Autopot – AQUAvalve Cover

The Autopot AQUAvalve Cover is a protective housing that fits over the AQUAvalve in a flat tray, completing the gravity-fed passive watering circuit used in easy2GO and similar hobby Autopot systems. Made of heavy composite material, the cover holds the valve in position without any additional ballast, and accepts an optional spirit level so growers can verify the tray is sitting flat before the system fills.

AQUAvalve Cover Specifications

The following table summarizes what is known about the AQUAvalve Cover from manufacturer documentation. Attributes not listed here are not published in available product data.

Specification	Value
Compatible Valve	AQUAvalve (sold separately or as part of the easy2GO kit)
Material	Heavy composite — no ballast weight required
Supply Line Diameter	3/8" pipe (connects valve to tank)
Minimum Pot Size	5 litres (smaller pots risk root-zone flooding)
Tray Type	Any flat tray — any shape or size, must be level
Spirit Level Accessory	Optional; attaches directly to cover
Kit System	Autopot easy2GO — key component

Why Choose the AQUAvalve Cover

For growers building their own passive gravity-fed watering systems, the AQUAvalve Cover solves three practical problems at once: it protects the valve mechanism, anchors the valve in the tray without external weights, and provides a mounting point for the optional spirit level. Here is what makes it a useful purchase for DIY and hobby setups:

• Heavy composite construction: The cover is dense enough to hold the AQUAvalve in place on its own. You do not need to place a rock, brick, or additional weight on top — the composite weight is sufficient to keep the assembly seated in the tray during normal operation.
• Works with any flat tray: The system is not tied to a proprietary tray format. Any flat tray of any shape or size that can be made level will work as the grow tray, which gives growers flexibility to repurpose trays they already own.
• Part of the easy2GO ecosystem: The AQUAvalve Cover is a key component of the Autopot easy2GO kit. If you are expanding an easy2GO setup or replacing a damaged cover, this is the correct replacement part.
• Spirit level compatibility: An optional spirit level clips to the cover, making it straightforward to confirm the tray is sitting flat before the system is filled. Tray level is critical for correct AQUAvalve operation — this accessory eliminates guesswork.
• Low-maintenance design: Because the Autopot passive watering method relies on gravity and the AQUAvalve float mechanism rather than pumps or timers, this cover requires no electrical connections and no ongoing adjustment once the system is set up and leveled.

Best Uses for the AQUAvalve Cover

The AQUAvalve Cover is suited to specific gravity-fed passive watering setups. It is not a general-purpose grow accessory — its value is in completing or repairing an AQUAvalve-based system.

• easy2GO kit builds and expansions: The cover is listed as a key component of the Autopot easy2GO kit. Growers assembling a new easy2GO system from individual parts, or adding stations to an existing setup, need this cover for each AQUAvalve station they install.
• DIY hobby passive watering systems: The canonical description specifically describes a use case where a grower sources their own flat tray, places the AQUAvalve in the tray, covers it with this housing, and connects a supply tank via 3/8" pipe and a filter. This is the intended DIY hobby application.
• Replacement for worn or damaged covers: If an existing AQUAvalve Cover in a functioning system is cracked, broken, or missing, this part is the direct replacement. The AQUAvalve mechanism itself can remain in place while only the cover is swapped.
• Carnivorous plant and bog plant setups: The manufacturer documentation notes that bog plants and carnivorous plants are suitable for the tray/AQUAvalve method, with one important caveat: carnivorous plants require rain water rather than tap water. The AQUAvalve Cover works the same way in these setups.
• Herb and vegetable grows in pots of 5 litres or larger: Any plant that tolerates periodic flooding of the tray floor can be grown in this type of system, as long as the pot holds at least 5 litres of growing medium to buffer the root zone from sustained contact with standing water.

AQUAvalve Cover vs Similar Passive Watering Components

Growers comparing passive watering components will encounter a few related Autopot parts. Understanding what each part does helps avoid ordering the wrong item.

The AQUAvalve Cover is a protective housing only — it does not contain the float mechanism. The AQUAvalve itself is the float valve that controls water flow; without the AQUAvalve, the cover serves no function. These two parts work together and are sometimes sold as a pair or as part of the easy2GO kit.

The AQUAvalve Silicone Top (a separate SKU) is a silicone cap variant that fits over the AQUAvalve in place of the standard composite cover. The silicone version is more flexible and can conform to slightly uneven surfaces, but it lacks the mass of the composite cover, meaning it may require an additional weight on uneven trays. For standard flat-tray setups, the composite cover is the more common choice.

