Kuwl's AutoPot Grow - Deja Vu

[kuwl]

I almost think you could make your own AP's but when I ordered parts like the hose and shut off valves,
everything I ordered no matter how carefull I was came back the wrong size, you really have to pay attention to
inner diameter and outer diameter and a bunch of stuff they don't tell you.
Got loads of wrong parts if anyone wants them lol.

 

[kuwl]

Hey, it's Deja Vue all over again!

Getting the tent ready.
Still got a few things to do but all going well.
Almost forgot to put a filter on the intake.
This is my 4" fan I got from Spider Farmer and it's quiet as can be.
I hated the noise from the old one that came up threw the flooring.

Sock and inside root blockers. (I got them with my order, the socks are something new, didn't get them with the last set.)
Never had a root problem using them.

Setting up the pot configuration was easy but used my seperate pot trays that I got with my 3.9 gal set as they fit with the 2.2 gal pots I just got. (interchangable bases)

Air domes in place with clay balls covering 3/4 of them.

I probably use a lil less clay balls because the pots are only 2.2 gal.
I will be drilling holes for the Air Lines right under the top lip because I have propagation domes to put on that I never used before
and they fit inside the top edge of the pot. (pic's tomorrow)
I got the UV light hangers up but they will go up last. (had to manufacture them from hooks I brought at $ store)
Its going well and I will start germinting the seeds I got tomorrow.
It won't be long now. Back in the saddle again!

 

[CactusJack1]

What setting were you using to feed the air to the air domes low,medium, high.

 

[kuwl]

What setting were you using to feed the air to the air domes low,medium, high.

High but on a timer for 4 hrs starting at midday.
I didn't want to over due it and in the end just left it at 4 hrs a day.
I probably will set at high for 6 hrs per day this time.

 

[PipeCarver]

High but on a timer for 4 hrs starting at midday.
I didn't want to over due it and in the end just left it at 4 hrs a day.
I probably will set at high for 6 hrs per day this time.

I was looking at some Yt vids about the domes and one guy was talking about too much air not being good for the plant saying it needs the roots to search and with too much air they don't. So there will be a learning curve on the right amount of air to the root zone....I've shut off valves on the manifolds so I can adjust the airflow with them if I see the plant stalling.

Another guy talked about air temps in the domes and to run only through the day so we don't provide cold air to the roots zone but what about warm air 24 hrs a day?....is warm air 24hrs a day a bad thing?....easy enough to time for lights on only but is it just the cold air that's an issue or is air during their dark period a negative?

I'm ordering this set up today. Fk it I'll bite the bullet and get this. Its a better set up than the twin pots as CactusJack says there wasn't much room between the plants with the twin pot system.

 

[CactusJack1]

Well pipecarver i ordered the same setup on Monday will give it a whirl !!

 

[CactusJack1]

Im going to try pipecarvers homemade air domes going with three inch net pots

 

[PipeCarver]

Im going to try pipecarvers homemade air domes going with three inch net pots

I just placed the order with Indoor Farmer...free shipping,$235...delivered. I'm going all out here an I'll get some clay balls for the bottom and more perlite for Promix. so I can up the percentage of it, I usually only add 15% to bring it to around 33% but I guess a higher percentage is required.

What net pot size do you think is comparable to the dome size...4" ...6"...

 

[CactusJack1]

Kuwl could give us an idea he has the air domes. I ordered 3 inch netpots and the height is 2.1 inches so you need at least a couple inches of clay balls the bigger the net pot the higher the height depth so more clay balls more expense.

 

[CactusJack1]

Also i ordered extra 9mm line going to keep reservoir on outside of tent. I have a couple of 4 outlet air pumps so im good there. I also have small water pump 120 gph to keep everything moving in reservoir.

 

[CactusJack1]

Kuwl were you using any additive in reservoir to protect from root rot ?

 

[PipeCarver]

Kuwl could give us an idea he has the air domes. I ordered 3 inch netpots and the height is 2.1 inches so you need at least a couple inches of clay balls the bigger the net pot the higher the height depth so more clay balls more expense.

And from what I've seen so far in my quest for large 6" net pots I might as well buy the real thing they are almost as expensive.....the places I've looked for ordering them want to send up to 50 at a time I found a place in Halifax that sells them as singles and they have the clay balls and Perlite so I'll go in spend another $100 and get what I need once the pots arrive............

You know what this is going to force me to do? I've 9 plants now in 3 gal I planed on putting 6 in the tent and keep 3 vegging once the girls in the tent are done ( 3 weeks).......Now I'm ordering the pots I'll need a space to put them and all I have is a 3x3 or under my 1000w hps...6x6 area.....So I'll be forced....I like that word...lol....to flower my new seeds under my 1000w hps in the auto pots......Good plan...lol.....

 

[CactusJack1]

Pipecarver the air domes are 4 inch because they supply you 4 two inch air hoses to connect to air dome t shape.

 

[Brettdawg]

Good to see more autopot users. Wil be following along to see how you get on .

 

[kuwl]

Kuwl were you using any additive in reservoir to protect from root rot ?

No after using the AP system 2x I have no problems with roots at all. They all looked super healthy when I removed the last aborted grow.

 

[kuwl]

This is the manual I got with one of my orders.

https://www.autopot-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/AutoPot-Grow-Guide-2023.pdf

 

[kuwl]

This one was from a previous grow using the AP system.
It was the tallest plant with the most buds.
It was a 3.9 gal pot and the others were in 3 gal pots.
I got a lil over 7 oz from that plant all other plants got half that amt.
I did not get full potential from it tho as I was screwing around with the light and envirment to much.

https://www.thcfarmer.com/unsafe/fit-in/640x0/filters:format(webp):quality(85):strip_exif()/https://www.thcfarmer.com/attachments/img_3707-jpg.1247821/

 

[PipeCarver]

This is the manual I got with one of my orders.

https://www.autopot-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/AutoPot-Grow-Guide-2023.pdf

Thanks I needed that....lol....something I read in there talked about peat based soils and how they compact to almost solid without enough perlite....Bingo moment .

That may be part of my yellowing leaves issue in larger pots particularly. I've let then get bone dry and I guess not only am I depriving them of water I'm squeezing the roots to death....More Perlite...lol.....Fabric pots, I didn't have that as often with my plastic pots. When the fabric pots dry out they really do damage to the leaves,,,in more ways than 1.

 

[CactusJack1]

• Aim for a pH of 5.8 if growing with soil or 5.5-5.6 if with coco. Kuwl what did you keep your ph in reservoir ?

 

[kuwl]

• Aim for a pH of 5.8 if growing with soil or 5.5-5.6 if with coco. Kuwl what did you keep your ph in reservoir ?

5.8 give or take a tenth