Programming Auto Fish Feeder

[david.d]

I am trying to program the Superfeeder and make sure it's working before I go away for Christmas. I have a virtual outlet (called Auto_Feed) programmed as follows:

Set OFF
If Time 08:00 to 08:30 Then ON
If Time 13:00 to 13:30 Then ON
If Time 17:00 to 17:30 Then ON

Then for each of the skimmer, return pump and two internal pumps I have this code with the idea that pumps/skimmer go off at feeding time:

If Outlet Auto_Feed = ON Then OFF

But I can't figure out how to program the outlet for the Superfeeder. I only want it to be on for a few seconds (probably about 10 seconds) and I would like it to come on 2 minutes after Auto_Feed goes ON.

I would like all of the pumps to be off for 2 mintues and then have the fish feeder on for 10 seconds, and this would happen 3 times daily (8 am, 1 pm, and 5 pm).

I thought the oscillate command might work. For example something like this:

If Auto_Feed = ON Then OSC 002:00/000:10/027:50

But this probably doesn't work. You probably cannot combine two commands.

There's probably a better way to do this. Any simple ideas? I say "simple: as I'm new to this.

Thanks.

David

 

[swearint]

No, you can't combine commands. Give this a try:

[AutoFeed]
Set OFF
If Time 08:00 to 08:01 Then ON
If Time 13:00 to 13:01 Then ON
If Time 17:00 to 17:01 Then ON

[SuperFeeder]
Set OFF
If Outlet AutoFeed = ON Then ON
Defer 1:50 Then ON

[Skimmer] {etc}
{...}
If Outlet AutoFeed = ON Then OFF

This will shut down the Skimmer, etc for 2 minutes (the minimum duration using the Time command). The SuperFeeder would also turn on, except the Defer delays it for 1:50. So, the feeder will turn on for the last 10 seconds of the AutoFeed duration.

Todd

 

[david.d]

Programming Auto Fish Feeder

This is quite clever and should work as to limiting the superfeeder to 10 seconds, but it won't keep the pumps off for 30 minutes. Would adding a Minimum time command keep the pumps off, such as:

If Outlet AutoFeed = ON Then OFF
Min Time 030:00 Then ON

If not, I can live with the pumps on during feeding. I'll only be gone a few days.

David

 

[swearint]

Change it to Min Time...OFF. You can also eliminate the virtual outlet:

[SuperFeeder]
Set OFF
If Time 08:00 to 08:01 Then ON
If Time 13:00 to 13:01 Then ON
If Time 17:00 to 17:01 Then ON
Defer 1:50 Then ON

[Skimmer]
Set ON
If Outlet SuperFeeder = ON Then OFF
Min Time 30:00 Then OFF

The Min Time will hold it OFF for 30 minutes before the Set ON takes effect.

Todd

 

[david.d]

Todd, this is very helpful and should work. I will test this today. One minor glitch, which I can live with, is that the minimum time command works whenever the outlet is off. Here is the code for the pump, skimmer, etc.:

Fallback ON
Set ON
If FeedA 000 Then OFF
If FeedB 000 Then OFF
If FeedC 000 Then OFF
If FeedD 000 Then OFF
If Outlet FEEDER_3_5 = ON Then OFF
Min Time 030:00 Then OFF

"Feeder_3_5" is the Superfeeder outlet. I have it set like this so whichever feed cycle is pressed, the pumps go off for 30 minutes. Now, with the minimum time command, if a feed cycle is started and then cancelled the pumps remain off for the 30 minutes. Not a big deal and I can certainly live with this, but if you have any other good ideas, I'm all ears.

Thanks very much.

