Neptune AFS tips and tricks?

[ksliech]

I've had a Neptune AFS for a while now, and have it set to run once during the day to supplement my evening feeding. I'm having the following issues with it and am curious what folks have done to mitigate:

1) Very inconsistent amount of food dispensed
I'm using the extra small TDO chroma boost pellets, and the amount it dumps out varies by a huge amount feeding to feeding, and seems to increase in volume dramatically as it gets low on supply. I have the slider closed almost all the way and only sometimes does it put out a reasonable portion, the rest of the time it's an avalanche.

2) Food going down the overflow
When it dispenses a small, appropriate portion the food doesn't end up down the overflow, and I keep all the pumps and everything running. This is my ideal scenario. However, when it decides it's going to dump a ton in, it rapidly spreads out and a large amount goes right down the overflow. I'm looking at feeding rings but am also considering doing a traditional feeding mode where my pumps turn off. I'd like it to be business as usual in the tank during feeding, but shutting at least the main down seems like a better idea than trying a feeding ring.

I bought the Neptune AFS since it seemed to be the most popular one, but I'm open to an alternative. The only snag is that I got a beautiful custom lid from Kraken Reef with the AFS cut-out pre-installed, so any replacement would need to work with that.

 

[edsbeaker]

If you want something that works better and is actually much cheaper, a simple Eheim feeder easily out performs the NFS.
If you don’t mind the higher price tag and want a really great auto feeder, look into Avast Marine Plank. It’s a great product.
I have read many bad reviews about the AFS and I’m not sure there is anything you can do to improve it. I don’t think it’s as popular as the Plank.

 

[ksliech]

If you want something that works better and is actually much cheaper, a simple Eheim feeder easily out performs the NFS.
If you don’t mind the higher price tag and want a really great auto feeder, look into Avast Marine Plank. It’s a great product.
I have read many bad reviews about the AFS and I’m not sure there is anything you can do to improve it. I don’t think it’s as popular as the Plank.

I would love to move to the Plank, and regret not getting it from the start. The only catch is my lid was built for the Neptune AFS.

@Kraken Reef will the Neptune AFS insert work with the Plank auto feeder? Also just noticed my lid is famous and featured on the product page :cool:

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

There are 3d print files for a slider that closes off more for smaller pellets. I use small tdo pellets with the the standard slider open just one detent. I found that works out best and then adjust the number of rotations for more food as opposed to adjusting the slider. I really can’t complain too much about the afs (other than it’s insanely noisy) and have had them for many years. As far as food down the overflow, try using a feeding ring, especially with tdo as it takes a second for them to sink. There’s 3d print files for this as well. I have used the two little fishies mag feeding rings in the past and they worked well with the exception of large snails getting them to flip. That’s why I use a 3d printed one through the screen top now. The snails can’t make it over to it. I have the avast plank as well. I love it as it’s dead silent but honestly prefer it for jerky alone. I found that mixing pellets in with the jerky wasn’t very uniform. The afs actually keeps the pellet dose spot on for me. Not saying the afs is flawless….ive had the rogue jettisoned cup full of food fall into the tank, I’ve opened it to refill it and spilled everything in the tank, the internal position sensor get dirty and cause the drum not to return correctly, the unused usb/aquabus connector get salt buildup and short, and the noise….ugh, the noise! Ha. I’ve been able to fix everything but the noise level. I used to have the return pump shut off prior to feeding, but that comes with its own issues to deal with and I just didn’t feel it was worthwhile. Maybe they’ll finally come up with an afs quiet drive? Ha

 

[Kraken Reef]

I would love to move to the Plank, and regret not getting it from the start. The only catch is my lid was built for the Neptune AFS.

@Kraken Reef will the Neptune AFS insert work with the Plank auto feeder? Also just noticed my lid is famous and featured on the product page :cool:

The Avast Plank requires a much larger cutout to fit, therefore it will not fit within the cutout for a Neptune AFS.