Indoor Autopots and Airdomes: Some Questions

[BII]

I just bought a set of 4 Autopots (3.9L) and Airdomes. They will be going inside a 2.5 x 5 ft. tent.

Some questions for any Autopot users:

a) What air pump specs or models would be best (for a 4-pot system)? My tent is right behind me in my office/den, so it needs to be quiet (aquarium pump?).

b) I currently use coco coir/perlite (40/60) in 5 gallon Air-Pots. I presume I can use this or the recommended 50:50 mix, with no real change in media?

c) Anything different about nutrient preparation? I currently use the full Advanced Nutrients range with manual feeding. Do I mix to the same concentrations? Do I need to mix more than I did before (manual feeding without drainage/DTW)?

d) How do you deal with the reservoir? How often do you mix nutrients?

e) How long do mixed nutients and, particularly, Advanced Nutrients' pH Perfect nutrients last in the reservoir?

 

[Hansbricks]

Hey Bill,
I run a 2x15L Autopot system with coco and AN nutes. I use one of these air pumps, which are pretty quiet. A 50/50 mix is good, also should be able to use the same feeding schedule/ratios you were using before. As for the reservoir I try to fill mine up just enough to last 5-6 days usually... don't worry about their recommendation never to let the res get below 1/4, as long as it's elevated at least 12" it will run empty no problem. The nutes will stay good (and pH stable) for at least a week but going much longer than that can clog up the aquavalves.

Any other questions just let me know. You can check out my TD/ABB grow as well, that was my first coco grow so I did a pretty detailed journal... should be some good info in there for you.

 

[BII]

Hey Bill,
I run a 2x15L Autopot system with coco and AN nutes. I use one of these air pumps, which are pretty quiet. A 50/50 mix is good, also should be able to use the same feeding schedule/ratios you were using before. As for the reservoir I try to fill mine up just enough to last 5-6 days usually... don't worry about their recommendation never to let the res get below 1/4, as long as it's elevated at least 12" it will run empty no problem. The nutes will stay good (and pH stable) for at least a week but going much longer than that can clog up the aquavalves.

Any other questions just let me know. You can check out my TD/ABB grow as well, that was my first coco grow so I did a pretty detailed journal... should be some good info in there for you.

Thank you very much for the valuable information. I certainly have been following your Autopot grows, with those providing inspiration, pushing me over the brink, to try out Autopots.

I have seen mention that the bottom-feeding of Autopots leads to evaporation-related salt build-up in the top layers of the media (coco/perlite; seems very plausible), and that once Autopot feeding is started, problems due to release of dissolved salts can be expected if one ever does normal top feeding or flushing. So other than any really needed flushing with an overwhelming amount of fluid, to make sure all deposited salts are washed out, am I correct that all top feeding of plants after they've been switched to Autopot feeding should be avoided?

 

[Hansbricks]

Cool, glad I could help. Yes you are correct, you should not do any top feeding/flushing after you've turned on the autopots. You still do a pre-harvest flush just by running plain water in the res for last 10-14 days. And there's no need to do any mid cycle flush with this system.

Here's a PDF's from their site to read for some good info / tips.
Advanced Tips

 

[BII]

The nutes will stay good (and pH stable) for at least a week but going much longer than that can clog up the aquavalves.

Do you aerate/bubble the nutrient solution in the reservoir? This would presumably be more to keep down unwanted bacteria and fungi in the reservoir, not to aerate the solution for the plants' benefit.

 

[SourDeezDC]

Hey Hans, can you run organics with autopots?

 

[Hansbricks]

Do you aerate/bubble the nutrient solution in the reservoir? This would presumably be more to keep down unwanted bacteria and fungi in the reservoir, not to aerate the solution for the plants' benefit.

Yeah I usually run a small air pump / air stone for the res but it's not a requirement... For my last grow I didn't do this and never had any issues.

Hey Hans, can you run organics with autopots?

Hey man, you can't use the organic liquid nutrients in the res because they will clog up the aquavalves... But you can definitely do a TLO / super-soil type of organic grow and just run plain water in the res.

 

[SourDeezDC]

Yeah I usually run a small air pump / air stone for the res but it's not a requirement... For my last grow I didn't do this and never had any issues.

Ahh ok thanks... I was considering giving autopots a try if I could use my nectar for the gods nutes

Hey man, you can't use the organic liquid nutrients in the res because they will clog up the aquavalves... But you can definitely do a TLO / super-soil type of organic grow and just run plain water in the res.

 

[Ilynnboy]

Hey Hans,
Do you have a link to your first Autopot journal?
Is it different than the one I am current following?
You probably already know, but I am researching an automated system for this upcoming summer thanks.

 

[Hansbricks]

Hey Hans,
Do you have a link to your first Autopot journal?
Is it different than the one I am current following?
You probably already know, but I am researching an automated system for this upcoming summer thanks.

Yeah man, all my grows are linked in my signature but my first grow with Autopots+airdomes using soil is here or you can checkout my first coco grow here.