The optional spirit level for the cover is a separate accessory. If level verification matters for your setup — and for most gravity-fed systems it does — sourcing the spirit level add-on at the same time as this cover prevents a second order.

Compatibility

The AQUAvalve Cover is designed specifically for the Autopot AQUAvalve and the easy2GO passive watering system. Compatibility notes from manufacturer documentation:

• Valve: Fits the standard Autopot AQUAvalve. Do not attempt to use this cover with third-party float valves — the housing dimensions are specific to the AQUAvalve footprint.
• Tray: Compatible with any flat grow tray regardless of shape or size. The tray must be rigid enough to hold a level position when loaded with pots and water.
• Supply line: The AQUAvalve assembly (cover + valve) connects to a supply tank via 3/8" pipe. An inline filter is required between the tank and the valve to prevent debris from fouling the float mechanism. For clean, filtered water supply, growers sometimes pair this setup with a compact reverse osmosis unit such as the HydroLogic Micro 75 GPD RO system.
• Pot size: Pots must be 5 litres or larger. The AQUAvalve tray method allows water to flood to a shallow depth in the tray; smaller pots do not provide enough root-zone volume to prevent the root system from sitting in standing water continuously, which can cause anaerobic conditions and root death (not applicable to bog or carnivorous plants).
• Water type: Standard nutrient solutions or plain water. For carnivorous plants specifically, use rain water only — carnivorous plants are sensitive to the minerals and chlorine present in municipal tap water.

To monitor nutrient solution quality in your supply tank, a conductivity meter such as the Apera Grostar EC calibration kit is a useful companion for keeping your solution within range before it feeds through the AQUAvalve.

Usage Guidelines

The AQUAvalve passive system operates without pumps, timers, or electricity. Once set up correctly, the AQUAvalve float mechanism fills the tray to a fixed depth and then shuts off until the tray drains. The cover’s role is to protect the valve and hold it in the correct position. Keep the following in mind during operation:

• Tray must be level: The AQUAvalve fill level is calibrated for a level tray. If one side of the tray is lower than the other, water will pool unevenly and the valve may read a false high, leaving part of the tray dry. Use the optional spirit level on the cover to verify level before filling the tank.
• Pot size minimum: Use only pots of 5 litres or larger. This is not a suggested guideline — it is a minimum for root health in the tray-flood method. A small pot in a flooded tray will have its root zone submerged continuously, cutting off oxygen to the roots.
• Filter maintenance: The inline filter on the 3/8" supply line should be inspected and cleaned regularly. A clogged filter will reduce flow and can prevent the AQUAvalve from refilling the tray properly. The filter protects the float valve seat from debris that could hold it open or prevent it from sealing.
• No additional weight needed: The composite cover is heavy enough to hold the AQUAvalve in position. Adding extra weight on top of the cover is not necessary and could damage the housing.
• Carnivorous and bog plants: These plant types are suitable for the tray method. Use rain water for carnivorous plants. Bog plants are generally tolerant of the tray-flood method without additional restrictions.

How to Set Up the AQUAvalve Cover

The following steps describe how to set up a basic AQUAvalve/cover assembly in a flat tray. This applies to new builds and to cover replacements in an existing system.

1. Select a flat tray. Choose any flat, rigid grow tray. Shape and exact size are flexible, but the tray must be able to sit level when loaded. Plastic flood-and-drain trays work well; avoid flexible or flimsy materials that will sag under the weight of pots.
2. Position the AQUAvalve in the tray. Place the AQUAvalve in the tray at the location where the supply line will enter. The valve should sit flat on the tray floor with its inlet port accessible from outside the tray.
3. Place the AQUAvalve Cover over the valve. Lower the composite cover over the AQUAvalve so that it seats flat on the tray floor, enclosing the valve mechanism. The cover should sit without rocking. Its weight will hold it in place — no fasteners or additional weights are needed.
4. Level the tray. If you have the optional spirit level, attach it to the cover now. Adjust the tray position using shims or an adjustable stand until the bubble reads level in both directions. Do not skip this step — level is critical for correct fill behavior.
5. Connect the supply line. Run a length of 3/8" pipe from the supply tank to the AQUAvalve inlet. Install an inline filter between the tank and the valve. Make sure all connections are pushed fully onto the fittings and are free of kinks.
6. Set the tank and fill. Position the supply tank at or above tray level (gravity feed). Open the tank outlet and observe the tray as the AQUAvalve fills it. Verify that the valve shuts off at the correct fill depth and that there are no leaks at the pipe connections.
7. Place pots and begin growing. Set pots of 5 litres or larger into the tray. The system will refill as the plants draw down the solution in the tray. Monitor the supply tank level and refill it as needed.

Sources & Further Reading