Hydroponics Made Easy Hydroponics Made Easy
CHAPTER 4 HOW TO GET STARTED WITH AUTOPOT AUTOPOT SYSTEM SY STEM There is an Autopot growing unit that will suit everyone from the least informed novice right through to large commercial users. Usually, one should start with the gravity fed units as they are simpler to use. Once the collection of Autopot growing units units have grown to more more than 20 units, it is advisable to move on to the pump fed methods.
The Growing Containers . .
Gravity fed units These are the most basic operating units, even though the system can be relatively sophisticated in its range and number of growing containers. In general, the gravity fed method is suited to a single growing container through to about 100 growing containers. In general practice, once more than two dozen or so growing containers are in a system, it is much better to switch over to the pumping methods. Changing over is quick, simple and inexpensive. inexpensive. The gravity fed unit consists of three main components 1. the growing container 2. the Smart-valve Smart-valve 3. the reservoir or tank
Hydrotray 1
Hydrotray 2
The Smart-valve Mk2
A) Hydropak For beginners in hydroponic, it is best to start off with an Autopot hydroponic starter Kit – called the Hydropak. It is extremely simple not only to operate but also to set up. In less than 10 minutes, you can have the starter kit installed and ready for planting. This is a hydroponic starter kit that uses all the same principles as the other starter kits but in a somewhat different way. It is supplied as a single pack with all the kits and components packed into a case that when unpacked, becomes becomes a 35 litre nutrient tank.
The Tanks
It consists of a tray that takes two 10” grow pots and houses the Smart valve in a cavity between the cavities for the pots, the required amount of perlite, nutrient, filter, tubing and instruction booklet. The Hydropak is ideal for tomato plants, capsicums, eggplants, cucumbers, and a wider variety of plants. It is amazing the variety that can be grown and many people are equally amazed at the size of plant that will grow from the relatively small 10” diameter pots. Commercial Autopot users grew thousands of tomato plants plants with outstanding outstanding results using the same same growing units as the starter kits.
35 litre tank..
200 litre
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Hydroponics Made Easy Hydroponics Made Easy
This pack contains everything you need to grow superb hydroponic vegetables and flowers. The kit contains: 2x10” pots, 1 double growtray, 2 part nutrient, growing medium, 35 litre tank, Smartvalve Mk2. All fittings and connections. Full instructions included. Use indoors or outdoors. Ideal for balconies & verandahs. AMAZINGLY AMAZINGLY EASY TO USE.
HYDRO-PAK KIT.
The Smart-valve Mk2 Automation without batteries, electricity or pumps. The system works by gravity and plants are in control in determining when and how often to refill the trays. This is what we call “ PLANT DRIVEN technology“.
The start of a growing fascination The fascination and satisfaction of hydro ponics is suddenly within your reach. The Autopot Hydropak Kit allows everyone to experience professional results from hydro ponics. Forget about the complications, complexity and problems of conventional hydroponics systems. Simply plant seedlings or seeds, fill the tank with water, add a measure of nutrient and watch for the spectacular results. The results could be o n your table before you need to top up the tank again.
The outer pack also serves as a 35L nutrient solution tank. Position so that nutrient flows to the Smart-valve by gravity.
The pot simply slips into a recess in the tray and and can be removed, re-positioned and rotated at any time. 35L nutrient water can last up to 4 weeks per fill..
In-line filter.. The Smart-valve Mk2 4mm tubing
The Hydro-pak Kit allows you the flexibility of movable movable pots and a long lasting, portable plastic growing tray. The set comes complete with nutrient tank, pots, perlite growing medium, nutrients, filter, Smartvalve, grommet, tubing and “How to Use” instructions. In fact, everything everything you
need except the plants. You can easily add on to extend from a single reservoir.
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Hydroponics Made Easy Hydroponics Made Easy
The tank, tray and pots are plastic which allows their use indoor or out and with a 35 litre supply of nutrient you would have 4 to 5 weeks sup ply for f or young plants and at least 3 weeks supply for strongly growing plants nearing maturity. maturity. From here, the Hydropak kit can be extended to more growing points. All you need are more of the Hydrotrays, pots and the Smart-valves which are simply connected together with joiners and tubing feeding off the same or separate reservoir reservoir tank (see page 25).
B) 8-pot extension kits For those who wish to start off with a larger Autopot System, there is the 8-pot extension kit to meet this requirement. Generally, it is popular
Intermediate Kit.
EXTENDING YOUR SYSTEM SYSTEM You are not restricted in any way by your Autopot System. Add more trays. Simple T and straight joiners available from your Autopot supplier mean that you can join in one, two or dozens more trays. Provided you have nutrient flowing with gravity you can run remote trays anywhere you can get the tubing.
Limit your extension to 6 growing modules from a single tank. You will need to position the tank higher ( 5 feet) to increase water pressure.
flow
13mm Main feed line
for those who already have had some experience with other hydroponic systems and wish to add or change over to Autopot System (see page 25).
C) Intermediate kits These are even larger package. It comes with a much larger reservoir tank (200 litres) and feeding up to 50 pot plants (see page 26).
Extension Kit
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Hydroponics Made Easy Hydroponics Made Easy
Setting Up The 8-pot Extension Kit
CHECK THE CONTENTS OF YOUR 8-POT EXTENSION AUTOPOT HYDROPONIC KIT
The kit contains the following items:4 x Hydrotray/lids 1 x Hydrotank 4 x Smart-valves Mk2 1 x Tubing 10m 4mm roll 4 x T-joints 4mm 1 x Round filter 5 x Taps 4mm 5 x Straight joints barbed 9 Instruction
2 pot module module
35L tank
Connect up the system as shown in the diagram below. Place the tank tank half a memeter or higher than th e growing module. The higher the better.
Top view of the 8-pot extension kit
Insert one end of tubing into the grommet installed at the bottom of the tank. Grommet
35L tank
4mm tubing In-line filter
2 pot module
Tap 4mm
T joint 4mm
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Tap 4mm