AquaBox Products Datasheet

Remove all the contents and check all the parts are present.Check the contents list below.AQUAbox Spyder Kit contents list (Ref AQUAbox/2)1X AQUAbox Spyder1X AQUAvalve1X Circular Spirit Level1X 6mm Top Hat Grommet1X 1.5 metre length of 6mm pipe1X 6 meter length of Capillary Matting1x 16mm-6mm In-line Filter…(for easy connection to an existing water butt).1X Full InstructionsEnsuring that the AQUAvalve floods and drains correctlyUse the AQUAvalve image above as a guide. Half fill your raised bed with good quality compost, widely available from your local garden centre. Create a volcano effect with the soil so that your AQUAbox Spyder sits in the middle of the raised bed on top of the soil.Next take your 6mm Top Hat Grommet and push it through the hole in the front of the AQUAbox Spyder. Ensure you insert the 6mm grommet from the outside, as shown in the image.At the end of your growing season clean the AQUAvalve using warm soapy water. Using an old tooth brush will help.The AQUAvalve is easily disassembled. The top float will slide all the way across and the bottom float is unclipped from its pivoting position. The circular discs fitted to the top float can also be removed by using pliers to grip the raised point.At this point it is advisable to remove the yellow silicones to avoid them being lost.Making sure your AQUAvalve floods and drains correctly is simply achieved and only takes a few seconds. Hold the AQUAvalve at eye level so that you can see the yellow silicon fitted to the top float resting on the hole below it. The yellow silicon must create a tight seal when touching the hole. If it looks like it is not sitting parallel on the hole below simply lift the top float and apply pressure to one side of the yellow silicon, drop the float and hold at eye level again. Repeat the procedure again if necessary.Carrying out the simple procedure above will ensure that your AQUAvalve floods to approximately 20mm and drains completely before it re-fills the tray. Generally the above procedure is only necessary when you have taken your AQUAvalve apart for cleaning purposes & then re-assemble it. It is however prudent to check the position of the yellow silicon when the AQUAvalve is new. It is also handy to have a paper clip at hand so that you can push it through the AQUAvalve nozzle, this will remove any lime scale build up that may have occurred during the growing season.Blowing through the AQUAvalve nozzle will also help to remove any build up. Do not under any circumstances use a drill & drill bit to clear the AQUAvalve nozzle.This will potentially damage the AQUAvalve beyond repair.setupinstructionswww.autopot.co.ukwww.autopot.co.uksimpleguidelines2 3412The circular spirit level is used to ensure that the AQUAbox Spyder is level once positioned in your raised bed.If you find it difficult to insert the grommet a little smear of washing-up liquid around the hole will help the grommet slide in easily.Ensure the yellow silicon is sitting parallel on the hole below it. Hold at eye level to check the position is correctIf the circular spirit level is not fitted into the lid of your AQUAbox Spyder, simply insert the level into the small hole in the lid. Push firmly to ensure it is positioned correctly.1™SPYDERImage 12 shows the AQUAbox Spyder connected to a 200 litre water butt using a 16mm-6mm In-line filter supplied with your kit. Take a length of 16mm pipe or standard hosepipe 100mm/4 inches in length…**note this pipe is not supplied with your kit**...Push the hosepipe on to your tap, then connect the filter to the pipe and then take your 2 meters of 6mm pipe connected to your AQUAbox Spyder and connect it to the other end of your filter.The AQUAbox Spyder can easily be connected to any of the AutoPot tanks, inc the 30 litre, 47 litre, 100 litre and 350 litre water butts/tanks.Take the 1.5 metre length of 6mm pipe and push it, (from the outside) through the 6mm Top Hat Grommet, as shown in the image. Pull the pipe through the grommet so that there is approximately 150mm, (6 inches) inside the AQUAbox Spyder. This will allow you to connect the AQUAvalve easily.Once you have connected the AQUAvalve to the 6mm pipe, simply pull the pipe back through the 6mm Top Hat Grommet, so that all the excess pipe inside the AQUAbox Spyder is pulled out. As you pull the pipe out lower the AQUAvalve so that it locates onto the Tee section in the AQUAbox Spyder. Push the AQUAvalve onto the Tee ensuring that it is securely fitted. The half-moon section at the bottom & back of the AQUAvalve slides over the protruding Tee section in the AQUAbox Spyder. Securing the AQUAvalve to the AQUAbox Spyder.Now that the AQUAbox Spyder is in position, with the lid still closed water the compost/soil with a watering can or hosepipe. This will prepare the compost for your seeds, small plants or bulbs. Allow the raised bed to drain, then plant up, following the guidelines on the seed packet or plant label. Water the seeds/plants through again to bed them in.At this point there is no need to turn your AQUAbox Spyder on as there is plenty of water already in the compost to supply the seeds/plants for up to 2-8 weeks.After the seeds/plants have established themselves over a period of 2-8 weeks you can then turn on your AQUAbox Spyder.