This is the checklist for the day your AutoPot arrives, before any pot gets filled. Every kit is built from the same small parts library in different counts: valves, trays, pots, root control, pipe, and fittings, plus a reservoir on any variant ordered with a tank. The tables below give the exact counts for each model family so you can tell a missing part from a spare.
The short answer
- Count AQUAvalve5s first: you get one per tray. An easy2grow tray holds two pots on a single valve.
- Plastic pots come with a black and gold root control disc or sheet. Fabric pots come with a PotSock.
- A 4-pot kit packs fittings for two layouts, so a few pieces are left over after setup. Keep them.
- Growing media, drainage material, an air pump, and a tank stand are never in the box.
- Missing or cracked part: email a photo of the full layout and your order number to help@happyhydro.com.
The parts every kit is built from
Pipe arrives as a coil that you cut to length at setup, not as pre-cut runs, so a short-looking kit usually isn't.
| Part | What it does | How many |
|---|---|---|
| AQUAvalve5 | Gravity-fed float valve. Fills the tray to about 1 inch, then waits for the plant to drink it dry. | 1 per tray |
| Tray and lid | Holds the valve and the pot. The lid covers the valve. | 1 per pot (easy2grow: 1 per 2 pots) |
| Pot | Plastic in 2.2, 3.9, or 6.6 gal. Fabric in 3, 5, 9, or 13 gal. | 1 per tray (easy2grow: 2) |
| Root control | Copper-coated fabric that keeps roots out of the valve. Disc or sheet for plastic pots, PotSock for fabric pots. | 1 per pot (easy2grow: sheet and PotSock) |
| 3/8" top hat grommet | Seals the pipe where it passes through the wall of a 12.4 gal tank, and through the tray wall on current trays. | 1 for the tank, plus 1 per current-style tray |
| 1/4" blanking grommet | Plugs the overflow hole on XXL and Tray2Grow trays. Pull it only outdoors, so rain can drain. | 1 per XXL or Tray2Grow tray |
| Reservoir filter | 3/8" golf filter inside a 12.4 gal tank. 1/2" click-fit tank adaptor and filter on a FlexiTank. | 1 per reservoir |
| Inline tap | Shuts off flow on the line. | 1 or 2, by kit |
| Pipe | 3/8" to each valve. Systems above 6 pots add a 1/2" main line. | Coil, cut to length |
| Tee and cross connectors | Split the line to each tray. | Varies by layout |
Kits built on the previous tray design ship one grommet in total, for the tank. Either count is correct for the tray in your box.
Contents by model family
Counts come from AutoPot USA's instruction sheets and product pages. Sizes not shown follow the same pattern: per-tray parts scale with pot count, while fittings, taps, and pipe change with the layout and tank.
1Pot systems (3.9 gal square plastic pot)
| Part | 1Pot system | 4Pot system | 1Pot module |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reservoir | 12.4 gal tank and lid | 12.4 gal tank and lid | None |
| Filter | 3/8" golf filter | 3/8" golf filter | None |
| Trays, pots, valves | 1 each | 4 each | 1 each |
| Root control | 1 disc | 4 discs | 1 disc |
| Inline taps | 1 | 2 | None |
| Connectors | None | 2 cross, 4 tee (3/8") | 1 tee (3/8"), 1 tee (1/2" to 3/8") |
| 3/8" pipe | 5 ft | 13 ft | 3.3 ft |
Happy Hydro also sells 1Pot systems with a 2.2 gal pot, which fits the same tray. The 4Pot PRO adds an AirBase Square, an AirDome kit, and a propagation lid for each pot. It does not include an air pump.
