General Hydroponics AF30 - Manual (Page 2)

STEP 1
Set up the Reservoir. Note the
position of the reservoir access
hole and the Drain Valve.
STEP 2
Connect the Pumpline to the pump
output, leaving the Swivel Fitting
free to attach to the manifold.
STEP 3
Place the pump assembly into the
Reservoir so that the Pumpline
emerges from the pumpline hole in
the lid.
6” Access hole
Pumpline hole
Pumpline
Drain Valve
Pumpline
Swivel Fitting
6. Can I turn off my system for any length of time?
Generally it’s best for the system to run 24 hours per day – always on. However, many
people do put their AeroFlo 2 systems on a timer to save electricity. The AeroFlo stays on
during the light cycle and turns off for the night cycle, except for an hour of spray in the
middle of the night cycle.
7. At what pH level should my system be maintained and why?
pH levels should be between 5.5 and 6.5 because at this pH level, nutrients are more
readily available for the plant.
Ordering parts and supplies
See your General Hydroponics retailer to order Grow Cups, nutrients, Hydroton, or parts
for your AeroFlo 2 system or call General Hydroponics, Inc.
(707) 824-9376 Mon- Fri, 9 am to 4:30 pm, PST.
3. Should I invest in a ppm or conductivity meter?
Yes, a conductivity meter is an essential tool for measuring nutrient strength. By knowing
the conductivity level for a specific variety of plant, the grower can adjust nutrient strength
to meet specific crop needs.
4. When should I adjust the Drain/Overflow Tubes up or down?
When plants are small and their roots are not well developed, the Drain/Overflow Tubes
should be at the maximum height to allow nutrient rich water to reach the bottoms of the
net cups. Once the roots have grown in length and are immersed within the flowing
stream of nutrient, the Drain/Overflow Tubes can be pushed down to increase oxygen with-
in the nutrient and growing chamber.
5. What is the optimal temperature range for the nutrient solution?
Optimal temperature is generally between 65º and 75º F.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. How often do I add nutrient? What is “topping-off”?
Add nutrient every time you drain your system. “Topping-off” is a term that describes
adding water to the system. Remember, during hot spells plants transpire excessive
amounts of water leaving behind nutrient salts. These salts can cause ppm levels to
sky-rocket creating a toxic environment for your plants. Keep your ppm at a lower level
during these times of extreme transpiration.
2. How often should the water be changed?
That depends upon the growth (stage and rate) of your plants. When plants are
seedlings every three weeks should suffice. Once the plants start to approach maturity
it is best to change the nutrient mixture completely every two weeks, or even more
often for better results. Between nutrient changes it is important to “Topping-Off” the
reservoir with fresh water. Add more nutrient only if the conductivity or ppm drops.
Generally the conductivity (nutrient strength) should be maintained between 800 to
1,200 ppm (parts per million).
STEP 6
Apply a thin coat of lubricant (supplied) onto the Drain/Overflow Tubes.
Install the Drain/Overflow Tubes into the Growing Chambers’ drain
holes. The Drain/Overflow Tubes are adjustable allowing for greater
flexibility in water height.
STEP 7
Rinse Hydroton to remove all debris. Insert the CocoTek Basket Liner
and fill the Growing Cups with Hydroton. Insert them into the Growing
Chambers. Your AeroFlo 2 30 is now assembled. The next step will be to
fill it with water and add nutrient. You’re almost ready to plant!
START UP & SYSTEM CAPACITY
Before filling your system with water it is essential that you understand
the system capacity. The Reservoir should be drained first before drain-
ing the Growing Chambers. This will prevent overfilling of the Reservoir
and possible flooding.
Low Stage Flooded Stage
Each Chamber: 0.6 gallons 2.4 gallons
Reservoir capacity is 15 to 18 gallons. This means that total system
capacity is approximately 34 gallons in the Flooded Stage (overflow
tubes set high), or 20 gallons in the Low Stage (overflow tubes pressed
to the bottom). Fill the Reservoir with water. Turn on the Pump. The
Pump will drive water into the Growing Chambers.
Note: It may be necessary to adjust the angle of the Laser Spraylines
so that they are spraying at a 45˚ angle from the chamber bottom.
When the Growing Chambers are full, fill the Reservoir to about 3/4 full,
do not overfill. There must be a sufficient Reservoir capacity to capture
the run-off from the chambers during the “off stage”, as in the case of a
power failure.
Drain/Overflow Tube
CocoTek
Basket
Liner
Sprayline
Hydroton
STEP 5
Attach the flexible Pumpline with the Swivel Fitting to the Manifold. Install
the Manifold on the Growing Chambers by screwing the Sprayline Fitting
onto the Manifold. The Manifold should rest on the Reservoir Lid.
Please note, the Manifold has a
capacity for five Growing Chambers.
Custom systems can be created by
re-arranging or adding chambers.
STEP 4
Assemble Snap Stand support structure
(see enclosed instructions) .
Arrange the Growing Chambers on top
of the Reservoir with the end of the
chambers placed on the support struc-
ture. The Growing Chambers’ drain fit-
tings are centered over the drain/over-
flow holes in the reservoir lid.
Sprayline Fitting
Sprayline
Snap
Stand
support
structure
Manifold