Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need besides the AutoPot Auto3 XL SmartPot tray system?
A reservoir, a growing medium, nutrients and your plants. The tray, lid, AQUAvalve5, three 20L fabric FlexiPots with a PotSock each, a metre of 9mm pipe and the small fittings are all in the box, but there is no tank and no substrate. AutoPot's minimum for a single Auto3 XL is a 50L FlexiTank.
What is the difference between the Auto3 XL and the Auto3 XL SmartPot?
The pots. Both use the same 114.5cm x 38.5cm tray and lid and one AQUAvalve5. The Auto3 XL comes with three 25L solid plastic pots and round root control discs, while the SmartPot version comes with three 20L fabric FlexiPots and a round PotSock for each.
Does the AutoPot Auto3 XL SmartPot need a pump or electricity?
No. It is gravity fed, so there is no pump, timer or plug to worry about. The single AQUAvalve5 tops the tray up from your tank as the plants drink, and because gravity does the work, the tank needs to sit higher than the tray.
How do I connect more than one Auto3 XL SmartPot tray to one tank?
Run pipe from the one tank to the AQUAvalve5 on each tray. AutoPot's minimum tank sizes are 50L for 1 tray, 100L for 2, 225L for 4, 400L for 8 and 750L for 10. Only 1m of 9mm pipe comes with each tray, so you will need extra pipe and the right connectors for your layout. Our AutoPot pipe and fittings are linked on this page.
Which valve does the Auto3 XL SmartPot use?
The AQUAvalve5, one per tray. It feeds all three fabric pots because they share the tray, and it connects with 9mm pipe through the 9mm top hat grommet. A spare AQUAvalve5 is sold separately.
What can I put in the fabric FlexiPots?
A free-draining medium such as coco or a soil and perlite mix. The substrate is not included, so you buy that separately. Skip thick organic feeds, which can block the valve and pipework.
Descripción
The AutoPot Auto3 XL SmartPot Tray System is a power-free, gravity-fed watering tray that feeds three 20L fabric FlexiPots from one tray and one AQUAvalve5. It is for growers who like fabric pots, want a tighter footprint than three separate trays, and are happy to feed it from a tank (not included). AutoPot calls the fabric pots FlexiPots (that is the SmartPot in the name), and three come in the box with the valve, pipe and fittings.
There is nothing to plug in and nothing to programme. The plants drink the nutrient solution in the tray and the AQUAvalve5 tops it back up from your tank. AutoPot says it draws no more water than three single XL trays, with fewer parts to look after, and the moulded base keeps standing water down while the lid blocks light and debris. Substrate is not included.
AutoPot Auto3 XL SmartPot Tray System Specifications
| Spec | AutoPot Auto3 XL SmartPot |
|---|---|
| Pots | 3 x 20L fabric FlexiPots (included) |
| Tray and lid footprint | 114.5cm x 38.5cm |
| Valve | 1 x AQUAvalve5 feeds all three pots |
| Power | None, gravity fed |
| Pipe sizes in the AutoPot system | 9mm (9mm outside, 7mm inside) and 16mm (16mm outside, 13mm inside). Only 1m of 9mm is in the box. |
| Reservoir | Not included. AutoPot's minimum for one tray is a 50L FlexiTank. |
| Substrate | Not included |
| Recommended grow spaces (AutoPot) | 1.2m x 1.2m, 2m x 2m, 2.4m x 1.2m, 2.4m x 2.4m, 3m x 3m |
You need a tank, and it is not in the box. AutoPot's minimum for one Auto3 XL SmartPot is a 50L FlexiTank. We'd reach for the AutoPot Flexitank With Tap (tap already fitted), or the AutoPot PRO FlexiTank for bigger set-ups. Need a spare tap? Grab a Flexi Tank Tap.
