aptus P Series Manual

INSTRUCTION GUIDE
P - SERIES

BASE BOLT
CORE
BASE
p3p2
STATION ASSEMBLY
BOTTOM VIEW

STATION LINER
GRID
p5p4
STATION ASSEMBLY

SPRAY RING
SUBSTRATE
p7p6
ASSEMBLED STATION VIEWS
STATION ASSEMBLY

p9p8
BOTTOM VIEW
ASSEMBLED STATION VIEWS

REV
DATE
REVISION RECORD
DWG.BY
APPR.BY
SML
LM
EA
EA
RP
MC
Eldon James Corp.
DESCRIPTION
DRAWING NAME
REV.
PART NO.
SCALE
APPROVED BY
APPROVAL DATE
SHEET
This drawing is issued in condence. It may not be disclosed or
reproduced without written permission from the Eldon James Corp
DRAWN BY
SIZE
± .020
± .020
± .020
± .020
± .020
REV
DATE
REVISION RECORD
DWG.BY
APPR.BY
EA
RP
MC
Eldon James Corp.
DESCRIPTION
DRAWING NAME
REV.
PART NO.
SCALE
APPROVED BY
APPROVAL DATE
SHEET
This drawing is issued in condence. It may not be disclosed or
reproduced without written permission from the Eldon James Corp
DRAWN BY
SIZE
± .020
± .020
± .020
± .020
± .020
REV
DATE
REVISION RECORD
DWG.BY
APPR.BY
AW
RP
MC
Eldon James Corp.
DESCRIPTION
DRAWING NAME
REV.
PART NO.
SCALE
APPROVED BY
APPROVAL DATE
SHEET
This drawing is issued in condence. It may not be disclosed or
reproduced without written permission from the Eldon James Corp
DRAWN BY
SIZE
± .020
± .020
± .020
± .020
± .020
p11p10
1/2” (13MM)
IRRIGATION RISER
3/4” (19MM) DRAIN PIPE
1” (25MM)
MAIN IRRIGATION LINE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
3/4” (19 MM) T 3/4” (19 MM)
NPT THREAD
BARB
CONNECTOR
1/2” (13 MM)
ELBOW NPT
THREAD BARB
CONNECTOR
1/2” (13 MM)
LINE CLAMP
1” X 1/2
(25 MM X 13 MM)
REDUCING T
1” (25 MM)
LINE CLAMP
2X
A B C
C
D E F
2X 1X 1X 2X 2X
B
B
A
A
DE
E
F
F
LEFT SIDE
RIGHT SIDE
IRRIGATION CONNECTION

p13p12
SUGGESTED STATION SPACING (DISTANCE
FROM CENTRE OF POT TO CENTRE OF NEXT POT)
3’ - 5’ (90CM - 150CM)
WHEN THE TOTAL WATER LEVEL IN THE MAIN NUTRIENT RESERVOIR
IS HIGHER THAN THE TOP OF YOUR COMPLETE STATION/S OR 2’ (600 MM)
IT IS NECESSARY TO INSTALL A CHECK VALVE INLINE WITH YOUR MAIN
IRRIGATION PUMP. THIS IS TO PREVENT WATER SYPHONING THROUGH THE
SPRAY SYSTEM WHEN THE MAIN IRRIGATION PUMP IS OFF.
WHEN CONNECTING MORE THAN A SINGLE STATION
IT IS NECESSARY TO LOOP THE MAIN IRRIGATION LINE
AS SHOWN IN THESE EXAMPLE LAYOUTS.
THIS IS TO CREATE EVEN WATER PRESSURE TO EACH
SPRAY SYSTEM WHEN THE MAIN IRRIGATION PUMP
CYCLES ON.
DUE TO THE HIGH PRESSURE IN WHICH THE SPRAY SYSTEM OPERATES; WE STRONGLY
RECOMMEND TO SECURE ALL IRRIGATION MAIN LINE AND RISER CONNECTIONS WITH
SUITABLE LINE CLAMPS TO PREVENT WATER LEAKS AND LINE RUPTURES.
3/4” (19MM) DRAIN LINES TO RUN TO WASTE
RESERVOIR
RESERVOIR
3’ - 5’ (90CM - 150CM)
3’ - 5’ (90CM - 150CM)
STATION AND IRRIGATION CONFIGURATION

