Grow Mediums Autopots and ph

[Dudeski]

My friend and I are looking at the autopots to ease the feed water routine we have. My question is does the ph of the reservoir have to be checked regularly once the initial feed/water has been added.

Thanks!

 

[tripaholic88]

if there is a bubbler system in your res i would . ive noticed the ph of my 02'd water raises after it bubbles

 

[Agent Green]

How stable is the rez without the airpump though? Would a small submersible pump be better to circulate the tank, stopping the ph rise caused by the airstones?

 

[BII]

I've only recently started using AutoPots with AirDomes. I only have a 4-pot system (adding 2 more this week). I avoid these reservoir issues by using Advanced Nutrients ph Perfect Connoisseur base nutes with RO water and nearly never bothering to check the pH (with it staying well within the pH Perfect system-friendly pH range). Plus I refill the reservoir every 1 or 2 days. Leaving it longer, at least with what I mix, I get nasty smells and settling of crud/gunk, which can't be good. [Exactly, what is the gunk and debris that forms in complex nutrient mixtures in reservoirs?] I presume the more freshly-prepared the nutrients are the better.

Otherwise, with AutoPots growing and watering are so much simpler, such as compared to drain-to-waste with all its related mess, that even if mixing nutes daily the total time spent tending the plants is much less. So even daily mixing is something I don't even notice. But I definitely want to learn how to maintain a reservoir for say at least 5 days.

Related to reservoir maintenance, I noticed that the 50:50 coco/perlite above a bottom layer of Hydroton balls that I use (as recommended) stays rather moist, never gets to the point anywhere near dry by regular coco standards. I have yet to see the much-hyped wet-dry cycling of the AutoPots actually involve any real drying-out of the media. In that context, I have started letting the plants suck the reservoir dry and have dry trays. So far, doing this for up to a day has had no real impact, with the coco top layers staying just as moist. Next grow, I'm going to let the reservoir and plants go dry more for real, for days if needed, at least during veg, to get the full real wet-dry cycle advantages. Also, not filling the reservoir as often means, such a maybe 2x vs. 4x per week, means that much less work.

 

[Dudeski]

Thanks @bill for the info. I appreciate it since im new and looking for any help!

 

[briman]

How stable is the rez without the airpump though? Would a small submersible pump be better to circulate the tank, stopping the ph rise caused by the airstones?

Gentlemen, No airstone, just a small submersible pump to break the water surface tension in the rez is ideal and the Warehouse Manager, Ricardo "Ricky" Perez, from the Autopotsusa site will give you the same information. He is a stand up guy and loves to talk gardening! Using a product called "drip clean" will help break down the sluge and the pump will keep it mixed and not able to settle in the bottom of the rez. Also, 70/30 Coco/perlite is better in your container. I'm going to bubble my water in a 5 gallon bucket, add nutes and dump it in the rez. I would still check your ph daily, until you get dialed in!! Its still hydro and the plant can take more water or nutes, depending its needs.

 

[2Stoned2Care]

Gentlemen, No airstone, just a small submersible pump to break the water surface tension in the rez is ideal and the Warehouse Manager, Ricardo "Ricky" Perez, from the Autopotsusa site will give you the same information. He is a stand up guy and loves to talk gardening! Using a product called "drip clean" will help break down the sluge and the pump will keep it mixed and not able to settle in the bottom of the rez. Also, 70/30 Coco/perlite is better in your container. I'm going to bubble my water in a 5 gallon bucket, add nutes and dump it in the rez. I would still check your ph daily, until you get dialed in!! Its still hydro and the plant can take more water or nutes, depending its needs.

Hi @briman what size submersible pump do you recommend for the rez tank could you link 1 thank you

 

[BII]

Also, 70/30 Coco/perlite is better in your container.

Are you sure 70/30 is better than say 50/50? As I noted, I am currently using 50:50 coco (both Gold Label and BioBizz brands)/perlite with the bottom Hydroton layer and AirDome as instructed by the company; and the top of my media stays rather moist. I presume it would hold even more water and take even longer to dry out (which it never does currently) using a higher percentage of coco; and that it is not optimal to have perpetually rather moist/wet media. Am I wrong? Is wet(ter) coco desirable? If wet media is good/desired with Autopots, would 80% or even 100% coco be better for our plants?

 

[briman]

@Hansbricks , @A-Train both are using a less percentage of perlite than a 50/50 mix and Ricky @ autopots said he also uses a 70/30 mix. I am not versed in coco and am only going by what I am told, by people that are actually using the system and If you have the time, check out Hansbricks last few grows!! Pics dont lie!

 

[Dudeski]

@Terra Firma got a pump with an adjustable flow. I am following their airpot grow. Im here to learn!