What's Inside the AutoPot Auto3 XL SmartPot Tray System
| Part | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Auto3 XL tray | 1 | Moulded base, three pot positions |
| Auto3 XL lid | 1 | Blocks light and debris |
| Round blue access cover | 1 | Small, easy to lose, keep it with the tray |
| AQUAvalve5 | 1 | Tops the tray up from your tank |
| AQUAvalve cover | 1 | Small part, keep it |
| 9mm top hat grommet | 1 | For the 9mm pipe (no longer sold on its own here) |
| 9mm AutoPot pipe | 1m | Enough to get started, you will want more |
| 20L fabric FlexiPot | 3 | Replacements sold separately |
| PotSock (round) | 3 | Soft and easy to mistake for packaging |
In the Box
Everything in the table above arrives in one box, and a lot of it is tiny. Before you bin the packaging, check for the AQUAvalve5 and its cover, the round blue access cover, the 9mm top hat grommet, the metre of 9mm pipe and the three round PotSocks. Not in the box: a tank, growing medium, nutrients, and extra pipe or connectors.
Tank Sizes for Running More Than One AutoPot Auto3 XL SmartPot
| Number of Auto3 XL trays | AutoPot minimum reservoir |
|---|---|
| 1 | FlexiTank 50L |
| 2 | FlexiTank or PRO FlexiTank 100L |
| 4 | FlexiTank or PRO FlexiTank 225L |
| 8 | FlexiTank or PRO FlexiTank 400L |
| 10 | FlexiTank 750L |
Accessories and spares for the AutoPot Auto3 XL SmartPot:
- Autopot Aqua Valve5: a spare valve
- AutoPot Pipe (9mm blue and 6mm black): more pipe for longer runs
- AutoPot FlexiPot 20L: spare or extra fabric pots
- Autopot PotSock, Round for XL Pot
- AutoPot AirBase (the round one suits 20L fabric pots) and Autopot Air Dome
More AutoPot tray and pot systems:
- AutoPot Auto3 XL Tray System: the same tray with three 25L solid plastic pots
- AutoPot Auto8 15L Tray System and AutoPot Auto8 8.5L Tray System: eight pots on one tray
- AutoPot XL FlexiPot System and AutoPot FlexiPot 35L: more fabric pot options
- Autopot Complete System, 25L XL Pots: single pots with a tank
AutoPot Auto3 XL SmartPot Tray System FAQ
What do I need besides the AutoPot Auto3 XL SmartPot tray system?
A reservoir, a growing medium, nutrients and your plants. The tray, lid, AQUAvalve5, three 20L fabric FlexiPots with a PotSock each, a metre of 9mm pipe and the small fittings are all in the box, but there is no tank and no substrate. AutoPot's minimum for a single Auto3 XL is a 50L FlexiTank.
What is the difference between the Auto3 XL and the Auto3 XL SmartPot?
The pots. Both use the same 114.5cm x 38.5cm tray and lid and one AQUAvalve5. The Auto3 XL comes with three 25L solid plastic pots and round root control discs, while the SmartPot version comes with three 20L fabric FlexiPots and a round PotSock for each.
Does the AutoPot Auto3 XL SmartPot need a pump or electricity?
No. It is gravity fed, so there is no pump, timer or plug to worry about. The single AQUAvalve5 tops the tray up from your tank as the plants drink, and because gravity does the work, the tank needs to sit higher than the tray.
How do I connect more than one Auto3 XL SmartPot tray to one tank?
Run pipe from the one tank to the AQUAvalve5 on each tray. AutoPot's minimum tank sizes are 50L for 1 tray, 100L for 2, 225L for 4, 400L for 8 and 750L for 10. Only 1m of 9mm pipe comes with each tray, so you will need extra pipe and the right connectors for your layout. Our AutoPot pipe and fittings are in the AutoPot Systems collection.
Which valve does the Auto3 XL SmartPot use?
The AQUAvalve5, one per tray. It feeds all three fabric pots because they share the tray, and it connects with 9mm pipe through the 9mm top hat grommet. A spare AQUAvalve5 is sold separately.
What can I put in the fabric FlexiPots?
A free-draining medium such as coco or a soil and perlite mix. The substrate is not included, so you buy that separately. Skip thick organic feeds, which can block the valve and pipework.
Browse more: AutoPot Systems, Gravity-Fed Systems and Grow Room Irrigation Systems.