RESERVOIR
OUT
OUT
OUT
OUT
IN
IN
RESERVOIR
DRAIN TO WASTE
p15p14
THE PRECISION CULTIVATION SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED
TO BE USED TOP FEEDING THROUGH THE SPRAY
SYSTEM ONLY AND IS FULLY COMPATIBLE WITH BOTH
DRAIN TO WASTE AND RECIRCULATING HYDROPONIC
METHODS.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU
DECIDE TO RECIRCULATE DIRECTLY BACK TO YOUR
RESERVOIR; THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF WATER IN
THAT RESERVOIR INCLUDING THE RETURNING WATER
MUST ALWAYS BE LOWER THAN THE HEIGHT OF THE
BOTTOM OF THE CORE OF EACH STATION. TO MAKE
THIS CONFIGURATION WORK CORRECTLY YOU WOULD
REQUIRE A SMALLER RESERVOIR WITH A FLOAT
VALVE INSTALLED TO SET THE MAXIMUM WATER
HEIGHT IN THE RESERVOIR AND THEN CONNECT
THIS SMALLER RESERVOIR TO A LARGER TOP OFF
RESERVOIR (AS SHOWN ON PAGE 17).
IF THE WATER HEIGHT IN YOUR SMALLER RESERVOIR
EXCEEDS THE HEIGHT OF THE BASE OF THE CORE;
IT WILL FLOOD THE BOTTOM OF EACH CONNECTED
STATION AND EXPOSE THE BOTTOM OF THE ROOT
ZONE TO CONSTANT WATER, WHICH CAN SIGNIFI-
CANTLY HARM THE HEALTH OF YOUR PLANTS.
THE PREFERRED CONFIGURATION WHEN USING THE
RECIRCULATING METHOD IS TO GRAVITY FEED YOUR
RUN OFF BACK TO A SEPARATE CATCH BASIN THAT
IS RECESSED INTO THE GROUND (AS SHOWN ON
PAGE 17). INSIDE THE CATCH BASIN YOU WOULD
INSTALL A SEPARATE FLOAT ACTIVATED SUMP PUMP.
WHEN THE WATER LEVEL RISES INSIDE YOUR CATCH
BASIN THE FLOAT ACTIVATED SUMP PUMP WILL
SWITCH ON AND RETURN THE RUN OFF BACK TO
YOUR RESERVOIR.
USING THIS METHOD ALLOWS FOR MORE OVERALL
CONTROL OF YOUR PLANT(S) BY MONITORING AND
THE ABILITY TO ADJUST THE RUN OFF PPM AND
PH LEVELS IF REQUIRED. IT IS NECESSARY TO
INSTALL AN INLINE FILTER ON YOUR SUMP PUMP
RETURN LINE TO PREVENT ANY WASHED THROUGH
SUBSTRATE FROM RETURNING TO YOUR RESERVOIR
AND CAUSING YOUR SPRAY SYSTEM OUTLETS
TO BECOME BLOCKED.
DRAIN TO WASTE IS A SIMPLER INSTALLATION
(AS SHOWN ON PAGE 14) AND MAKES FLUSHING
YOUR SUBSTRATE VERY EASY WHEN NECESSARY.
USING EITHER DRAIN TO WASTE OR THE CATCH BASIN
METHOD ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE A MUCH LARGER
NUTRIENT RESERVOIR.
WHEN THE TOTAL WATER LEVEL IN THE NUTRIENT
RESERVOIR IS HIGHER THAN THE TOP OF YOUR
COMPLETE STATION/S OR 2’ (600MM) IT IS
NECESSARY TO INSTALL ONE WAY VALVE INLINE
WITH YOUR MAIN IRRIGATION PUMP. THIS IS TO
PREVENT WATER SYPHONING THROUGH THE
SPRAY SYSTEM WHEN THE IRRIGATION PUMP
IS NOT SWITCHED ON.
THERE ARE STRENGHS AND WEAKNESSES TO BOTH
CONFIGURATIONS AND THE FINAL CHOICE IS UP TO
THE END USERS PREFERENCE.
SYSTEM CONFIGURATION:
DRAIN TO WASTE OR RECIRCULATING
DRAIN TO WASTE

