Autopots or iws pro flood and drain

[fartoblue]

Hello lads I am running a DIY wilma system that was converted from a RDWC. Hated RDWC. It has had it's day and is hard work due to the DIY job.

I am looking at a IWS Pro or Autopot system.

Any info on both would be great Pros and Cons. One thing that I do not want to deal with ever again is root rot which sways me away from Flood and drain.

Is the yield similar in both? I have never seen either working in the flesh.

My room is 230cm x 320cm (total size not grow space) and I run 3 x 600 HPS.

Many thanks

TO GRO

 

[coreywebster]

If the choice is autopots or IWS then IWS all day long.


Im surprised you had root rot in f and d.

Edit, got a cracked screen, missed half your sentence.

IWS will cripple autopots in growth

 

[Dilago]

I've been growing ebb and flood for some years and never experienced any issues to this day. There's nothing like it for a proper irrigation and i'd pick it over autopots any day. Tried them once and sold them.

 

[fartoblue]

Many thanks lads, my concern with the autopots is I just don't see how they could work as well as IWS flood and drain. I had root rot in the RDWC system and fought with it for a year, the rot won in the end so this is what wories me about the IWS but if the roots are drained suerly the amount of O2 they then get would prevent RR.

Are temps as important with IWS as they are in RDWC and do you run sterile or live?

 

[EvilScotsm@n]

Many thanks lads, my concern with the autopots is I just don't see how they could work as well as IWS flood and drain. I had root rot in the RDWC system and fought with it for a year, the rot won in the end so this is what wories me about the IWS but if the roots are drained suerly the amount of O2 they then get would prevent RR.

Are temps as important with IWS as they are in RDWC and do you run sterile or live?

Hit Google for @rambogarden mate. He's on afn. Hes the best autopot grower I've seen so far. Drops 600-800g autos in the 15L version like they're going out of fashion.
Crazy good grower and a crazy good grow system if done correctly.
Think this ones a photo but all his plants look pretty much the same.

 

[fartoblue]

My main problem with Autopots is How there would be no salt build up and how would you flush

 

[EvilScotsm@n]

My main problem with Autopots is How there would be no salt build up and how would you flush

You dont flush and you feed weak mate.
If you feed too strong you will get build ups but just don't do that and all is well.
Learn to feed by looking for deficits. Keep them just over the hungry line and they grow like the clappers.

 

[tyke1973]

If the choice is autopots or IWS then IWS all day long.


Im surprised you had root rot in f and d.

Edit, got a cracked screen, missed half your sentence.

IWS will cripple autopots in growth

Not in my room,done both. both produce but autopots are far better easier growing

 

[tyke1973]

If you go with auto pots ,give me a pm i have a lot of extras i do with autopots ,that i have picked up over the years.These will improve you yield and stop ya having to many issues.

 

[Dilago]

If you like spaghetti by all means go with autopots! If one tube clogs up a plant will die and if the flooder fails be prepared for a wet floor.

I'm more of a four bars and some pond liner type a guy. Just plant the cuts in crates with drilled holes in the bottom, put them inside the leaking tray of pond liner, pour water in it and wait for them to drink it. When the floor is dry simply pour new water into the leaking tray. This is the exact same principle as autopots! Except nothing can clog up and your neighbor doesn't have to worry why it rains inside!

 

[EvilScotsm@n]

If you like spaghetti by all means go with autopots! If one tube clogs up a plant will die and if the flooder fails be prepared for a wet floor.

I'm more of a four bars and some pond liner type a guy. Just plant the cuts in crates with drilled holes in the bottom, put them inside the leaking tray of pond liner, pour water in it and wait for them to drink it. When the floor is dry simply pour new water into the leaking tray. This is the exact same principle as autopots! Except nothing can clog up and your neighbor doesn't have to worry why it rains inside!

Lol. I've seen a few guys who use paddling pools in the grow room just in case they flood but never actually seen anyone post saying it's happened.
Seen loads of folk (including myself..twice)
Flood the place with airstones back firing or a recirc pump tube popping out of place but thought autopots were perfectly safe?
I feed how you do sometimes. Stick the plants in a big tray and water till It's full then let them reabsorb it.
I'm just setting up my next venture and for bloom im thinking of doing 3gal coco fabrics on a constant flood table.
Kind of a basterdised NFT system.
In theory it should work better than an autopot as the water will contain a lot more oxygen but a lot of theories don't exactly pan out. Time will tell haha

 

[Dilago]

Autpots are certainly not perfectly safe, they will flood your floor automatically when the flooder fails.

 

[tyke1973]

Autpots are certainly not perfectly safe, they will flood your floor automatically when the flooder fails.

I've been using them for 10 year thats on the growers head not the auto pots ,the slot that the ball cock slips into stops this happening.A other tip dont be lazy with making the nutes up i do them daily ,all I use is a dwc bucket up turned tap has my res,I have found i have far less problems.And let's face it if you aint got the time to spend 20 minutes with your plants a day summats wrong.I would only use a larger res if i was doing a lot of plants,4 plants drink 12/15 ltr of water a day.if your only doing a couple of plants then you be fine with small res,check all the taps.The grommets should be a nice tight fit,I can honestly say I've never known a grow that I've personally done or any of my friends have done flood.Just make sure you click the ball cock onto the head in the pot .You will be fine ,ya will wonder why ya never used it before.Few photos of some of stuff I have drying atm.

 

[Star Dog]

I used auto pots for mothers and the smart/aqua valve in trays (a multi pot version) for years never ever had any flood, I fail to see how they can jam stick or flood?

 

[tyke1973]

I used auto pots for mothers and the smart/aqua valve in trays (a multi pot version) for years never ever had any flood, I fail to see how they can jam stick or flood?

Same old story bro ,users error blaming the pots ,Its impossible to flood if you do the tap right on the res,and lock ballcocks in place.i do my own dont trust shop bought ones.Like I said i use a dwc bucket with the tap up done drop of silicone around thread tighten leave to dry .Then your good to go,but i would definitely think about replacing that factory small spaghetti tubing with horse pipe.Nip to your hydro shop or on line you want a horse pipe to horse pipe connector with one feed line t joint and a end stop for horse pipe .pressure will be fat better make sure that res is raised.it will give you far greater pressure.I still use today and I have used every system there is nft dwc airoponics drip feed the lot ,and i still go back to auto pots.Its a easy system to use dude ,but highly effective the colas and weight it throws me im always happy with.Just make sure you do the little bits I yold ya about air tings ext .makes such a difference its unbelievable.I done 60 plants under 6 100 ltr res and never a leak.Also the mats are well worth getting have them half way under pot and half way going up the side of pot in a L shape ,where the larger part of tray meets ball cock section .This stops roots getting into the ball cock .Its the little things like this that count .Any problems pm me and I do my best to tell ya in more detail what I mean.Also that res needs to be out side the room