Maintaining the universal setpoints of pH 5.6-6.0 & Nutrient levels of +700 above baseline ppm throughout the plant's growth cycle will ensure optimal yields and scheduled growth. We recommend checking setpoints and making adjustments in the Sprout Tower and Flex Connect at least twice a week. Once a day is best practice.
Since these are both recirculating systems, the nutrients will become imbalanced over time as plants absorb nutrients at different rates, so you will need to refresh your tanks with fresh water around every 4 months.
Also, we want to ensure water always hydrates every rockwool plug so we do not experience any plant dieoff. With some weekly maintenance involved, the Sprout Stand and Flex Connect are optimized to deliver water to every rockwool plug. Each week, you will want to designate a water fill-up day and also a Flex Farm flushing day.
Water Health Maintenance
Use the provided pH & Nutrient Meter to monitor the setpoints. When adjusting nutrients, it is ideal to adjust to +800 since it will decrease over time. Similar for pH it is ideal to adjust to 5.5 since it will increase over time. This allows you to stay within the recommended setpoints without needing daily adjustments.
Adjustment Charts (Note: download and create your cheat sheet based on your observations)
Water in Gallons | Equipment Reference | tbsp pH Down -1 pH | ml pH Down -1 pH | tbsp Nutrients +230 ppm | ml Nutrients +230 ppm |
25 | 1 Flex Farm/Sprout Tower | 1.5 | 22 | 1 | 15 |
225 | 8 Farm Flex Connect | 13.5 | 200 | 9 | 133 |
325 | 12 Farm Flex Connect | 19.5 | 288 | 13 | 192 |
425 | 16 Farm Flex Connect | 25.5 | 377 | 17 | 251 |
Around every 4 months, perform a water refresh by draining the Flex Connect and Sprout Tower into a floor or sink drain. Following the Draining your Flex Connect Guide for how to drain your Flex Connect. For fully draining the Sprout Tower tank, you can either remove the pump inlet cap and mesh filter, attach the downspout attachment, attach an extra ½” hose to the pump, and direct the water to pump into a drain/sink. Or you can drain with a wet vac.
A wet vac will be necessary to remove 100% of the water.
If plants are in the system they will be ok for a few hours without water.
After draining your tanks, we recommend spraying them with 3% hydrogen peroxide and wiping them down.
Follow the Adding Water to your Flex Connect guide when you are refilling your tanks.
Water Flow Maintenance
The Sprout Stand water level should be maintained at ¾ full. The tank level should not drop below ¼ full as the pump could become damaged by running dry. The Flex Farm tanks on the Flex Connect should be maintained at ⅔ full and should not dip below ¼ full, as the pump could become damaged by running dry. At a minimum, we recommend filling the Flex Connect and Sprout Stand with water to their maintained level once a week.
Once a week you will be performing a flushing of the Flex Farm lines. One Flex Farm at a time, clean out all the dripline holes with your provided bristle brush. Then, using a 5-gallon bucket, place it on the ground in front of a closed Flex Farm and open up each drip line ball valve at the front of the Flex Farm for 5 seconds. Repeat for every Flex Farm. Also, perform a quick visual check (especially on the topmost plants) to ensure every rockwool plug is a darker shade (fully saturated). If the tops of the Root Chambers are touching, realign them to a finger width apart.
Monthly: Use 3% hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and spray and wipe down the Sprout Stand drain outlet and supply inlet.
Notes:
The nutrients help to slightly lower pH and increase Alkalinity, so make sure your water already has nutrients in it before adding pH Down.
Wait at least a day to recheck levels, as it may take 24 hours for levels to equalize throughout the system.
Add Nutrients & pH to a Flex Farm closest to the pump when adjusting levels in the Flex Connect