Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need besides the AutoPot Auto8 8.5L tray system?
A reservoir, a growing medium, nutrients and your plants. The tray, lid, AQUAvalve5, eight 8.5L square pots with a PotSock and Marix disc each, a metre of 9mm pipe and the small fittings are all in the box, but there is no tank. AutoPot's minimum for a single Auto8 is a 100L FlexiTank or FlexiTank Pro.
Does the AutoPot Auto8 8.5L system 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 Auto8 tray to one tank?
Run pipe from the one tank to the AQUAvalve5 on each tray. AutoPot's minimum tank sizes are 100L for 1 tray, 225L for 2, 400L for 4, 750L for 8 and 1000L for 10. Only 1m of 9mm pipe comes with each tray, so you will need extra pipe and the right connectors for your layout (16mm is the other pipe size AutoPot lists). Our AutoPot pipe and fittings are linked on this page.
Can I use 15L pots in the Auto8 8.5L system?
Yes. AutoPot says the Auto8 takes either 8.5L or 15L pots with no adjustment to the tray, so you can swap sizes later if you want more root room. The 15L pots are not in this box, so they are an extra.
Which valve does the Auto8 8.5L system use?
The AQUAvalve5, just the one per tray. It feeds all eight 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 grow space does the Auto8 8.5L system suit?
AutoPot recommends it for 2m x 2m, 2.4m x 1.2m, 2.4m x 2.4m and 3m x 3m spaces. It has a smaller footprint than eight separate trays and suits vertical racking, moveable racks and rolling tables.
Description
The AutoPot Auto8 8.5L Tray System is a power-free, gravity-fed watering tray that feeds eight 8.5L square pots from one tray and one AQUAvalve5. It is for growers who want plenty of plants under fewer lights, with one valve to look after instead of eight, and who are happy to feed it from a tank (not included). The pots, valve, pipe and fittings are all in the box.
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 eight single 1Pot trays, with fewer parts to maintain, and plants at different growth stages can share the one tray. The moulded base keeps standing water down and the lid blocks light and debris. It has a smaller footprint than eight separate trays and suits vertical racking.
AutoPot Auto8 8.5L Tray System Specifications
| Spec | AutoPot Auto8 8.5L |
|---|---|
| Pots | 8 x 8.5L solid square pots (included) |
| Tray and lid footprint | Approx. 119cm x 53cm (from AutoPot's supplier data, their product page does not list it) |
| Valve | 1 x AQUAvalve5 feeds all eight pots |
| Power | None, gravity fed |
| Pot sizes it takes | 8.5L or 15L, no tray adjustment needed (15L pots not included) |
| 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 100L FlexiTank or PRO FlexiTank. |
| Substrate | Not included |
| Recommended grow spaces (AutoPot) | 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 Auto8 is a 100L FlexiTank or PRO FlexiTank. We'd reach for the AutoPot Flexitank With Tap (tap already fitted), or the AutoPot PRO FlexiTank. Need a spare tap? Grab a Flexi Tank Tap.
What's Inside the AutoPot Auto8 8.5L Tray System
| Part | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Auto8 tray, lid and access cover | 1 | The access cover is small, 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 |
| 8.5L solid square pot | 8 | No separate 8.5L pot listed on our site yet |
| PotSock Square | 8 | Soft and easy to mistake for packaging |
| Marix disc (square) | 8 | Thin and flat, easy to overlook |
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 access cover, the 9mm top hat grommet, the metre of 9mm pipe, the eight PotSocks and the eight Marix discs. Not in the box: a tank, growing medium, nutrients, and extra pipe or connectors.
Tank Sizes for Running More Than One AutoPot Auto8
| Number of Auto8 trays | AutoPot minimum reservoir |
|---|---|
| 1 | FlexiTank or PRO FlexiTank 100L |
| 2 | FlexiTank or PRO FlexiTank 225L |
| 4 | FlexiTank or PRO FlexiTank 400L |
| 8 | FlexiTank 750L |
| 10 | FlexiTank 1000L |
Accessories and spares for the AutoPot Auto8 8.5L:
- Autopot Aqua Valve5: a spare valve
- AutoPot Pipe (9mm blue and 6mm black): more pipe for longer runs
- Autopot PotSock, Square for 8.5 and 15ltr Pot
- Marix Sheet (8-Pack), Square
- Autopot Replacement 15L Pot: if you want to move up a size
- AutoPot AirBase and Autopot Air Dome for the bottom of the pot
- Clear Propagation Lid for 8.5L / 15L Pots
More AutoPot tray and pot systems:
- AutoPot Auto8 15L Tray System: the same tray with eight bigger pots
- AutoPot Auto3 XL Tray System and AutoPot Auto3 XL SmartPot Tray System: three big pots on one tray
- Autopot Complete System, 15L Pots: single pots with a tank
- AutoPot XL FlexiPot System and AutoPot XXL System
AutoPot Auto8 8.5L Tray System FAQ
What do I need besides the AutoPot Auto8 8.5L tray system?
A reservoir, a growing medium, nutrients and your plants. The tray, lid, AQUAvalve5, eight 8.5L square pots with a PotSock and Marix disc each, a metre of 9mm pipe and the small fittings are all in the box, but there is no tank. AutoPot's minimum for a single Auto8 is a 100L FlexiTank or FlexiTank Pro.
Does the AutoPot Auto8 8.5L system 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 Auto8 tray to one tank?
Run pipe from the one tank to the AQUAvalve5 on each tray. AutoPot's minimum tank sizes are 100L for 1 tray, 225L for 2, 400L for 4, 750L for 8 and 1000L for 10. Only 1m of 9mm pipe comes with each tray, so you will need extra pipe and the right connectors for your layout (16mm is the other pipe size AutoPot lists). Our AutoPot pipe and fittings are in the AutoPot Systems collection.
Can I use 15L pots in the Auto8 8.5L system?
Yes. AutoPot says the Auto8 takes either 8.5L or 15L pots with no adjustment to the tray, so you can swap sizes later if you want more root room. The 15L pots are not in this box, so they are an extra. The Auto8 15L system comes with them.
Which valve does the Auto8 8.5L system use?
The AQUAvalve5, just the one per tray. It feeds all eight 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 grow space does the Auto8 8.5L system suit?
AutoPot recommends it for 2m x 2m, 2.4m x 1.2m, 2.4m x 2.4m and 3m x 3m spaces. It has a smaller footprint than eight separate trays and suits vertical racking, moveable racks and rolling tables.
Browse more: AutoPot Systems, Gravity-Fed Systems and Grow Room Irrigation Systems.
