Grow Mediums Poll on autopot failures

[MidnightSun]

So the modifications made to fix the issues we have encountered with these test.

1) shave a V in the back of the auto valve body / mount so the back will mount lower / flat.
This removed the extra water needed to turn the valve off

2) fabric pots can fill the shallow channel in front thereby blocking water from reaching the back of the dish. So using 1.5" pvc cut in half fixed this. https://ibb.co/5nLBbDt

HemiSync - They are working good after my small modifications. I would really like to try the AU version as they use a separate raised plate / root plate.
http://www.gardensmartshop.com/product_p/3088a.htm
I'm finding the pot sock / root guard is pretty restrictive and capturing lots of the heavier nutrients i'm adding....acting like a filter. The bottoms are caked and we are experiencing Mn deficiencies compared to before using autopots / root guards.

Picture of the Hydro tray. It looks better to me. Not sure if its the same company. They wouldn't respond to me. Valve is the same just more compact design. http://www.gardensmartshop.com/Hydrotray_12_Single_Black_p/418a.htm

 

[MidnightSun]

Image of testing progress.

https://ibb.co/TPkcksX

Grown in Alaska.
Single Red Russian Auto - Day 52 from seed. 6 feet tall x 3 feet x 3 feet.
5 gallon fabric pot, Coco & Perlite, drinking rain water / lake ice / snow melt / mixed with KIND nutrients.
Single Made in the USA P300 https://platinumgrowlights.com/product/p300/

I should add she drinks almost 2 gallons a day.

 

[HemiSync]

Image of testing progress.

https://ibb.co/TPkcksX

Grown in Alaska.
Single Red Russian Auto - Day 52 from seed. 6 feet tall x 3 feet x 3 feet.
5 gallon fabric pot, Coco & Perlite, drinking rain water / lake ice / snow melt / mixed with KIND nutrients.
Single Made in the USA P300 https://platinumgrowlights.com/product/p300/

I should add she drinks almost 2 gallons a day.

That’s one big momma.

 

[rixxy24]

Have just walked into a pond that used to be my tent. Autopots failed. I was only in this thread 5 days bk saying all is well. What happened I guess they had a float issue. I just spent the best part of 2hrs cleaning a 7ft long tent. Filled rez again but waiting for chlorine to fuck off.... Do we still need to sit water 24hrs before adding nutes?
Argh. Dried and cleaned the tent now and can only h hope it's a 1 off

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

 

[nbbeerguy]

If watering plants becomes more like work then downsize the number of plants I can understand a commercial need for auto watering but on a small scale I don't understand the need for adding things to a grow that can fail even if only once and awhile when hand watering will never fail

 

[Simplicio]

If watering plants becomes more like work then downsize the number of plants I can understand a commercial need for auto watering but on a small scale I don't understand the need for adding things to a grow that can fail even if only once and awhile when hand watering will never fail

I use a couple of 13 usable gallon top feed, dwc reservoirs hooked up to an external storage res with float valve.
A hose came loose, and emptied the storage res onto the basement floor.
Fortunately, it ran straight to the drain, but I've since added hose clamps.

It can be fun to try stuff to simplify.

 

[MidnightSun]

Have just walked into a pond that used to be my tent. Autopots failed.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

The internal turn off float needs the water to be to higher then the tank will allow sometimes because of how high it mounts in the rear. I fixed this by shaving a notch or a V in the back where it slides onto the mount. This allows the rear of the unit to sit lower turning the water off faster.

 

[HemiSync]

If watering plants becomes more like work then downsize the number of plants I can understand a commercial need for auto watering but on a small scale I don't understand the need for adding things to a grow that can fail even if only once and awhile when hand watering will never fail

For some of us hand watering will fail because we are only home one day a week. I travel extensively for work and pleasure and could never have multiple plants running without autopots or DWC. If you keep your trays and valves cleaned there is rarely a problem with this gravity fed system.

 

[freshy101]

I just ordered the autopot 4 pot system, I'll be using Mega crop only for my first run, maybe a PK during flower if necessary, would it be wise to invest in a ph pen and or ec/pmm pen? or do we all get away without either using this system

 

[MidnightSun]

I just ordered the autopot 4 pot system, I'll be using Mega crop only for my first run, maybe a PK during flower if necessary, would it be wise to invest in a ph pen and or ec/pmm pen? or do we all get away without either using this system

You still need to meter your nutrients and still need to pH the water.