AutoPot 47 Litre Header Tank with Lid and Grommet — Gravity-Fed Nutrient Storage for Hands-Off Growing
Best for: Growers wanting automatic watering without pumps, timers, or electricity
Our thoughts
This is the backbone of the AutoPot system, and it's brilliantly simple. Gravity does the work, the AQUAvalve handles the timing, and you get on with life. No faffing, no power bills, no overwatering disasters. One we recommend constantly for growers who want their system to just work.
The AutoPot 47 Litre Header Tank is a gravity-fed nutrient reservoir designed to supply nutrient solution to your AutoPot growing system without requiring electricity, pumps, mains pressure, or timers. Simply fill it with mixed nutrients, let gravity do the heavy lifting, and your plants water themselves on demand via the AQUAvalve. It'll feed up to 4 AutoPot 1-pot systems — or up to 6 depending on your configuration — making it ideal for small-to-medium setups where you want the system to run hands-off for weeks at a time.
How it compares
This sits in a different world to pump-based reservoirs and DIY storage solutions.
-
vs pump-based systems: No electricity, no timers, no moving parts to fail. Just gravity and the smart valve doing the thinking.
-
vs DIY storage bins: Purpose-built for hydroponic use, comes with lid and grommet pre-fitted, designed to prevent algae and protect your nutrient solution properly.
-
vs Blumat or wick-based alternatives: Works at larger scale, feeds more plants, integrates seamlessly with the full AutoPot ecosystem.
The key difference: AutoPot systems are zero waste. Plants use every drop provided. No run-off, no leakage, no water sitting around getting stale. That's genuinely rare in automated irrigation.
Usage guidance
Setting up the header tank is straightforward, but height and positioning matter.
Installation basics
Mount the tank a minimum of 150mm (6 inches) off the floor — this gives gravity enough pressure to feed your plants properly. Connect the 6mm flexi-pipe to the grommet at the tank base. The pipe runs down to your AutoPot system where the AQUAvalve sits. When the valve detects plant roots need water, it opens and lets gravity deliver the solution.
Regular maintenance
Top up the tank when nutrient solution drops to roughly one-third remaining. This keeps the pressure consistent and ensures your plants never run dry. A 9mm golf filter is recommended (sold separately) to keep any sediment out of the system — cheap insurance against a blocked valve.
Scaling your system
One 47L tank handles 4 to 6 individual pots comfortably. If you're building bigger, you can stack multiple tanks or move to a larger capacity. The modular design is the whole point — start small, expand without replacing everything.
Mixed nutrients
Use whatever nutrient schedule suits your plants, but mix and adjust pH before it goes in the tank. Once it's mixed, you're done fertilising for days. No daily fussing, no risk of getting the ratios wrong mid-week.
Technical specifications
- Capacity: 47 litres (12.4 gallons)
- Dimensions: 375mm wide × 280mm deep × 565mm tall
- Includes: Tank body, fitted lid, 6mm top-hat grommet
- Material: Food-grade opaque plastic (prevents algae growth)
- System compatibility: Feeds up to 4 AutoPot 1-pot systems; up to 6 with optimal configuration
- Connection: 6mm flexi-pipe inlet at tank base
- Installation height: Minimum 150mm clearance from floor
- Optional accessory: 9mm golf filter recommended (sold separately)
Who this is for
- First-time AutoPot users wanting the core component to get their system running
- Growers tired of hand-watering or managing pump-based systems with electricity costs
- Small greenhouse or indoor garden operators growing vegetables, herbs, or flowering plants
- Anyone with limited time who wants a system that can be left unattended for weeks
- Sustainability-focused growers who want zero water waste and zero power consumption
- Budget-conscious growers who don't want to pay for electricity to run irrigation
Particularly well suited to anyone who values reliability, simplicity, and genuinely hands-off operation over complexity.
Our take
This is the bit that makes AutoPot systems work. It's not glamorous, but it's smart design: gravity, a food-grade tank, and the valve does the thinking. No electricity, no timers, no guesswork. Just set it and walk away.
If you're running an AutoPot system or thinking about starting one, this tank is worth picking up. Does exactly what it should, day in, day out, and it'll keep doing it for years. Good time to buy while clearance stock lasts.
