Grow Mediums How much does your tray empty before the Aquavalve let's them fill up again?

[St. Tom]

This is something I need to get to update my aquavalves. I'm still running the old original set.

Did your blue ones ever completely empty bushy like a dry cycle or have they always got a bit of feed still in also I will let you know how good the new ones are I should have them fitted next week

 

[bushmasterar15]

Did your blue ones ever completely empty bushy like a dry cycle or have they always got a bit of feed still in also I will let you know how good the new ones are I should have them fitted next week

They always have feed in the tray. Water level stays flush with bottom of pots. Only time they've ran dry is when I've had a plugged line at the tray or at the shutoff valve at the reservoir. Those were my faults since I've not fully taken everything apart and cleaned the lines. I just normally take a syringe and
blow water through the lines. But running 3 years I bet there is build up in there. With the new larger lines think that will help stop that.

 

[St. Tom]

They always have feed in the tray. Water level stays flush with bottom of pots. Only time they've ran dry is when I've had a plugged line at the tray or at the shutoff valve at the reservoir. Those were my faults since I've not fully taken everything apart and cleaned the lines. I just normally take a syringe and
blow water through the lines. But running 3 years I bet there is build up in there. With the new larger lines think that will help stop that.

same as me mate my only dry cycle was when i had a blockage but I've never got one since using ata clean but these newer modules look pretty good and I've been using the blue ones 3 years so due an upgrade or replacement

 

[Olderfart]

I've stripped mine down once again today as they are back on the res and i do take the silicone things out every time i wash or clean them and roll them in my fingers but as i said i have never once seen them go completely dry and the floats on mine only let a certain amount of water in also are you using the new modules as I've just ordered some to replace my old blue ones here's a pic of them and a description View attachment 1247269
2020 Autopot Aquavalve 5 Module Pack

(New 9mm pipe)

These modules fit the standard 15L Module Tray and will fit onto your existing 16mm pipework with the included 16-9mm connectors.

Use Module Accessory Packs to upgrade your system to AQUAvalve5 with 9mm and 16-9mm pipe and fittings. An AQUAvalve5 Module Accessory Pack will fit into in your existing module trays perfectly. It includes all the fittings you need to connect to 16mm pipe – even 16-9mm cross and tee connectors

Nope, I am using the older version with the smaller pipe. The new ones look like an improvement, perhaps especially for those that want to try organics in their reservoir. So far, mine have worked without a hitch on 8 or so grows, so I am not in the market at the moment.

Proper operation does not actually dry the tray, just reduces the water level until air can enter the cover by bubbling beneath the cover edge. This will happen suddenly once the water level in the tray gets close enough to the cover edge, as I recall, no sooner than when water level in the tray gets within a couple millimeters or so from the tray floor. If the air valve is leaking, the water level will cycle between full and something like half full, and will never get close to the bottom of the tray.

Have fun with those new valves.

 

[St. Tom]

Nope, I am using the older version with the smaller pipe. The new ones look like an improvement, perhaps especially for those that want to try organics in their reservoir. So far, mine have worked without a hitch on 8 or so grows, so I am not in the market at the moment.

Proper operation does not actually dry the tray, just reduces the water level until air can enter the cover by bubbling beneath the cover edge. This will happen suddenly once the water level in the tray gets close enough to the cover edge, as I recall, no sooner than when water level in the tray gets within a couple millimeters or so from the tray floor. If the air valve is leaking, the water level will cycle between full and something like half full, and will never get close to the bottom of the tray.

Have fun with those new valves.

thanks i may post some pics once they come and i set them up and as you say the bigger pipes may help organic growers . and now the way your explaining it is how my valves have always worked so thanks

 

[MassMom]

My trays never looked empty. I need to do a test run on them...i NEVER saw them dry.

 

[Olderfart]

My trays never looked empty. I need to do a test run on them...i NEVER saw them dry.

Have a look at my troubleshooting thread in the sticky selection for a suggestion on how to test the valve.

Good luck with it.

 

[Nosias]

All I can say is mine never did that. The bottom of the tray would be almost completely dry before they'd open

Same here. Bottom of tray is damp but no standing water.

My problems come when I let the lines go dry between grows. The kelp then goes dry and my lines are clogged. So it is a task to clean out those dry lines with water. The kelp just keeps coming and coming out the line. I am still on the blue valves. I have no issues when all is set up and lines are "wet".

One tip I use is to turn my plants in their trays a quarter turn. This does allow me to feel that I am exposing all sides to the lights but most beneficial is this allows me to know if the water lines are working. This provides me with a "test" to see if the water is flowing thru the line.

 

[pop22]

I find flushing them at the end of a grow with just slightly soapy water works well. I use a 30ml syringe. I don't flush again with clear water as I use minimal soap. I can flush a 4 pot system in less than 5 minutes. When I flush I leave the tubing connected to the valve so that both get flushed together. I flush the feedline from the res with it detached from the system. I later simply made up a spare tubing array to just swap out at the end of a grow. Then when cleaning trays and valves, i flush the removed tubing array.

Same here. Bottom of tray is damp but no standing water.

My problems come when I let the lines go dry between grows. The kelp then goes dry and my lines are clogged. So it is a task to clean out those dry lines with water. The kelp just keeps coming and coming out the line. I am still on the blue valves. I have no issues when all is set up and lines are "wet".

One tip I use is to turn my plants in their trays a quarter turn. This does allow me to feel that I am exposing all sides to the lights but most beneficial is this allows me to know if the water lines are working. This provides me with a "test" to see if the water is flowing thru the line.

 

[pop22]

The tubing array is also good if you happen to get a clog, just swap them!