Fingers crossed I don't have the same issues. What nutrients was your friend using ?
Autopot Medium
- Thread starter inth3shadowz
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bubblescrogs
Well-Known Member
I’ve been running my mothers in autopots for a few months. Never flowered in them but works a treat for veg. Such low maintenance. I just top off the res with a bucket or two whenever I remember. Forget they are there since they are such low maintenance. Balances out the work in my rdwc flower room hahaha
I've had amazing results and disasters. I had an autopot system in the attic and the valve decided to remain open and had a flood. Leaked through two floors. Then I had another flood in a different room that was way worse I had about 40 litres leak all over the kitchen underneath. But they had worked so well I kept at it. That was until I started getting some kinda bacterial build up in the trays and destroyed 10 plants. That was the final straw, in a rage I dumped them all. I was a stage were it was constantly against me. DO NOT USE CLAY PEBBLES IN THE BOTTOM
NotTheRobot
Well-Known Member
I use Autopots for everything except a few outside grows. Coco/perlite mix. Old 6mm tubing which blocks up from time to time. If you leave the covers off the bases you can see what's happening with the water solution. When the tubes block up a single look in the tent tells me the base has no water and there's a blockage to clear. I only put a couple days water in the res max so if it ever leaks there won't be a big flood since the floor of the tent handles water.
For nutes I use Megacrop and add cal/mag from time to time. Last year the plants were in the tent to control light during the night and get watered but went outside with no water during the day. They seemed to like it. Regular seed gets better results than feminized or auto for me. I'm going to add top dressing part way through the day when the plants aren't in water this year and see where it goes.
For nutes I use Megacrop and add cal/mag from time to time. Last year the plants were in the tent to control light during the night and get watered but went outside with no water during the day. They seemed to like it. Regular seed gets better results than feminized or auto for me. I'm going to add top dressing part way through the day when the plants aren't in water this year and see where it goes.
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Very nice man. Those size buds is why I kept using them but the infection was just to much. Can I ask you did you use plastic pots or fabric and you said you use coco/perlite what ratio was it? 50/50?
Canadian_Growing
Well-Known Member
The "Cronk" nutrients line + hygrozyme.
Canadian_Growing
Well-Known Member
Thank you for posting. While my friend himself said he had his res dump out into his tent, I myself was considering the big 100L res. But keeping an eye on this thread has me very, very hesitant. I think this latest post by Beesbuds about the infection is what help me make up my mind 100%, because on top of the risk of flooding, we could lose them all due to pythium or something? Which actually makes sense. Because this system has no air pump keeping the water from going stagnant, and is shared with every plant via the tubing. Meanwhile, the plants are just sitting directly in a stagnant mass of water. Until of course they drink it and it gets re-filled with more stagnant water from the res.
Why does AutoPot not suggest at least even an air pump for the res? Every other hydro system suggests it. Is their marketing so that aggressive that they would rather sell units, knowing the inherent problems in the design? Knowing their system can well flood homes or cause root rot? Thank god for forums.
Sofa King Smoooth
Well-Known Member
Not try to be argumentative but doesn't any hydro system run the risk of root rot or flooding?
I have zero experience with hydro is why I ask.
NotTheRobot
Well-Known Member
Thanks.
I use the plastic pots and have both the small and large with at least 80 percent coco. Root development is always healthy and fills up space available.
With Megacrop I don't follow recommendations and under feed. I read that with Autopots and coco the plants don't need as much food and it seems to work that way.
If you don't load the res up much it gets fresh water every day or 2. With the comments about air pumps and infections fresh water is likely a better choice than filling the res up completely (if you have the option).
I ran a water pump in the res, it would turn on for 15mins every couple of hours. Still wasn't good enough. I washed the res every week. I was on top of things. Nutes would still go nasty and shit. I'm doing dwc now and absolutely love it. Something goes wrong you can fix it with immediate effect. No carrying soil or dumping soil. And massive MASSIVE yields. Last plant was 3 weeks veg and gave 220g of solid ass dank.
iggy097
Well-Known Member
I have had no negative issues with autopots so far besides PH problems that were my own. The benefits far outweigh the cons so far for me.
I think the new aqua valves reduced the chances of flooding. I have a 30g res and a 25g res. I bought the 30g flexi pot, and made my own 25g res out of a Brute can. I too was worried about flooding after reading some stories online, but as I mentioned I think that was a combination of using organic nutes - which can clog up the lines - and the old valves.
