Maintenance Schedule OverviewUpdated a month ago

Regular maintenance is essential to keep your aF4 running reliably, dispensing food accurately, and lasting as long as possible. This guide gives you a clear overview of what to do and how often.

Quick reference schedule

Every reservoir refill

These tasks should be completed every time you empty and reload the reservoir. They take only a few minutes and are the single most important habit for long-term reliability.

1. Clean the reservoir — rinse thoroughly and use the reservoir brush to scrub the walls and probe holding teeth, where food is most likely to accumulate
2. Brush out the tubing — use a straw brush to clean the intake and output tubing. Run the brush through the output tubing from the aquarium end, and brush out the intake straw inside the reservoir
3. Check and empty the condensation drawer — the drawer sits on the base plate on the same side as the intake and output tubes. When the reservoir is changed, any ice buildup inside the unit melts and can fill the drawer quickly — always check it at refill time. Aim to empty it at least every 14 days, or more frequently in humid environments. See our Condensation Drawer Guide for more detail

Pro tip — running a quick rinse cycle while connected to the aquarium:You can run the Auto-Clean cycle while the output tube is still directed into the aquarium, as long as you are using only aquarium water and no cleaning products of any kind. Simply fill the reservoir with aquarium water, then press and hold the Auto-Clean button for 15 seconds or until the light illuminates and you hear the cycle begin. This is a great way to do a quick flush between full cleans.

⚠️ Never use a cleaning tablet or any cleaning product while connected to the aquarium.⚠️

Biweekly to monthly

Deep clean with cleaning tablet
Every 2–4 weeks, run a full deep clean using an inD Aquatics cleaning tablet. This sanitises the entire internal system — the intake, pump, solenoid, and output tubing — and prevents bacterial buildup that routine rinsing alone cannot address over time.

The full process covers manual brushing, a tablet-assisted Auto-Clean cycle, and a post-clean rinse. See our Auto-Clean & Deep Cleaning Guide for step-by-step instructions.

⚠️ Always redirect the output tube away from the aquarium before running any clean cycle with a cleaning tablet.

Replacement cleaning tablets are available at indaquatics.com.

Fan & heatsink cleaning
The aF4's cooling fan and heatsink can accumulate dust, salt residue, and debris over time — particularly in reef tank environments where salt mist is present. A clogged fan reduces cooling efficiency and can contribute to overheating.

Inspect the fan and heatsink monthly. If you notice visible dust or buildup, clean promptly. See our Fan & Cooling Maintenance Guide for instructions.

Tubing inspection & replacement

Tubing wear occurs primarily inside the pump housing. The main signs that tubing needs attention are:

• Salt creep originating from under the pump
• Evidence of moisture or leakage from beneath the pump
• Condensation forming inside the clear pump head housing
• Reduced or inconsistent flow during feeds
• Visible discolouration, cracking, or soft spots

If you notice any of these signs, inspect and replace the tubing promptly regardless of how recently it was last changed.

Inspection intervals:

• Single daily feed — inspect every 12 to 18 months
• Multiple daily feeds — inspect every 6 to 12 months

Replacement intervals:

• Single daily feed — replace every 18 months to 2 years
• Multiple daily feeds — replace annually

Replacement tubing is available at indaquatics.com. See our Tubing Replacement Guide for instructions.

Tips for staying on schedule

• Tie refill maintenance to your calendar — if you refill every 7–14 days, your brush clean and drawer check become part of that routine automatically
• Check the condensation drawer every time you refill — it takes 10 seconds and prevents overflow
• Keep spare tubing and cleaning tablets on hand so maintenance is never delayed waiting for parts

Related articles

• Auto-Clean & Deep Cleaning Guide — full deep clean instructions
• Condensation Drawer Guide — emptying and overflow troubleshooting
• Fan & Cooling Maintenance Guide — keeping the cooling system clean
• Tubing Replacement Guide — how to replace intake and output tubing
• Replacement Parts Guide — ordering parts and consumables

Questions about maintenance? Submit a support ticket and our team will help.