RESERVOIR CATCH BASIN
(IN FLOOR)
RECIRCULATING SYSTEM OUT
OUT
IN
RESERVOIR
CATCH
BASIN
RESERVOIR
CATCH
BASIN
FLOAT ACTIVATED PUMP TO RECIRCULATE
RUN OFF BACK TO THE MAIN TANK
GROUND
LEVEL
p17p16
RECIRCULATING SYSTEM
THE PRECISION CULTIVATION SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED
TO BE USED TOP FEED THROUGH THE SPRAY SYSTEM
ONLY AND IS FULLY COMPATIBLE WITH BOTH DRAIN
TO WASTE AND RECIRCULATING HYDROPONIC
METHODS.
YOU MUST ONLY CONFIGURE YOUR SYSTEM TO
RECIRCULATE IF YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO INSTALL
YOUR CATCH BASIN INTO THE FLOOR BELOW THE
LEVEL OF YOUR INTERCONNECTED STATION DRAINS
(AS SHOWN ON PAGE 17). THIS ALLOWS ALL WATER
RUN OFF TO GRAVITY FEED COMPLETELY FROM
YOUR STATION/S AND DRAIN RETURN LINES.
INSIDE THE CATCH BASIN INSTALL A SEPARATE FLOAT
ACTIVATED SUMP PUMP (AS SHOWN ON PAGE 17).
AS THE WATER LEVEL RISES THE SUMP PUMP WILL
SWITCH ON AND RETURN THE RUN OFF BACK TO
YOUR MAIN NUTRIENT RESERVOIR. IT IS NECESSARY
TO INSTALL AN INLINE FILTER ON THE SUMP PUMP
RETURN LINE TO PREVENT ANY DEBRIS FROM
RETURNING TO YOUR MAIN NUTRIENT RESERVOIR
AND CAUSING YOUR SPRAY SYSTEM OUTLETS TO
BECOME BLOCKED.
USING THIS RECIRCULATING METHOD SAVES ON
NUTRIENT COSTS AND ALLOWS FOR MORE OVERALL
SYSTEM CONTROL BY MONITORING THE PLANT(S)
RUN OFF AND THEN ADJUSTING PPM AND PH LEVELS
WHEN REQUIRED.
WARNING: ATTEMPTING TO RECIRCULATE YOUR
RUN OFF DIRECTLY BACK TO YOUR MAIN NUTREINT
RESERVOIR; WITHOUT IT FIRST RETURNING TO THE
IN-FLOOR CATCH BASIN WILL CAUSE THE BOTTOM
OF YOUR INTERCONNECTED STATIONS TO FLOOD
AND EXPOSE THE BOTTOM OF THE ROOT ZONE TO
CONSTANT WATER. THIS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY HARM
THE HEALTH OF YOUR PLANTS AS WELL AS CREATE
EXCESSIVE BIOFILM BUILDUP IN YOUR DRAIN LINES.
DRAIN TO WASTE IS A SIMPLER INSTALLATION
(AS SHOWN ON PAGE 12-14) AND MAKES FLUSHING
YOUR INERT SUBSTRATE EASY WHEN NECESSARY.
USING EITHER DRAIN TO WASTE OR THE CATCH
BASIN METHOD ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE A MUCH
LARGER MAIN NUTRIENT RESERVOIR. WHEN
THE TOTAL WATER LEVEL IN THE MAIN NUTRIENT
RESERVOIR IS HIGHER THAN THE TOP OF YOUR
COMPLETE STATION/S OR 2’ (600 MM) IT IS
NECESSARY TO INSTALL A CHECK VALVE INLINE
WITH YOUR MAIN IRRIGATION PUMP. THIS IS
TO PREVENT WATER SYPHONING THROUGH THE
SPRAY SYSTEM WHEN THE IRRIGATION PUMP
IS NOT TURNED ON.
THERE ARE STRENGHS AND WEAKNESSES TO
BOTH CONFIGURATIONS AND THE FINAL CHOICE
IS UP TO THE END USERS PREFERENCE.
SYSTEM CONFIGURATION:
CATCH BASIN RECIRCULATING OR DRAIN TO WASTE

