Hydroponics Made Easy - Chapter 4A- pdfa.pdf

7/29/2019 Hydroponics Made Easy - Chapter 4A- pdfa.pdf

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Hydroponics Made Easy

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There is an Autopot growing unit that will suit everyone from the leastinformed novice right through to large commercial users. Usually, oneshould start with the gravity fed units as they are simpler to use. Once

the collection of Autopot growing units have grown to more than 20units, it is advisable to move on to the pump fed methods.

Gravity fed unitsThese are the most basic operating units, even though the system can berelatively sophisticated in its range and number of growing containers.In general, the gravity fed method is suited to a single growing con-tainer through to about 100 growing containers. In general practice,once more than two dozen or so growing containers are in a system, itis much better to switch over to the pumping methods. Changing over isquick, simple and inexpensive.The gravity fed unit consists of three main components

1. the growing container2. the Smart-valve3. the reservoir or tank

A) HydropakFor beginners in hydroponic, it is best to start off with an Autopot hy-droponic starter Kit called the Hydropak. It is extremely simple notonly to operate but also to set up. In less than 10 minutes, you can havethe starter kit installed and ready for planting.This is a hydroponic starter kit that uses all the same principles as theother 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 thatwhen unpacked, becomes a 35 litre nutrient tank.

It consists of a tray that takes two 10 grow pots and houses the Smartvalve in a cavity between the cavities for the pots, the required amountof perlite, nutrient, filter, tubing and instruction booklet. The Hydropakis ideal for tomato plants, capsicums, eggplants, cucumbers, and awider 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 fromthe relatively small 10 diameter pots. Commercial Autopot users grew

thousands of tomato plants with outstanding results using the samegrowing units as the starter kits.

CHAPTER 4

HOW TO GET STARTED

WITH AUTOPOT SYSTEM

The Tanks

35 litre tank..

200 litre

The Smart-valve Mk2

Hydrotray 1

Hydrotray 2

The Growing Containers.


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This pack contains everythingyou need to grow superbhydroponic vegetables andflowers. The kit contains:

2x10 pots, 1 double grow-tray, 2 part nutrient, growingmedium, 35 litre tank, Smart-valve Mk2. All fittings andconnections. Full instructionsincluded. Use indoors or out-doors. Ideal for balconies &verandahs. AMAZINGLYEASY TO USE.

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 hydroponicssystems. Simply plant seedlings or seeds,

fill the tank with water, add a measure of

nutrient and watch for the spectacular re-

sults. The results could be on your table

before you need to top up the tank again.

The Hydro-pak Kit allows you the flexibil-

ity of movable pots and a long lasting, port-

able plastic growing tray. The set comes

complete with nutrient tank, pots, perlite

growing medium, nutrients, filter, Smart-

valve, grommet, tubing and How to Use

instructions.In fact, everything you

need except the plants.

You can easily add on to extend from a single reservoir.

The Smart-valve Mk2

The pot simply slips into a

recess in the tray and canbe removed, re-positioned

and rotated at any time.

In-line filter..

4mm tubing

35L nutrient

water can last

up to 4 weeks

per fill..

The outer pack also serves as a 35L nutri-

ent solution tank. Position so that nutrient

flows to the Smart-valve by gravity.

The Smart-valve Mk2

Automation without batteries, electricity or pumps. The

system works by gravity and plants are in control in deter-

mining when and how often to refill the trays. This is what

we call PLANT DRIVEN technology.

HYDRO-PAK KIT.


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The tank, tray and pots are plastic which allows their use indoor or outand with a 35 litre supply of nutrient you would have 4 to 5 weeks sup-

ply for young plants and at least 3 weeks supply for strongly growingplants nearing 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-valveswhich are simply connected together with joiners and tubing feeding

off the same or separate reservoir tank (see page 25).

B) 8-pot extension kitsFor those who wish to start off with a larger Autopot System, there isthe 8-pot extension kit to meet this requirement. Generally, it is popular

Limit your extension to 6growing modules from a sin-

gle tank. You will need to

position the tank higher ( 5

feet) to increase water pres-

sure.

EXTENDING YOUR SYSTEM

You are not restricted in any way by your Autopot Sys-

tem. Add more trays. Simple T and straight joiners avail-

able 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.

flow

13mm

Main feed

line

Intermediate Kit.

Extension Kit

for those who already have had some experience with other hydroponicsystems and wish to add or change over to Autopot System (see page 25).

C) Intermediate kitsThese are even larger package. It comes with a much larger reservoir tank(200 litres) and feeding up to 50 pot plants (see page 26).


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Setting Up The 8-pot

Extension Kit

Connect up the system as shown in the

diagram below. Place the tank half a me-

ter or higher than the growing module.

The higher the better.Top view of the 8-pot extension kit

35L tank2 pot module

CHECK THE CONTENTS OF

YOUR 8-POT EXTENSION AUTO-

POT 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

4mm tubing

In-line filter

35L tank

Tap 4mmT joint 4mmTap 4mm

Insert one end of tubing into the

grommet installed at the bottom

of the tank. Grommet

Hydroponics Made Easy - Chapter 4A- pdfa.pdf

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