AutoPot 1Pot system 80 pots incl. 750L Flexitank

Product detailed description

AutoPot 1Pot for 80 pots - large commercial gravity-fed operation

Eighty plants make for a large commercial grow room - and AutoPot 1Pot for 80 square 15 l pots feeds it from a single 750 l Flexitank, using only gravity and no pumps. The distribution runs through a 16 mm main line and the system remains modular.

At this scale, every saved operational hassle counts: without pumps and electricity, faults and energy consumption are eliminated, the larger 750 l Flexitank extends the intervals between top-ups, and valve servicing is handled module by module while the system is running. You can expand the system further by adding more pots.

How the irrigation works

Each pot sits on its own tray with an AQUAvalve5 valve. The valve opens the supply on its own and lets the tray fill with nutrient solution to a level of 20 mm - purely by gravity, without pumps, mains pressure, electricity or timers. Until the plant uses up the water in the tray, the valve will not release another dose. The plant therefore goes through a wet and dry cycle, which aerates the roots and supports healthy growth; once the tray is emptied, the cycle repeats.

Recommended substrates

1Pot always requires a freely draining substrate - permeability is key for alternating the wet and dry cycle. The following 50% / 50% mixes have proven effective:

• Soil and perlite - 50/50
• Soil and expanded clay - 50/50
• Coco and perlite - 50/50
• Coco and expanded clay - 50/50
• Rockwool and expanded clay - 50/50

If you use expanded clay, rinse the pebbles with water first - some types are not pH stable and could raise the pH of the nutrient solution in the tray. Before placing the pot into the tray, clean the bottom and sides of any substrate to maintain the correct function of the AQUAvalve5 valve.

Tank setup and start-up

Eighty plants are fed by a 750 l Flexitank. Place the tank (Flexitank 750 l) at least 150 mm above the highest AQUAvalve5 valve - gravity does all the work. If the nutrient solution level drops to around 1/3 of the contents, top it up, and never let the tank run completely dry. After planting, water the plants and let them root for 7-10 days; only then start the system. Stronger roots then control the water in the tray themselves.

Water is distributed to so many modules by a 16 mm main hose from the tank, from which a 9 mm hose branches off to the individual AQUAvalve5 units via 16->9 mm reducers. This distribution maintains sufficient flow even over a large area and is included in the package.

Mineral fertilisers - and why not organic with 1Pot

For the best results, the manufacturer recommends mineral fertilisers for the 1Pot system - they make operation the simplest and practically maintenance-free. Organic fertilisers are not recommended for the base 1Pot: they tend to settle and clog the narrow 9 mm distribution. (This differs from the larger 1Pot XL and XXL systems, where organic fertiliser is possible with a water pump in the tank.) With mineral fertiliser, it is enough to mix the nutrient solution in the tank and let the system take care of the rest.

Valve care

AQUAvalve5 units are low-maintenance: keep the valve and tray clean and free of deposits. Remove limescale from the nozzle with a paper clip or blow it out, never with a drill. With a large setup, it pays to check the valves after each harvest and replace worn Root Control discs - you can service the system module by module without taking the whole system out of operation.

Package contents

• 1x Flexitank 750 l
• 80x 1Pot module (15 l SQUARE pot, 1Pot tray & lid, tray lid)
• 80x 1Pot package (AQUAvalve5 cam, Root Control Disc, MARIX Disc, tubing, grommets and connectors)
• 16 mm accessories - main distribution from the tank + 16->9 mm reducers to individual modules
• instructions for use

Expansion and accessories

You can expand the system at any time by adding another 1Pot extension module (9 mm) - the body stays the same, you just connect a new pot on a tray. Spare 1Pot tray & lid and tray lid can be added separately, and for a cleaner root ball and tray, choose the copper PotSock Square, a square sleeve for a 15 l pot (unlike the round PotSock used with 1Pot XL). You can buy a replacement valve set as an accessory box for 12 pots.

Which size to choose

This set serves 80 plants. A smaller version is available as 1Pot for 60 pots (400 l); for growth, choose 1Pot for 100 pots (750 l). The system body is the same for all sizes - only the number of modules, tank volume and, in larger setups, the 16 mm distribution differ. You can also view the full 1Pot range.

Frequently asked questions

How does the 16 mm distribution scale with 80 modules?

From the 750 l Flexitank runs a 16 mm main hose, from which branches lead to the individual valves via 16->9 mm reducers. The 16 mm main line maintains flow even over a large area and is included in the package.

How do you service 80 valves?

AQUAvalve5 units are low-maintenance and are serviced module by module - you check them after harvest, clean the nozzles (never with a drill) and replace worn Root Control discs without taking the whole grow room out of operation.

Can I use organic fertilisers in 1Pot?

We do not recommend them for the base 1Pot - organic matter settles in the narrow 9 mm distribution and clogs it. Choose mineral fertilisers; with them, operation is maintenance-free. Organic fertiliser with a pump in the tank is only handled by the larger 1Pot XL and XXL systems.