SUBSTRATE SELECTION:
ONCE ALL OF THESE STEPS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED
YOU ARE NOW READY TO FILL YOUR STATION LINER
WITH YOUR SUBSTRATE OF CHOICE.
THE PRECISION CULTIVATION SYSTEM IS COMPATIBLE
WITH EVERY KIND OF SUBSTRATE AND SOIL TYPE.
YOU SIMPLY ADJUST THE TOTAL NUMBER AND
DURATION OF WATERING CYCLES PER 24 HOUR
PERIOD DEPENDING ON THE WATER RETENTIVENESS
OF YOUR CHOSEN SUBSTRATE OR SOIL.
TO BE USED AS A GUIDE ONLY. IF USING A COMMON
INERT MIXTURE OF 70 PERCENT COCO COIR AND
30 PERCENT PERLITE; YOU WOULD START WITH
1 X 10 TO 15 SECOND WATERING CYCLE EVERY 12
TO 24 HOURS. THIS WOULD GRADUALLY INCREASE
TO 4 X 10 TO 15 SECOND WATERING CYCLES PER 24
HOUR PERIOD AS THE PLANTS INCREASE IN SIZE
AND DEVELOPMENT. EACH WATERING CYCLE SHOULD
DELIVER APPROXIMATELY 1 GALLON (3.7 LITRES)
PER STATION WITH AN OVERALL RUNOFF OF 10 TO 20
PERCENT. WHEN OVERALL RUN OFF BECOMES LESS
THAN 10 TO 20 PERCENT; IT IS TIME TO INCREASE
THE WATERING CYCLE DURATION.
WHEN USING A LESS WATER RETENTIVE AND
HIGHER OXYGEN CAPACITY SUBSTRATE SUCH
AS PURE PERLITE; YOU WILL REQUIRE MORE
FREQUENT AND LONGER WATERING CYCLES.
WHEN RUNNING PURE PERLITE; YOU SHOULD USE
A COARSE GRADE #4 AND START WITH 1 X 15 TO 30
SECOND WATERING CYCLE EVERY 4 HOURS UNTIL
HARVEST AND INCREASE YOUR WATERING CYCLE
DURATION AS NECESSARY.
WHEN FIRST LEARNING THE FUNCTION OF THE
PRECISION CULTIVATION SYSTEM WE RECOMMEND
TO CHOOSE A SUBSTRATE WHICH YOU HAVE PRIOR
EXPERIENCE WITH.
FIRST PLANTING:
FILL EACH STATION TO 1/2” (13MM) BELOW
THE TOP OF EDGE OF YOUR STATION LINER.
ONCE THE STATION/S HAVE BEEN FILLED YOU
CAN NOW PLACE YOUR PLANT/S OR CUTTING/S
INTO THE CENTER OF THE SYSTEM.
ONCE PLANT/S OR CUTTING/S HAVE BEEN PLANTED
WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND TO HAND WATER THEM
IN FOR THE FIRST 7 DAYS IN ADDITION TO RUNNING
THE SPRAY SYSTEM. THIS ALLOWS FOR THE PLANTS
ROOT ZONE TO BECOME ESTABLISHED BEFORE
COMPLETELY RELYING ON THE SPRAY SYSTEM
FOR WATERING DUTIES.
INSTALLING THE PCS SPRAY SYSTEM:
THE SPRAY SYSTEM SHOULD BE PLACED CENTERED
OVER THE CORE. WHILE HOLDING BOTH SIDES OF
THE SPRAY SYSTEM; PUSH EVENLY DOWNWARDS
INTO THE SUBSTRATE UNTIL THE HEXAGONAL
SHAPED DEPTH GUIDES LOCATATED ON THE SPRAY
SYSTEM LEGS TOUCH THE TOP OF THE SUBSTRATE.
THIS PREDETERMINED DEPTH SETS THE CORRECT
OPERATIONAL HEIGHT OF THE SPRAY SYSTEM TO
PROVIDE EVEN SATURATION ACROSS THE ENTIRE
CORE WHILE LEAVING A 4” (100MM) DRY ZONE
AROUND THE BASE OF THE PLANT STEM/S.
YOU CAN NOW CONNECT YOUR 1/2” (13MM) IRRIGA-
TION RISER TO YOUR 1/2” (13MM) NPT THREAD TO
BARB ELBOW FITTING (AS SHOWN ON PAGE 10 & 11).
DUE TO THE HIGH PRESSURE IN WHICH THE SPRAY
SYSTEM OPERATES; WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND
TO SECURE ALL IRRIGATION MAIN LINE AND RISER
CONNECTIONS WITH SUITABLE LINE CLAMPS TO
PREVENT WATER LEAKS AND LINE RUPTURES.
IRRIGATION PUMP SELECTION:
IT IS CRITICAL TO SELECT THE CORRECT SIZE
IRRIGATION PUMP TO ACHIEVE THE PROPER
FUNCTION OF THE SPRAY SYSTEM. EACH INDIVIDUAL
STATION CONNECTED TO THE MAIN IRRIGATION
LINE WILL REQUIRE A MINUMUM OF 500 GALLONS
(2,000 LITRES) PER HOUR OF FLOW WITH A TOTAL
