Apex controlling Ecotech L1 for feeding

[scottsweet]

All,

I finally got my Apex to control my L1 for feeding! Yeah!

I wanted to:

1. Automate my feeding to 3 times a day using the Apex APS Feeder
2. Rotate the APS Feeder 2x in any one feeding.
3. Automate the pumps and skimmer to go off during the feeding period of 15 minutes
4. Automatically turn everything back on at the end of the feeding period time - leaving a 3 minute lag after the feeding period before they turn back on.

As we all know, the Apex and Ecotech recirculation pumps do not talk to each other. I wanted to find a way to get the Apex to initiate a feed with the Ecotech without using the Ecotech programming. I did it!

First, how do you get the Ecotech to go in to feed mode? Of course you can manually press the button on the controller. The other is to program the Ecotech to be in sync on the time...I didn't like that idea. The third is to use the Ecotech application and press the Feed option...but that is still manual really. I found a cool idea on Reef Central from many years ago - use a solenoid plunger to press the feed button on the Ecotech controller

. It took a while for me to build the bracket to make it work, but with some ingenuity and Home Depot, I got it work.



The plunger is controlled by a 12V power supply that I can control with the Apex on one of my outlets. You give it power for about 3 seconds, it goes in, you remove power, the plunger comes out. Basically, automating my finger

.

Parts:
Plunger: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Rubber tip: 1/8" hole. You will need to trim it a bit so it fits properly. https://hightempmasking.com/collecti...eneral-masking and expensive for only one

. I have a bunch if anyone wants one LOL.
Felt pad: The felt pad is from Home Depot.
Brakets: Simpson Tie bracket: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Simpson-...-STC/205326041 I had to use 3 of them, cut and bend them to work.

Now for the programming:

Ecotech feed time is set to 15 minutes.

Feed timer: VFeed1
Set OFF
If Time 08:30 to 08:48 Then ON
If Time 13:00 to 13:18 Then ON
If Time 18:30 to 18:48 Then ON

This is 18 minutes because I wanted to allow the recirculation pump to come back on and get flowing before turning on the other pumps.

Feed times are: 8:30am, 1:00pm, 6:30pm

PlungerTimer
Set ON
If Output vFeed1 = ON Then OFF
Defer 000:06 Then OFF

Set to 6 seconds because I found the lag of the Apex and the power turning on/off, 6 seconds on the timer really correlates to 3 actual seconds.

Feeder:
OSC 000:00/000:30/001:00 Then ON
If Time 18:38 to 08:35 Then OFF
If Time 08:38 to 13:05 Then OFF
If Time 13:08 to 18:35 Then OFF

Waiting 5 minutes before initiating a feed. Then feed 2x, 1 minute apart.

Skimmer:
Fallback OFF
Set ON
If Output vFeed1 = ON Then OFF

Hope this helps others

Scott