Testing AC Infinity self watering bases

[costanza]

I've decided to test out these AC Infinity self watering bases.

Self-Watering Fabric Pot Base, 4-Pack

Simplify your plant hydration utilizing these self-watering fabric pot bases. This 4-pack delivers consistent moisture to roots via an integrated wick system.

acinfinity.com

This grow has been happening since Aug 1st but I just decided to stop being lazy and document it now.

Here is the setup I am using
Tent: AC Infinity 48x48x80
T6 exhaust, 6inch charcoal filter
2 additional 6inch oscillating fans
1 tower fan
Light: 450W LED in veg with added 260W led in flower for a total of 710W
will be growing 4 plants multi top style and scrogged
Nutrients: JR Peters Jacks Part A, Epsom salt, 15-0-0 Calcium Nitrate, Monopotassium Sulfate, JR Peter mix of soluble traces
Supplements: Recharge, Tribus original , blackstrap molassas , neptune's harvest kelp 0-0-1, powersi veg, powersi bloom
Medium: Promix HP 5 gal fabric pots


Strains: all 4 Exotic Genetix cultivars
Apes in space: falcon 9 x grease monkey 70/30 Indica
Carmelita: Cream d' mint x grease monkey 70/30 Indica
Dreamsicle: Red Pop x Cookies n Cream 50/50 Hybrid
Sugar Puss: Cheetah Piss x Bakers Dozen 60/40 Indica

 

[costanza]

Currently at day 51 of flower.
Before I do a massive photo dump I will list what I liked and what I did not like about the ac Infinity self watering bases.
I liked how I didnt have to guess whether my plants were thirsty or not. This was especially helpful during the first 2 weeks of flower when the plants started to drink more. I always fail to give enough in those first 2 weeks and the plants suffer.

I also like how even though the design is simple the water distribution from the wicking system actually does a great job of saturating the bottom 1/3 of the fabric pots. I went from solo to 1gal pots and finally to 5 gal pots each time allowing the roots to grow out the bottoms of the fabric pots. This brings me to the one flaw I found. The air gap under the pots is not big enough, it does not allow the roots to air prune under the pot and eventually the roots grow into the base. Once the roots are wrapped around these wicking strings there is no removed the pots from the bases so that was a problem. I got around this by using a shop vac and sucking the water out of the bases to refill and keep fresh. Overall I would recommend these for plants in veg and maybe a few weeks into flower but I think next grow i will take the pots off these bases once i flip to flower and water manually instead of filling the bases.

The bases hold a gal of water and as my plants were thirsty they drank as they pleased but I found it hard to access the water supply to test it and maybe in future models they can remove the grates covering the filling hole so you can get a ec pen in there.

 

[freezeland2]

How is that auto waterer working.

 

[costanza]

More pics

 

[costanza]

More pics from first 3 weeks of flower

 

[costanza]

Weeks 3 to 7 of flower. I'm at day 51 flower right now

 

[costanza]

And the last ones week 7 F

 

[costanza]

How is that auto waterer working.

They worked great until the roots started to chase the water in the bases. the wicking system worked well and I didn't have to top water as much but I still had to top water. I went into this thinking it was going to cut my watering in half and it increased my watering hahaha

 

[Dbdigger]

They worked great until the roots started to chase the water in the bases. the wicking system worked well and I didn't have to top water as much but I still had to top water. I went into this thinking it was going to cut my watering in half and it increased my watering hahaha

How do you apply the Nutes? Top water/feed or from the bottom using the wick system?

 

[Average_Joegrow]

I've been checking these out. Thank you for posting this. Just sealed the deal for me. Looks.like more AC Infinity gear for me to buy

 

[costanza]

How do you apply the Nutes? Top water/feed or from the bottom using the wick system?

At first I was filling the reservoirs with the nutrient solution, and I found it was hard to test the EC to keep it at a certain level so I started filling it up with plain ph water and top feeding the nutrients. Next week I will be cleaning them up to get ready for the next grow and I think I am going to take a saw and cut the slots off of the filling area so I can drop a pen in there to get a reading, that might be the solution to bottom feed.

 

[costanza]

Here's the rest of the grow, the plants have been hanging for 8 days so far

 

[Nesta028]

Dude… super nice grow. Congrats. Great feedback on the AC wicking pots too.

 

[costanza]

Dude… super nice grow. Congrats. Great feedback on the AC wicking pots too.

Thanks, I cant wait to smoke them

 

[Brad104]

Thanks for the information on theese AC infinity self watering pots.Ive really been thinking about them, and I also want to say thanks for telling us to cut the plastic slit enough to were you can get a pen in the resivior. Great journal bro, enjoy the killer smoke that you grew!!!!

 

[BurnzYzBudZz]

Crushed it. Well done

 

[Buzzy12]

Excellent job, plants look super healthy! Thanks for sharing your experience with the self watering bases. AC Infinity makes great products. Something else from them to consider buying.

Looks like you were working with great genetics from Exotic. What lights did you use? The flowers look dense and frosty. Do you have a favorite strain out of the bunch?

 

[costanza]

Excellent job, plants look super healthy! Thanks for sharing your experience with the self watering bases. AC Infinity makes great products. Something else from them to consider buying.

Looks like you were working with great genetics from Exotic. What lights did you use? The flowers look dense and frosty. Do you have a favorite strain out of the bunch?

Havent smoked them yet but smell wise my favorite is the dreamsicle. I used an ac Infinity iongrid t24 260w light and a spider farmer sf4000 450w light.

 

[Novaracer69]

Outstanding grow you made me order a set to try for myself.

 

[costanza]

Outstanding grow you made me order a set to try for myself.

Good shit man, just remember to cut those slots off so you can test the res