Pump size for Autopot 12.4 gallon reservoir

Good Afternoon RIU,
I ordered the Autopot 12.4 gallon autopot system and now I am planning my required accessories. i assume that I need to have a pump in the small reservoir (12.4 gallon) in order to keep the nutrients mixed. Can anyone recommend a good ”power” setting that I should be looking for. This may be a stupid question, but How many GPH should I be looking for? I see a few Vivosun options, but I’m concerned with purchasing a pump that is either too weak or too strong. Anyone else here with a small reservoir using a pump?

in addition, do you run the pump 24/7, or put it on a timer to run multiple times per day?

Any advice is welcome! Thanks in advance.

The bigger and more powerful the water pump the better. I would suggest you a 1000LPH to start with.

that 2 pack is all you need. and you get a spare in case the 1st one fails (it will eventually).

a short piece of tubing and an elbow or 2 and make a waterfall.

twalte said:

i assume that I need to have a pump in the small reservoir (12.4 gallon) in order to keep the nutrients mixed

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It was not necessary in my setup. I suggest you try without a pump first. It only complicates matters, and let's not fix a non-problem.

It's a gravity fed system, idk if you could add a pump to what's essentially a sub irrigated system already.

@Star Dog I think the point of the pump would purely be to agitate the water in the reservoir. I would not do that, I don't see the benefit.

ComputerSaysNo said:

@Star Dog I think the point of the pump would purely be to agitate the water in the reservoir. I would not do that, I don't see the benefit.

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Ah right I'm with you, thanks, i don't see any use for it either tbh.

I have an airstone and use a small air pump in my res. It's a large covered brute trash can. I added that to agitate/mix and help remove chlorine since I use tap water. I do know that an airstone can make PH rise in standing water, so I'll keep an eye on that. This is my first run with it and I'm pretty new, so take it with a grain of salt.

Thank you for the replies. I ended up buying the 210 Gallon Per Hour (800 Liter per hour) unit. I dropped it into the reservoir, filled it with some water, and I think this is a good size for keeping the nutrients mixed in suspension. I will try it for a while and see if I get ph fluctuations from it too.

Thanks again for the help and advice.

twalte said:

Thank you for the replies. I ended up buying the 210 Gallon Per Hour (800 Liter per hour) unit. I dropped it into the reservoir, filled it with some water, and I think this is a good size for keeping the nutrients mixed in suspension. I will try it for a while and see if I get ph fluctuations from it too.

Thanks again for the help and advice.

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my pH is generally stable for a week after i set it with a waterfall in my res. airstones, nope.