Using Automatic feeder in sump?

HidingReefer · 11/01/2016, 09:15 PM

So I want to get an Automatic feeder for my reef. Since I have I screen top on the tank it would be hard to put it over the display.

Can I keep it in my sump over the return pump so the pellets go through the RP and into the DT?

The only problem I can see it causing is clogging up the RP, has anyone tried this?

Ajae · 11/01/2016, 10:21 PM

Bump

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Bdial · 11/02/2016, 05:29 AM

The food will probably won't make it to the return pump and will just settle in the sump and spoil. Best bet would be to modify your screen to accommodate the feeder.

MondoBongo · 11/02/2016, 08:14 AM

i modified my screen to accommodate my feeder. the first prototype i used a DIY feed ring and carefully snipped pieces of the screen top to allow for larger openings.

for version 1.0 i was planning on gluing egg crate in a small location that the auto feeder would dump food on.

biecacka · 11/02/2016, 09:04 AM

Can you place the feeder directly above the inlet for the return pump?

Corey

slief · 11/02/2016, 09:21 AM

We have a feeder setup at a customers that was mounted on the sump just above the return pump. The main display is a cylinder tank and there was no place to mount the feeder above the display. The return pump inlet is situated in the bottom corner of the sump and the feeder works great there because the return pump spreads the food throughout the tank. We don't seem to get much if any remaining food in the return section but the pump pull well over 1000GPH through there and keeps that part of the sump pretty well vacuumed. In our case, we use small sinking pellets.

Breadman03 · 11/02/2016, 09:37 AM

My return inlet has a cross tee, and I plumbed an elbow and vertical pipe from that with my AFS mounted at the top. There is a notch in the pipe at the water surface level so that it sucks the pellets into the return and into the tank.

I set this up because I was having a terrible time trying to get the pellets to sink before going down my overflow.

HidingReefer · 11/02/2016, 05:45 PM

I think what I will be do is mount it over the return pump, I am going to be creating an acrylic bracket/inlet so the pellets go directly into the pump and no where else

Anyone have any issues with clogging?

11/01/2016, 09:15 PM	#1
HidingReefer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 259	Using Automatic feeder in sump? So I want to get an Automatic feeder for my reef. Since I have I screen top on the tank it would be hard to put it over the display. Can I keep it in my sump over the return pump so the pellets go through the RP and into the DT? The only problem I can see it causing is clogging up the RP, has anyone tried this?

11/02/2016, 05:29 AM	#3
Bdial Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Huntington, wv Posts: 675	The food will probably won't make it to the return pump and will just settle in the sump and spoil. Best bet would be to modify your screen to accommodate the feeder. __________________ Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good. Haste makes waste. WINTER IS COMING

11/02/2016, 08:14 AM	#4
MondoBongo Obligate Feeder Obsessed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,061	i modified my screen to accommodate my feeder. the first prototype i used a DIY feed ring and carefully snipped pieces of the screen top to allow for larger openings. for version 1.0 i was planning on gluing egg crate in a small location that the auto feeder would dump food on. __________________ [Citation Needed] "You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right" - xkcd Current Tank Info: A rectangular shaped money pit.

11/02/2016, 09:21 AM	#6
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	We have a feeder setup at a customers that was mounted on the sump just above the return pump. The main display is a cylinder tank and there was no place to mount the feeder above the display. The return pump inlet is situated in the bottom corner of the sump and the feeder works great there because the return pump spreads the food throughout the tank. We don't seem to get much if any remaining food in the return section but the pump pull well over 1000GPH through there and keeps that part of the sump pretty well vacuumed. In our case, we use small sinking pellets. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

11/01/2016, 10:21 PM	#2
Ajae Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 171	Bump Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

11/02/2016, 09:04 AM	#5
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Can you place the feeder directly above the inlet for the return pump? Corey

11/02/2016, 09:37 AM	#7
Breadman03 New Old School Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Luzerne County, PA Posts: 3,293	My return inlet has a cross tee, and I plumbed an elbow and vertical pipe from that with my AFS mounted at the top. There is a notch in the pipe at the water surface level so that it sucks the pellets into the return and into the tank. I set this up because I was having a terrible time trying to get the pellets to sink before going down my overflow.

11/02/2016, 05:45 PM	#8
HidingReefer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 259	I think what I will be do is mount it over the return pump, I am going to be creating an acrylic bracket/inlet so the pellets go directly into the pump and no where else Anyone have any issues with clogging?