David

 

[david.d]

I think I got it! I returned to the virtual outlet approach, which is programmed as follows. Virtual outlet is called "œAuto_Feed" and outlet for Superfeeder is called "FEEDER_3_5"

Virtual Outlet Code:

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Outlet FEEDER_3_5 = ON Then ON
Min Time 000:30 Then ON

Code for SuperFeeder Outlet:

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 08:00 to 08:01 Then ON
If Time 13:00 to 13:01 Then ON
If Time 17:00 to 17:01 Then ON
Defer 001:50 Then ON

Then for pumps and skimmer, I have:

Fallback ON
Set ON
If FeedA 000 Then OFF
If FeedB 000 Then OFF
If FeedC 000 Then OFF
If FeedD 000 Then OFF
If Outlet Auto_Feed = ON Then OFF

So, the feeder is only on for 10 seconds, but the virtual outlet, which the pumps are based on, is on for 30 minutes and so the pumps stay off for 30 minutes. This doesn't seem to affect the regular feed cycles.

David

 

[swearint]

Yes, I was going to suggest returning to the virtual outlet. At the time, I did not know if you had other conditions in the skimmer outlet that would turn it off. Two minor nits, you don't need to use Fallback in a virtual outlet. It won't hurt, but won't do anything. Also, what you actually have in the Min Time statement is 30 seconds.

Todd

 

[david.d]

Ok. Hopefully one last time, I will post the final, or close-to-final product for posterity. The virtual outlet is called "œAuto_Feed"

Since I don't plan on changing the times, I plugged the times into the virtual outlet. I think this will make it easier to remember how this works.

The combination of the virtual outlet and last line in the code for pumps and skimmer turns the pumps/skimmer off for about 30 minutes. This goes into effect about 2 minutes before feeding time.

An electric Superfeeder fish feeder is plugged into the feeder outlet. I'm still experimenting, but 5 seconds was too much food, and I'm hoping 3 seconds is about right. I'm using Blue Zoo's mix, which is very fine and so a lot comes out quickly.


Virtual Outlet Code:

Set OFF
If Time 07:59 to 08:28 Then ON
If Time 12:59 to 13:28 Then ON
If Time 16:59 to 17:28 Then ON

Feeder Outlet

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 08:00 to 08:01 Then ON
If Time 13:00 to 13:01 Then ON
If Time 17:00 to 17:01 Then ON
Defer 001:57 Then ON

Then for return pump, two internal pumps and skimmer, I have:

Fallback ON
Set ON
If FeedA 000 Then OFF
If FeedB 000 Then OFF
If FeedC 000 Then OFF
If FeedD 000 Then OFF
If Outlet Auto_Feed = ON Then OFF

This should get me and the fish happily through the holidays. Thanks very much to Todd.

David

 

[aleonn]

I also have the Super Feeder hooked to my Apex. Are you turning off return pumps so that the food doesn't go into the overflow? I just use their food funnel, which allows the pellets to sink without floating on the surface and entering the overflow. To me, it was easier than turning off the return pump and skimmer during feeding times (and having to worry about the remote possibility of return pump and skimmer re-start issues while I'm gone).

 

[david.d]

I wanted the pumps off as fish are trained that once the pumps are off, it's dinner time and even the elusive ones show up and that's kind of fun. And yes, the food goes in the overflow, which is another reason to turn pumps off.

Normally, I mix up the food supply, but when I'm gone I'm using BlueZoo's mix as it's the food all my fish eat. The BlueZoo mix is very fine and mostly floats on the top, which I don't like, but this will work for me for a few days. I will probably look for sinking pellets next time to see if the fish eat it and get to it before the worms, snails and shrimp do. In hindsight, you were right - pellets would be much easier than figuring this out, although now it's figured out.

Hadn't thought about the return pump not starting. Now I have something else to worry about.

 

[burbarry]

Just a thought you can use the following to keep pumps off for 10 mins.

If Outlet Auto_Feeding = ON 010 Then OFF

 

[burbarry]

Just a thought you can use the following to keep pumps off for 10 mins.

If Outlet Auto_Feeding = ON 010 Then OFF

NM for some reason the 010 does not stay in there once you refresh the page.

 

[swearint]

Just a thought you can use the following to keep pumps off for 10 mins.

If Outlet Auto_Feeding = ON 010 Then OFF

That syntax is not supported. It only applies to specific commands, such as Feed and Power. Although, that is a good suggestion. In keeping with the convention, it would keep the outlet OFF for 10 minutes after Auto_Feeding is no longer ON. You should email it to Curt at Neptune: support@neptunesys.com

Todd