I had a subtle but persistent problem when feeding my plecos. It was the problem of stopping the pump during feeding and then forgetting to turn it back on.
When feeding plecos, I sometimes temporarily stop the filter or pump. This is because if there’s water flow, the food gets swept away, and the plecos can’t eat properly. The problem was that I kept falling into a pattern of realizing, after some time, ‘Oh, I left the pump off…’ When water flow stops, oxygen supply also decreases, so leaving it off for a long time is not good for the aquatic life.
What I Used: SwitchBot Smart Plug + Hub 2 + Hub 3
The solution I chose was a combination of the SwitchBot Smart Plug and the SwitchBot Hub 2 and Hub 3. This setup allows me to connect the pump’s power cord to the Smart Plug and then control it via automation settings and physical button operations through the Hub.
Settings in the SwitchBot App: Creating a ‘Feeding’ Scene
First, I create a Scene named ‘Feeding’ using the ‘Scene’ function in the SwitchBot app. A Scene is a function that allows you to group multiple actions and execute them with a single tap.
Here are the settings for the ‘Feeding’ Scene:
- Action 1: Turn Smart Plug off (Pump stop)
- Action 2: Delay (10 minutes)
- Action 3: Turn Smart Plug on (Pump restart)
While Scenes can be executed manually (by tapping in the app), the true power of this system lies in the next step.
Assigning the ‘Feeding’ Scene to the Hub 2 and Hub 3 Buttons
The SwitchBot Hub 2 and Hub 3 have physical buttons on their bodies, to which you can assign any Scene you like. Here’s how to set it up:
- Open the device settings for Hub 2 (or Hub 3) in the app.
- Select a button from ‘Button Settings’ or ‘Shortcuts’.
- Select ‘Feeding’ as the Scene to assign.
- Save.
Now, simply pressing the button on the Hub placed near the aquarium will activate the ‘Feeding’ Scene. There’s no need to take out your smartphone. Since I’ve set this up on both Hub 2 and Hub 3, I can operate it with a single button press from either aquarium.
Actual Feeding Process
My current feeding routine is now like this.
- Press the Hub’s button (activates “Feeding” Scene → pump stops)
- Put food in for the plecos
- After 10 minutes, the pump automatically restarts
- Zero instances of forgetting to turn the pump back on
Previously, there were many instances of the pattern: ‘stopped the pump → fed them → started doing something else → realized 30 minutes had passed’. Now, that has completely disappeared.
Reasons why it’s a good match for pleco keeping
Plecos are nocturnal, so feeding tends to happen at night. If you feed them at night and accidentally go to sleep with the pump off, there will be no water flow all night long—this is a frightening situation, especially in tanks with fry. With automatic timer recovery, you can feed them before bed with peace of mind.
Also, if you are managing multiple tanks, it’s easy to forget which tank’s pump you stopped. By installing a Smart Plug for each tank and setting up individual Scenes, you can reliably manage them with a single button press on the Hub.
Conclusion
I used to think ‘it’s just forgetting to turn the pump back on,’ but when it accumulates, it causes stress to the aquatic life. I like that SwitchBot’s Scene + Hub button assignment allows me to complete the task with a single button next to the tank, without having to operate my smartphone.
The initial investment for a Smart Plug + Hub is a few thousand yen, but once set up, it can be used semi-permanently. It is especially recommended for those who manage multiple aquariums.
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