General Hydroponics AF60 - Manual (Page 5)

HELPFUL GUIDELINES
PLANTING
To prepare a seedling or a plant for transplanting, remove all soil and/or organic material
from around the roots. Plants must be sturdy with established roots before transplanting
into the AeroFlo. Choose seedlings because it’s more difficult to successfully transplant
older plants. If your plant has been growing in soil or peat moss, gently remove the
plant from its pot and carefully rinse as much soil as possible from the roots before
transplanting. Although this method of transplanting from soil to hydroponics is
somewhat risky, as soil may contain disease organisms that proliferate in the rich
hydroponic solution, we have had success using this transplant method and encourage
you to try it. Or, you can avoid these problems by starting plants from cuttings in one of
our RainForest Systems.
PLACEMENT
Abundant light, proper temperature and adequate ventilation are crucial for fast
growth, healthy plants and higher yields. Place the AeroFlo system in a warm, well-lit,
well-ventilated location, such as an outdoor garden, sunlit window, patio or greenhouse.
Keep your AeroFlo away from areas where the inevitable dripping that occurs during
filling, draining and pH adjustment could cause water damage.
NUTRIENTS
Start by choosing either the most widely recognized, reliable nutrient in the industry, Flora
Series
® or step into the technological breakthrough of FloraNova ® for the accelerated
performance of mineral nutrients enriched with the healthy, flavorful characteristics
of organics. Please refer to our Feeding Schedule that is provided with the system for
nutrient recommendations.
• Keep the nutrient solution temperature below 75° F (24° C).
• Change nutrient solution every 7-10 days.
• Top off with fresh water between nutrient changes.
• Keep nutrient solution aerated for best results.
• If your water is above 200 ppm total or 70 ppm calcium, use Hardwater
FloraMicro instead of FloraMicro.
The pH (acidity or alkalinity) of a nutrient solution affects the availability of the elements
contained within. Use GH pH adjusters to maintain nutrient pH between 5.5 - 6.5.
OPERATION
When plants are small and their roots are not well developed, the Drain Level Tubes (DLT)
should be at the maximum height to allow nutrient rich water to reach the bottoms of
the net cups. Once the roots have grown and are immersed within the flowing stream
of nutrient, the DLT’s can be pushed down to increase oxygen within the nutrient and
growing chamber. The water level in the Growing Chambers should be maintained at
a 1” to 2” depth in case the power or the pump fails. Generally it’s best for the system
to always run. However, many people do put their AeroFlo systems on a timer to save
electricity. The AeroFlo stays on during the light cycle and only runs for 10 to 15 minutes
every 1 to 2 hours for the night cycle. Cycling the pump keeps the water from stagnating
and the roots from drying out and dying.
PREPARATION FOR REPLANTING
Drain the whole system, brush out the growing chambers and, if necessary, unclog the
spray holes in the beige spray lines mounted inside the growing chambers. Sponge
off all parts to disinfect. You can use General Hydroponic’s FloraShield™ to clean the
system and clay pebbles or a disinfectant. Rinse everything thoroughly. Refill it with
water and run it for a few hours, then drain again before introducing a new crop.
Clean filters frequently. Simply unplug pump and remove reusable filter. Rinse pump
filter under hot water to clean. CAUTION: Do not rinse filter with a strong Bleach
(chlorine) solution, it may react with the filter and form an oily residue.