Grow Mediums Do any of you use 1/2" tubing with your autopots?

[the123321]

Thanks. I may try the drip clean on there.

 

[umop apisdn]

I got the 4-pot XL (smart pot) setup and upgraded res to flexi-tank that uses 1/2" because I purchased the 1/2" inline filter + the 1/2" pro filter (so i have double filters on the 1/2" line, which will decrease the chances of clogs into the 1/4" lines coming off of it to each pot. I also added a submersible pump in the res to keep the solution moving around a few minutes per hour or so.

 

[Nosias]

I

You'd just end up with a bigger flow pipe. Flow would be the same. To create more pressure you'd have to raise the res to increase the gravity.
Any blockages might reduce due to the bigger pipe but it still ends up going through the 4mm.

I have my rez outside the tent and it sits on a plastic "milk carton". This give me more pressure. Just like water towers themselves the higher they are the more pressure in the flow. I also use "Drip Clean" in rez. Amazon product ASIN B00V50ICKY

 

[the123321]

Thanks. I do plan to use drip clean with it. I think I may use the regular lines for now on it.

 

[Olderfart]

I had no issue with plugging in my grow of 3 pots. The initial hose from the reservoir outside the growdrobe was ~3/8", necked down to the standard ~1/4" inside the growdrobe. I did not use the standard autopot filters though, I used a pleated household filter element mounted inside the reservoir. I also used no cleaning agent during the grow. I had no issues with float valve function during the grow. Good filtration is your friend.

Larger hose will make zero difference to plugging or leaking at the float valve - absent plugging in the hose itself, nothing at the valve will be changed by the size of the initial feed hose, at least not in a home grow of 3-4 pots. With a much larger operation, flow could be limited to less than needed by friction, but flow rates in a 3-4 pot grow are too low for frictional losses in feed lines to be an issue.

Mounting the reservoir higher will increase water pressure but that is more likely to increase the chance of flooding than decrease it. The amount of sealing force provided by the float valve which stops flow from the reservoir is fixed by the size of the floats which close the valve. The higher the input water pressure, the more likely that this limited sealing force will be overcome and flooding result.

Bottom line in my experience with a 3 xl pot setup is that with good filtration, there is no need for or advantage in feed hose larger than the standard ~1/4" stuff. The chance of flooding will be determined by how clean the valves stay, and your best control of that is good filtration. If you use nutes or additives which can gel or precipitate after fine filtration, your mileage may vary...

 

[umop apisdn]

I had no issue with plugging in my grow of 3 pots. The initial hose from the reservoir outside the growdrobe was ~3/8", necked down to the standard ~1/4" inside the growdrobe. I did not use the standard autopot filters though, I used a pleated household filter element mounted inside the reservoir. I also used no cleaning agent during the grow. I had no issues with float valve function during the grow. Good filtration is your friend.

Larger hose will make zero difference to plugging or leaking at the float valve - absent plugging in the hose itself, nothing at the valve will be changed by the size of the initial feed hose, at least not in a home grow of 3-4 pots. With a much larger operation, flow could be limited to less than needed by friction, but flow rates in a 3-4 pot grow are too low for frictional losses in feed lines to be an issue.

Mounting the reservoir higher will increase water pressure but that is more likely to increase the chance of flooding than decrease it. The amount of sealing force provided by the float valve which stops flow from the reservoir is fixed by the size of the floats which close the valve. The higher the input water pressure, the more likely that this limited sealing force will be overcome and flooding result.

Bottom line in my experience with a 3 xl pot setup is that with good filtration, there is no need for or advantage in feed hose larger than the standard ~1/4" stuff. The chance of flooding will be determined by how clean the valves stay, and your best control of that is good filtration. If you use nutes or additives which can gel or precipitate after fine filtration, your mileage may vary...

The only reason i went with 1/2" main line is because i bought a couple 1/2" filters thinking that's what the 4-pot XL smart pot setup came with, but when i realized the entire system used 1/4" i had to either go filterless (or do something like you did which i hadn't thought about), or just upgrade the bulkhead and/or res. I ended up getting a whole new res, made for the 1/2" line with 1/2 to 1/4" cross fittings for the lines going to each pot. also got the quick connect thing going on. will be turning the the valve on in about 2 weeks for the first time ever!

 

[Olderfart]

The only reason i went with 1/2" main line is because i bought a couple 1/2" filters thinking that's what the 4-pot XL smart pot setup came with, but when i realized the entire system used 1/4" i had to either go filterless (or do something like you did which i hadn't thought about), or just upgrade the bulkhead and/or res. I ended up getting a whole new res, made for the 1/2" line with 1/2 to 1/4" cross fittings for the lines going to each pot. also got the quick connect thing going on. will be turning the the valve on in about 2 weeks for the first time ever!

Good luck with the grow. I expect that your are going to love the autopot results. Autopots grow them big!