That all being said I did purchase Govee WiFi Water Sensor 3 Pack, Water Leak Detector 100dB Adjustable Alarm and App Alerts, Leak and Drip Alert with Email, Wireless Detector for Home, Basement(Not Support 5G WiFi) - - Amazon.com for peace of mind.
I think the new aqua valves reduced the chances of flooding. I have a 30g res and a 25g res. I bought the 30g flexi pot, and made my own 25g res out of a Brute can. I too was worried about flooding after reading some stories online, but as I mentioned I think that was a combination of using organic nutes - which can clog up the lines - and the old valves.
That all being said I did purchase Govee WiFi Water Sensor 3 Pack, Water Leak Detector 100dB Adjustable Alarm and App Alerts, Leak and Drip Alert with Email, Wireless Detector for Home, Basement(Not Support 5G WiFi) - - Amazon.com for peace of mind.
Sofa King Smoooth
Well-Known Member
I've used them with the fabric pot for a couple runs now and have not had issue with flooding or anything. First time I watered from the top, prior to turning on the reservoir, it overflowed from my own stupidity being used to a riser and large saucer.
Also overflowed one pot while I was manually dicking with the floats.
Haven't had any issue with salt residue or anything yet. I am lazy and didn't clean anything til the end of the run. I can see the benefits of using a cleaner nutrient than megacrop. The mega crop left a build up of brown debris in the reservoir.
To clean after the run I disassembled the pots and put everything in a 20 gallon trash barrel with a citric acid, water mix. Soaked everything and swished around the pieces then rinsed them in the shower.
The hoses had brown build up in them, most likely from the kelp in the megacrop. Went down each hose pinching it giving it some wiggle action to break up the brown shit which flaked out. Those brown flakes would most likely lead to a clog if it broke loose during a grow. Going to try jacks next time and see if that stops the flakes.
No issue with root rot or lack of roots. When used a 50/50 coco perlite mix everything went well except when I let the reservoir go dry due to being away from home longer than expected. The dry back caused issues but it was user error.
Also overflowed one pot while I was manually dicking with the floats.
Haven't had any issue with salt residue or anything yet. I am lazy and didn't clean anything til the end of the run. I can see the benefits of using a cleaner nutrient than megacrop. The mega crop left a build up of brown debris in the reservoir.
To clean after the run I disassembled the pots and put everything in a 20 gallon trash barrel with a citric acid, water mix. Soaked everything and swished around the pieces then rinsed them in the shower.
The hoses had brown build up in them, most likely from the kelp in the megacrop. Went down each hose pinching it giving it some wiggle action to break up the brown shit which flaked out. Those brown flakes would most likely lead to a clog if it broke loose during a grow. Going to try jacks next time and see if that stops the flakes.
No issue with root rot or lack of roots. When used a 50/50 coco perlite mix everything went well except when I let the reservoir go dry due to being away from home longer than expected. The dry back caused issues but it was user error.
iggy097
Well-Known Member
I noticed similar buildup with Megacrop. I've switched to Blue Planet for the second grow.
bubblescrogs
Well-Known Member
I was interested how they go with the wicking up instead of top feeding. Just ripped one now to make space and it has a decent root system for 6 weeks from clone
Under the Radar
Well-Known Member
I’ve used autopots for 5 years.
My set up has changed a few times over the years to increase my yield and probability of success. First few years were Coots soil and I did pretty good. The last few years I’ve made my own mix with 50/50 peat and perlite with 2 Tbs Dolomite Lime per gallon using tap water and mega crop and now Jacks 321. Maxing feed at 1100 ppm with 280 ppm starting. Definitely on the line for high ppm, but water is expensive, scarce and I’m cheap!
I had some issues with megacrop because the one part had kelp at first and would gunk up the 1/4” fittings and valves. I’m using V1 valves still. Can’t quite come around to $35 each to replace the 6 I have.
Currently trying coco with jacks nutes with tap water at 280ppm and 7.7 ph. I’ll top out at 1100 ppm total and ph to 5.8-6.2 with Jacks 321and change to 4:2 at 1100ppm at flower. Still experimenting with the 4:2, but on my last run I experienced less phosphorus deficiency in late flower.
