Grow Mediums Autopots vs No-reservoir change dwc

[Simplicio]

I confess I don't understand autopots very well, so I'm looking for some assistance.

My shallow understanding of them is that the aqua valve takes in liquid in from a reservoir without removing any fluid already in the pots. In other words, the system feeds the plants new nutes without removing the old nutes first.

I have a much better understanding of a never-change-the-reservoir DWC system hooked up to an external gravity feed reservoir with a float valve that keeps individual plant liquid levels constant. Like the autopots (if I understand correctly), this system also feeds fresh nutes without removing the old ones.

The only difference between these two methods that I can think of is that the upper roots in autopots are bathed in a solid medium, while those in a no-res-change DWC setup are bathed in liquid.

If my understandings are correct, then isn't a no-res-change DWC setup with external float valve res at least as simple as autopots?
And if both systems never empty out old nutes, aren't they equally susceptible to all possible problems arising from that?

 

[davisgirl]

I would agree with your conclusions, certain exceptions aside. DWC grower myself, haven’t experimented with the “no res change” aspect of things, pretty faithful on the 7 day thing so far.

About to start some vegetables in 5 gallon DWC with a float valve top off and no reservoir changes planned so it’ll be interesting to see what/if complications arise.

 

[Simplicio]

I would agree with your conclusions, certain exceptions aside. DWC grower myself, haven’t experimented with the “no res change” aspect of things, pretty faithful on the 7 day thing so far.

About to start some vegetables in 5 gallon DWC with a float valve top off and no reservoir changes planned so it’ll be interesting to see what/if complications arise.

I have seen many posts on various websites that say people are doing no res changes successfully.
If it's possible, then I think it's a game changer.
I also add 2 drops clorox per gallon per day.

 

[davisgirl]

I have seen many posts on various websites that say people are doing no res changes successfully.
If it's possible, then I think it's a game changer.
I also add 2 drops clorox per gallon per day.

Yeah no bleach or H2O2 for me, running root inoculants full tilt.

 

[Frenjamin Banklin]

No change DWC, I let the water level raise and drop by 5”. No auto too off
FB

 

[HemiSync]

I confess I don't understand autopots very well, so I'm looking for some assistance.

My shallow understanding of them is that the aqua valve takes in liquid in from a reservoir without removing any fluid already in the pots. In other words, the system feeds the plants new nutes without removing the old nutes first.

I have a much better understanding of a never-change-the-reservoir DWC system hooked up to an external gravity feed reservoir with a float valve that keeps individual plant liquid levels constant. Like the autopots (if I understand correctly), this system also feeds fresh nutes without removing the old ones.

The only difference between these two methods that I can think of is that the upper roots in autopots are bathed in a solid medium, while those in a no-res-change DWC setup are bathed in liquid.

If my understandings are correct, then isn't a no-res-change DWC setup with external float valve res at least as simple as autopots?
And if both systems never empty out old nutes, aren't they equally susceptible to all possible problems arising from that?

My reason for using autopots is that in the warm months I cannot keep the DWC temps down low enough and eventually get root issues. So I switch off to autopots when that happens because soil/coco doesn’t care it the water is 68°F.

In addition, autopots have a buffer with the growing medium you use. DWC will always be more sensitive to change and react, good or bad, at an accelerated rate as water doesn’t buffer anything.