easy2grow (two 2.2 gal pots per tray)
| Part | easy2grow 2 | easy2grow 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Reservoir and filter | 12.4 gal tank, 3/8" golf filter | 12.4 gal tank, 3/8" golf filter |
| 2Pot trays and lids | 1 | 3 |
| 2.2 gal pots | 2 | 6 |
| AQUAvalve5 | 1 | 3 |
| Root control | 2 sheets, 2 PotSock Square | 6 sheets, 6 PotSock Square |
| Inline taps | 1 | 2 |
| Connectors | None | 3 tee (3/8") |
| 3/8" pipe | 5 ft | 13 ft |
XL systems (6.6 gal round plastic pot)
| Part | 1Pot XL | 2Pot XL | 4Pot XL | 6Pot XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reservoir | 12.4 gal tank | 12.4 gal tank | 12.4 gal tank | 25 gal FlexiTank |
| Filter | 3/8" golf | 3/8" golf | 3/8" golf | 1/2" click-fit adaptor and filter |
| Trays, pots, valves | 1 each | 2 each | 4 each | 6 each |
| Root control discs | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Inline taps | 1 (3/8") | 2 (3/8") | 2 (3/8") | 1 (1/2") |
| Connectors | None | 1 cross (3/8") | 2 cross, 4 tee (3/8") | 3 cross (1/2" to 3/8") |
| Pipe | 5 ft of 3/8" | 6.6 ft of 3/8" | 13 ft of 3/8" | 10 ft of 1/2", 10 ft of 3/8" |
XL PRO kits add an AirBase Round, an AirDome kit, and a propagation dome for each pot.
GeoPot systems (3 or 5 gal fabric pot in an XL tray)
| Part | GeoPot 1 | GeoPot 4 | GeoPot 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reservoir | 12.4 gal tank | 12.4 gal tank | 25 gal FlexiTank |
| Filter | 3/8" golf | 3/8" golf | 1/2" adaptor and filter |
| XL trays, GeoPots, valves | 1 each | 4 each | 8 each |
| PotSock Round | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| Inline taps | 1 (3/8") | 2 (3/8") | 1 (1/2") |
| Connectors | None | 2 cross, 4 tee (3/8") | 4 cross (1/2" to 3/8") |
| Pipe | 5 ft of 3/8" | 13 ft of 3/8" | 13 ft of 1/2", 13 ft of 3/8" |
XXL systems (9 or 13 gal fabric pot)
| Part | XXL module | 4Pot XXL | 9Pot XXL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reservoir | None | 12.4 gal tank or FlexiTank, per variant | FlexiTank (25 gal minimum), per variant |
| Filter | None | Golf filter with a 12.4 gal tank, click-fit filter with a FlexiTank | 1/2" click-fit tank filter |
| Trays, fabric pots, valves | 1 each | 4 each | 9 each |
| PotSock XXL | 1 | 4 | 9 |
| Inline taps | None | 2 (3/8"), or 1 with a FlexiTank | 2 (1/2") |
| Connectors | 1 tee (3/8"), 1 tee and 1 cross (1/2" to 3/8") | 2 cross, 4 tee (3/8") | 1 tee (1/2"), 3 tee and 3 cross (1/2" to 3/8") |
| Pipe | 5 ft of 3/8" | 13 ft of 3/8" | 15 ft of 3/8", 20 ft of 1/2" |
Tray2Grow (one 43.9 x 16.1 inch tray)
| Part | Tray2Grow Complete | Tray2Grow Slim | Tray and lid only |
|---|---|---|---|
| AQUAvalve5 | 1 | 1 | None |
| Grommets | 2 (3/8"), 1 overflow (1/4") | 2 (3/8"), 1 overflow (1/4") | 1 (3/8"), 1 overflow (1/4") |
| Filter | 1/2" to 3/8" click-fit filter and 3/8" golf filter | None in the base kit; filter variants add one | None |
| Inline tap | 1 | 1 | None |
| 3/8" pipe | 3.3 ft | 3.3 ft | None |
| Spirit levels | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Capillary mat, root control sheet | 1 each | 1 each | None |
| Extras | 4 seed trays (no lids), 10 capillary spikes, copper slug tape | None | None |
No Tray2Grow kit includes a reservoir unless you ordered a tank variant.
Why a 4-pot kit has leftover fittings
Every 4-pot kit carries fittings for a single row of four (1x4) and for a 2x2 square, which is why it ships 2 cross connectors and 4 tees. Pick one layout from the plan view on your instruction sheet, and whatever that layout doesn't use goes in the parts drawer. The spare pieces fit any 3/8" line if you add trays later.