Tips of the trade:
Use some kind of filter on the outlet to the autopots
Clean that filter every res change.
Use clean water or clean nutes; no kelp etc.
Clean the values every month or so and inspect for build up in the line.
Never water from the top after the bottom feed starts.
Ph your water if using high starting ppm and high ph. The buffer in the media cannot correct ph for a whole grow of 3+ months.
I stopped using clay pellets and haven’t seen any change.
Foliar feeding is great for growing in auotpots. I use a cal/mag at flip to help with transition as needed.
I use Jack’s nutrients at 321 then 4:2, mr.fulvic .5 mls per gallon, grow-genius for silica and phosphoric for ph. That’s it.
Good luck!
My set up has changed a few times over the years to increase my yield and probability of success. First few years were Coots soil and I did pretty good. The last few years I’ve made my own mix with 50/50 peat and perlite with 2 Tbs Dolomite Lime per gallon using tap water and mega crop and now Jacks 321. Maxing feed at 1100 ppm with 280 ppm starting. Definitely on the line for high ppm, but water is expensive, scarce and I’m cheap!
I had some issues with megacrop because the one part had kelp at first and would gunk up the 1/4” fittings and valves. I’m using V1 valves still. Can’t quite come around to $35 each to replace the 6 I have.
Currently trying coco with jacks nutes with tap water at 280ppm and 7.7 ph. I’ll top out at 1100 ppm total and ph to 5.8-6.2 with Jacks 321and change to 4:2 at 1100ppm at flower. Still experimenting with the 4:2, but on my last run I experienced less phosphorus deficiency in late flower.
Tips of the trade:
Use some kind of filter on the outlet to the autopots
Clean that filter every res change.
Use clean water or clean nutes; no kelp etc.
Clean the values every month or so and inspect for build up in the line.
Never water from the top after the bottom feed starts.
Ph your water if using high starting ppm and high ph. The buffer in the media cannot correct ph for a whole grow of 3+ months.
I stopped using clay pellets and haven’t seen any change.
Foliar feeding is great for growing in auotpots. I use a cal/mag at flip to help with transition as needed.
I use Jack’s nutrients at 321 then 4:2, mr.fulvic .5 mls per gallon, grow-genius for silica and phosphoric for ph. That’s it.
Good luck!
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Canadian_Growing
Well-Known Member
Not a DWC setup with a water chiller.
Running 4 xl 6.6 gallon pots on a 12 gallon res tank using Humboldts secret nutrients ATM. Coco/petite 60/40
Had some of same issues, floats stuck, bad wicking, nutes separating in res tank during veg period.
Floats sticking I found was a problem with certain nutrients being added...mainly plant enzymes (Humboldt) after it sits waiting to be used in the lines/floats it films up and causes gunk to build up. Going to run organic amendments next as a test, only ro ph'd in tank
Wicking issues I had only when I ran without the air bases, think I had to low of a perlite ratio there also, have adjusted and no problem since.
My nutrients separated during veg in the res tank also. Placed a small hydro pump in bottom of tank, keeps it circulated... But in the future during veg there is no reason to fill that reservoir tank completely. I wasted a lot of nutrients doing this, after about a week when the four plants hooked up to it had only used about two and a half to three gallons and were growing great... I had to dump the rest of the water out because it was getting a biofilm in the reservoir from the pump circulating it. I didn't want to risk root rot.
All in all is a great system once you get it dialed in for your environment.
Had some of same issues, floats stuck, bad wicking, nutes separating in res tank during veg period.
Floats sticking I found was a problem with certain nutrients being added...mainly plant enzymes (Humboldt) after it sits waiting to be used in the lines/floats it films up and causes gunk to build up. Going to run organic amendments next as a test, only ro ph'd in tank
Wicking issues I had only when I ran without the air bases, think I had to low of a perlite ratio there also, have adjusted and no problem since.
My nutrients separated during veg in the res tank also. Placed a small hydro pump in bottom of tank, keeps it circulated... But in the future during veg there is no reason to fill that reservoir tank completely. I wasted a lot of nutrients doing this, after about a week when the four plants hooked up to it had only used about two and a half to three gallons and were growing great... I had to dump the rest of the water out because it was getting a biofilm in the reservoir from the pump circulating it. I didn't want to risk root rot.
All in all is a great system once you get it dialed in for your environment.