from actual user first hand though.
Your AV is awesome by the way been wanting a warty frog for a looooong time :)

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

InD claims food is good for 21 days.
I have tested it at setting 2 for 14 days for sure. I wouldnt go past 14 days personally.