Auto pot systems

Hi, I only put about 25 litres in res at a time and do a dry day between each fill, well sort of, if plants are small maybe a day, if large then maybe overnight or refill after I get back from work... let them dry out some is what I am trying to say... I have a small pump, on its side, circulating in res and on all time and a small air pump with 2 out pipes and air stones on, both for aquariums. Air runs on old school timer and on for a couple or so notches every few notches. not a lot of fluctuation in ec or ph but it does maybe depend on plant size/stage and how much they drink. can be a week to a couple days per fill which normally suits me. 

Only been growing devils lettuce for a couple yrs nearly but a chilli and tom and salad grower indoors for a few years, always been a soil grower, always watered from bottom so never tested run off.

Had 4 grows devils lettuce in autopots and plants grow very well, I just fuck up the end bit, 2 runs with organic bottled nutes and 2 runs with a and b. you will find the a and b seem to leave fine powder in res, I rinse this out every fill, this may bulid and cause ec issues... I followed Dr Cocos ec chart but only went to 3/4 what he recommended for the stages and all seemed fine, no plant issues and have run both autos and photos. just finished a run of toms and chillis in autopots and extremely pleased with both. 

Organic bottled nutes can cause blockages, also can stink a bit, so I setup with a join between each pot for easy blowout and an on off tap between res out and 1st split for pots.

You need the copper coated discs and I prefer to put them in tray as opposed to pot, I like to see the roots coming outta the bottom, also a good couple inches of clay pebbles in bottom pots. make sure you rinse pebbles really well b4 use and make sure the trays are pebble free when you set pots in trays, those small pebbles can come out drain holes and then lift pots slightly or tilt them.

I think that when watering from the bottom the water nutes mix rises up the pot and the salts or increased ec is say 3/4 up the pot, i dont think this matters as the roots drink from the bottom and so get exactly what you give them and the top 1/4 is absolutely bone dry... bonus is no little fly thingys

Massive healthy root stock in bottom half pot...

lot more straightforwards than it seems, excuse the waffle...

yer these are good for soil grows schroomy, but not for coco as coco needs the salts washed out every feed. IMO watering from the top is always best as it will wash out old salts and things the plant does not need. But auto pots do seem to do the job nicely for soil grows 

@emo Ty for the in depth response Emo I think I might grab a set of these to have a go with sounds like an interesting little set up✌️