Which way up the root control goes
Root control goes in first, before any drainage layer or media. An AirBase or AirDome sits on top of the disc, never under it.
| System | Root control | Gold face |
|---|---|---|
| 1Pot (3.9 gal plastic) | Disc inside the pot | Up |
| 1Pot XL (6.6 gal plastic) | Disc inside the pot | Down |
| GeoPot and XXL (fabric) | PotSock pulled over the pot base | Up |
| easy2grow | Sheet inside the pot, PotSock Square on the base | Both up |
| Aggressive rooters, any plastic pot | Disc inside, plus a PotSock on the base | Disc down, PotSock up |
What you still need to buy
Growing media and drainage
A drainage layer of 1 inch maximum: pH-stable clay pebbles, pea gravel, Growstones, or Perlite No. 3, or an AirBase instead. XXL fabric pots skip it.
Air pump for AirDomes
Each AirDome needs 15 gph, so four domes need a 60 gph pump. PRO kits include the domes but not the pump.
A stand or shelf
The tank must sit at least 6 inches above the highest valve. Happy Hydro carries a stand sized for the 12.4 gal tank.
Meters and nutrients
AutoPot recommends monitoring pH, EC, and water temperature. Modules, No Tank kits, and the Tray2Grow Slim base kit also need a reservoir and filter.
Spares and wear parts
| Part | Type | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| AQUAvalve5 silicones | Wear part | Two per valve. The top float takes the smaller silicone, the bottom float the larger, and they don't swap. The AutoPot part our customers reorder most. |
| Reservoir filter | Long life | AutoPot puts replacement at about every 5 years, depending on condition. Golf filter material can be replaced on its own. |
| Root control | Reusable | AutoPot says it keeps working after the gold coating wears off, because copper is woven through the fabric. |
| AQUAvalve5 body | Replace if damaged | Sold on its own and fits every current AutoPot tray. |
| Leftover tees and crosses | Spare | Same 3/8" fittings used on expansion modules. |
Parts that fill the gaps
-
AutoPot AirBase
Square fits 2.2 and 3.9 gal pots; Round fits 6.6 gal plastic and 3 to 5 gal fabric pots.
-
AutoPot AirDome Kit
Seats under the AirBase's pop-out center to push air into the base of the root zone.
-
AquaValve Silicone Replacement
Sold singly by float, so you replace only the one that's worn.
-
AutoPot Tubing
3/8" black or Pro Blue in 10 ft or 50 ft, for runs longer than the coil in your kit.
Questions
A filter on the reservoir side and a sealed pipe connection. AutoPot says to always run a filter with the reservoir and recommends only official AutoPot fittings. If your No Tank kit arrived without a filter, email us before you connect anything and we'll match the right one to your tank.
Older 1Pot, XL, and easy2grow trays, pots, and lids take the AQUAvalve5 and 3/8" pipe unchanged. An older 12.4 gal tank drilled for 1/4" pipe needs its hole widened for the 3/8" grommet; AutoPot recommends a step drill bit to 12.5 mm. The original valve and 1/4" fittings are still sold as spares.
No. AutoPot's own product pages say the discs and sheets still work gold face down. Don't tear down a planted pot to flip one; use the table above next run. That same flexibility is why some printed instruction sheets show a different face than the Grow Guide.
Within a tray family, yes. The 2.2 and 3.9 gal square pots fit both 1Pot and easy2grow trays, and the XL tray takes either the 6.6 gal round pot or a 3 or 5 gal GeoPot. Moving a fabric pot into an XL tray means swapping the disc for a PotSock Round.
Lay everything out, photograph it from above, and email the photo to help@happyhydro.com with your order number. Include the model, pot size, and tank variant you ordered so we can check it against the right parts list. Damage photos taken before setup make replacements faster.
More from this series
- How to size an AutoPot reservoirPick a tank that lasts as long between refills as you want it to.
- Why your tray isn't cycling, and how to fix itSymptom by symptom, from a tray that never fills to one that floods.
- How to set up AutoPot for your first runReservoir height, media, and the hand-watering window before you switch on.