Neptune fish feeder

me & my baby · Jun 9, 2026

Is there anyway to quiet this thing down . I wish I would have ready up more on it . I didn’t know they where this loud

A_Blind_Reefer · Jun 9, 2026

A BFH will quiet it right down…problem is that it will no longer work after being smashed to bits.

AFAIK there is no way to silence these. If it’s brand new maybe see if you can return it. The Avast plank is dead silent but costs a bit more. They do go on sale from time to time. Others may know of more options for silent feeders…. One would think that if Neptune came out with the quiet dos (after years of complaints), they could come out with a quiet feeder. The feeder has been around much longer.

I feel your pain, I ran two afs for years. Great feeders that just plain work. Just noisy as hail.

me & my baby · Jun 9, 2026

A_Blind_Reefer said:
A BFH will quiet it right down…problem is that it will no longer work after being smashed to bits.

AFAIK there is no way to silence these. If it’s brand new maybe see if you can return it. The Avast plank is dead silent but costs a bit more. They do go on sale from time to time. Others may know of more options for silent feeders…. One would think that if Neptune came out with the quiet dos (after years of complaints), they could come out with a quiet feeder. The feeder has been around much longer.

I feel your pain, I ran two afs for years. Great feeders that just plain work. Just noisy as hail.

I bought it from a local reefer so return is not an option . Just wish I would have known how load it was

Ryan - Serious Reefs · Jun 9, 2026

Set it to go off when you are not around :)

I recently tried an Ehiem again because I didn’t want to deal with the noise of the AFS but I regret it. The amount dosed is way less constant. Either nothing or a pile….

On the next tank I went back to the AFS. This is going to sound crazy but I kind of like hearing the noise because I know it is working. An auto feeder is the kind of thing that can malfunction and you might not notice for a long time.

Just ordered a avast marine one which appears to use an auger for accuracy but it requires a controller or timer to work. TBD

me & my baby · Jun 9, 2026

I get you know that it’s working but dang they could have done something else. I am now looking at the plank

A_Blind_Reefer · Jun 9, 2026

Ryan - Serious Reefs said:
Set it to go off when you are not around :)

I recently tried an Ehiem again because I didn’t want to deal with the noise of the AFS but I regret it. The amount dosed is way less constant. Either nothing or a pile….

On the next tank I went back to the AFS. This is going to sound crazy but I kind of like hearing the noise because I know it is working. An auto feeder is the kind of thing that can malfunction and you might not notice for a long time.

Just ordered a avast marine one which appears to use and auger for accuracy but it requires a controller or timer to work. TBD

I think you’ll like the Avast. I loved my afs unit over the years…. Despite the volume. Only issue I ever really had was that the drum would clock incorrectly after a very long time. Popping them open, I find that they had used white lithium(?) grease on the gears and just a smidge works it’s way over the position sensor. A qwick wipe with a qtip and they were good to go.

A quiet drive version would be appreciated! I’m wondering how loud they are under water, or if it’s vibration, as my fish would scurry on over to them as soon as they started rotating…. and lay in wait for food to drop from the sky.

A major bonus of the Avast plank is that it works as a defroster/dispersement of frozen foods as well. Just toss a cube or two down the shoot.

areefer01 · Jun 9, 2026

Ryan - Serious Reefs said:
Set it to go off when you are not around :)

This is funny but also a valid option.

Ryan - Serious Reefs said:
I recently tried an Ehiem again because I didn’t want to deal with the noise of the AFS but I regret it. The amount dosed is way less constant. Either nothing or a pile….

On the next tank I went back to the AFS. This is going to sound crazy but I kind of like hearing the noise because I know it is working. An auto feeder is the kind of thing that can malfunction and you might not notice for a long time.

Just ordered a avast marine one which appears to use and auger for accuracy but it requires a controller or timer to work. TBD

I gave up on the Apex unit because it was not able to properly manage the various food types I use. I use a variety of dry pellets and sizes so it was my fault, not Neptunes if I am being honest. Wrong tool. I did have success with it outside the noise. A bit spendy - honesty in reefing.

Avast Plank - a very good investment and reefing budget hit. I highly recommend it for several reasons (this is what I switched to):

Well built, heavy
Flexible install with options to extend tube
Deep body chamber which allows various food types
Auger style so able to mix, turn over, food for variety
Allows freeze dried, pellet, flake, and even powder
Great customer support, they listen, hear, and ask follow up question, even take feedback, suggestions

I use the Neptune Apex to manage feeding. 5 times a day each 3 minutes. 1 feeding a day at 0630 before lights are on for 1 minute. My yellow assessor is an early riser and a bit of a recluse so this way it gets food for sure. I mix the following and have zero issues with the product. I guess I am somewhat biased:

Freeze dried:

Copepods
Arctic copepods
Mysis shrimp
Brine shrimp
Krill
Rotifers

I add the following pellet or flake:

New Life Spectrum Algae Max regular (flake)
TDO Chromo Boost x-small & small (pellet)
Saki-Hakiri carnivore (pellet)
Saki-Hakiri herbivore (pellet)

Lastly I add in a spoon or two of reef roids. This all gets mixed into a container and then I add to the plank. The fact that it can handle various pellet size was worth it to me. I have tiny gobies and large anthias who are silly quick. This way everyone gets something because they all have favorites.