***Please note the above is a guide line only and is dependant on plant size & weather conditions*** If it persistently rains you can turn off the AQUAbox Spyder or if your plants are small/young and have not developed a large root system the water can be turned on for a day and then off for 3-4 days. Once the plants have established themselves the water supply can be left on all the time.If growing in a raised bed pre-mixed feed in the compost will supply the small plants for up to 8 weeks so there is no need to add liquid feed to the water supply in your water butt/tank in the early stages. Start adding liquid feed to the water in your water butt/tank after the 6th-8th week, following the directions on the feed bottle or packet. For excellent results use easy2grow liquid feed, this feed is designed to be used with all the AutoPot products.Many AQUAbox Spyders can be connected to a single water butt/tank using AutoPot fittings. When using large numbers of AQUAbox Spyderes over a large distance it is advisable to use 16mm pipe (hosepipe) as the main supply pipe, reducing the pipe size at each AQUAbox Spyder point to 6mm using AutoPot fittings.As the plants grow the roots in the raised bed will search for the water source, this being the capillary matting below the compost/soil level. The roots will instinctively head towards the capillary matting and attach themselves to it. In turn drawing water from the AQUAbox Spyder.Keep the lid on the AQUAbox Spyder closed at all times, this will prevent rain from washing soil inside the AQUAbox Spyder. Only open the lid to inspect the inside and around the AQUAvalve. If you see any slugs remove them as they have a tendency to interfere with the moving parts.Over time you will notice that the compost in the soil will seem dry. There is no need to be concerned as the water is being supplied by the capillary matting below the soil level. If you wish to use additional water in very hot periods this can easily be applied with a watering can or hosepipe.Once the plants have established themselves the roots will search out for the water, occasionally they can be found following the capillary matting and in the AQUAbox Spyder. If you find that roots have found their way into the AQUAbox Spyder, simply lift the ends of the matting in the AQUAbox Spyder, this in turn will lift the roots. Take a pair of scissors and cut the roots off, making sure that you don’t leave any behind in the AQUAbox Spyder. Replace the capillary matting making sure that the ends of the matting touch the bottom of the AQUAbox Spyder either side of the AQUAvalve.5 10678129For more detailed information please visit www.autopot.co.uk > products > 3D animationsThe AQUAvalve can now be connected to the 6mm pipe. Unscrew the yellow collar and push the pipe through it. Push the 6mm pipe on to the nozzle of the AQUAvalve and then replace the yellow collar by screwing it onto the AQUAvalve.Do NOT over tighten the yellow collar. When you feel the collar grip… STOP. Over tightening is not necessary and can cause damage to the nozzle of your AQUAvalve.Now take the 6 meters of capillary matting and cut lengths to suit your growing area. You will need 12 lengths in total. Simply measure the distance from the AQUAbox Spyder to the edge of your growing area and cut the required lengths with a pair of scissors. The new AQUAbox Spyder will irrigate a maximum area of up to 1.2 sq meters. From the outside of the AQUAbox Spyder thread the 12 pieces of capillary matting through each slot.IMPORTANT: for the majority of crops it is only necessary to utilise 6 of the capillary strips. Set up your AQUAbox Spyder as instructed, with all 12 strips below the soil. However every other capillary strip should remain tucked within the upper ledge inside the AQUAbox Spyder. Therefore 6 strips will be touching the base of the AQUAbox Spyder and 6 will remain on the upper ledge until later in the growing season. The additional six strips can be used for heavy feeding crops such as tomatoes and pumpkins, fold these down in to the lower part of AQUAbox Spyder when required.Now you have assembled the AQUAbox Spyder place it in the centre of your growing area or raised bed on top of the compost in your half filled raised bed, as shown in image 9.To provide efficient irrigation to the bed make sure the matting on both sides slopes slightly away from the AQUAbox Spyder. By having the strips sloped on a slight downward gradient this will allow the water to travel along the matting more easily. Ensure the strips are pushed into the soil on the downward slope to gain the most from your AQUAbox Spyder all year round.If you are happy with the position of your AQUAbox Spyder, close the lid, this will prevent any soil getting inside the AQUAbox Spyder, then fill the growing area or your raised bed with compost. The AQUAbox Spyder should not be covered with soil/compost. It should sit proud of the final soil level. Allowing access during the growing season if required.Use the circular level in the AQUAbox Spyder lid to ensure the AQUAbox Spyder is level once in position. Applying pressure to any part of the lid will help ensure the AQUAbox Spyder is level.Do NOT cover the AQUAbox Spyder, it should sit slightly above the final level of the soil in your raised bed or growing area. As shown in the diagram.16mm – 6mminline filter** The 16mm – 6mm inline filter is provided with the AQUAbox Spyder kit, to allow easy connection to an existing water butt / tank tap (if required).Capillary strips tucked on the upper ledge