HEAD HEIGHT OF 3’ (1 METRE).
WHEN CONNECTING MORE THAN A SINGLE STATION
TO THE MAIN IRRIGATION LINE THEN MULTIPLY
500 GALLONS (2,000 LITRES) PER HOUR OF
FLOW FOR TOTAL NUMBER OF STATIONS YOU
HAVE INSTALLED AND BASE YOUR PUMP
SELECTION ON TOTAL FLOW RATE REQUIRED.
FOR LARGER INSTALLATIONS THAT HAVE MULTIPLE
ROWS OF OVER 10 STATIONS PER LINE; YOU USE
THE SAME FLOW RATE CALCULATIONS ABOVE AND
USE INDIVIDUAL SOLENOID VALVES TO CONTROL
EACH MAIN IRRIGATION LINE PER ROW OF STATIONS.
PRECISION CULTIVATION SYSTEMS INSTALLATION AND USER GUIDE
ASSEMBLING THE PCS STATION:
PLACE THE CORE FACE DOWN SO THE THREE
STAINLESS STEEL THREADED INSERTS ARE NOW
SHOWING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CORE. SCREW
IN YOUR TWO 3/4” (19MM) NPT THREAD TO BARB
CONNECTORS INTO THE TWO OUTSIDE DRAIN HOLES
(REQUIRED PART “B” AS SHOWN ON PAGE 10)
ALIGN THE CUT OUTS ON THE BASE WITH THE CUT
OUTS ON THE CORE AND PLACE THE BASE ONTO
THE CORE (AS SHOWN ON PAGE 2 & 3). LOCATORS
ON THE BASE AND THE CORE WILL ASSIST WITH
ASSEMBLY AND PREVENT THE BASE FROM TURNING.
LOCATE THE HOLE IN THE CENTER OF THE BASE.
NOTICE THE STAINLESS STEEL THREADED INSERT
BELOW AT THE CENTER OF THE CORE. USING THE
BASE BOLT FIX THE BASE TO THE CORE BY TURNING
THE BASE BOLT IN A CLOCKWISE DIRECTION UNTIL
HAND TIGHT. THE STATION IN NOW READY TO BE
TURNED UPRIGHT.
PLACE THE GRID INTO THE CORE (AS SHOWN
ON PAGE 4) WITH THE CONCAVE SIDE FACING
UPWARDS AND THE HONEYCOMB SIDE FACING
DOWNWARDS. THE GRID WHEN INSTALLED
CORRECTLY WILL REST FLAT AGAINST THE
BOTTOM OF THE CORE. THE STATION IS
NOW READY TO BE PLACED INTO POSITON.
WE RECOMMEND THAT THE STATION LINER
AND THE SPRAY SYSTEM ARE NOT INSTALLED
UNTIL ALL OF YOUR STATIONS ARE PLACED WITH
THE IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE TUBING CONNECTED
(SEE PAGES 10-13)
ASSEMBLING THE PCS SPRAY SYSTEM:
TAKE CARE WHEN REMOVING THE SPRAY SYSTEM
FROM THE SECONDARY BOX TO PREVENT OVER
FLEXING. THE SPRAY SYSTEM IS ULTRASONICALLY
WELDED TOGETHER AND OVER FLEXING MAY
CAUSE THE WELD TO BREAK RESULTING IN
CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.
START BY INSTALLING YOUR 1/2” (13MM) NPT THREAD
TO BARB ELBOW FITTING (REQUIRED PART “C” AS
SHOWN ON PAGE 10) INTO THE STAINLES STEEL
THREADED END OF THE SPRAY SYSTEM.
FIRST APPLY TEFLON TAPE TO THREAD OF YOUR
1/2” (13MM) NPT THREAD TO BARB ELBOW FITTING.
HOLD THE ARM OF THE SPRAY SYSTEM FIRMLY IN
ONE HAND FOR SUPPORT AND THEN SCREW IN YOUR
1/2” (13MM) NPT THREAD TO BARB ELBOW FITTING
UNTIL TIGHT.
WHEN INSTALLED CORRECTLY THE INLET OF YOUR
1/2” (13MM) NPT THREAD TO BARB ELBOW FITTING
SHOULD BE FACING DOWNWARDS.
ATTACH THE SPRAY SYSTEM LEGS BY PUSHING
THE HEXAGONAL END INTO THE LOCATORS ON
THE UNDER¬SIDE OF THE SPRAY SYSTEM
ASSEMBLY (AS SHOWN ON PAGE 6).
ALWAYS SUPPORT THE TOP SIDE OF THE SPRAY
SYSTEM WHEN INSTALLING THE SPRAY SYSTEM
LEGS TO AVOID ANY OVER FLEXING.
THE SPRAY SYSTEM LEGS HAVE BUILT IN HEXAGONAL
SHAPED DEPTH GUIDES LOCATATED 3” (75MM) FROM
THE TOP WHICH ARE USED TO SET THE CORRECT
INSTALLATION HEIGHT FOR YOUR SPRAY SYSTEM
TO PROVIDE EVEN AND ACCURATE WATERING.
INSTALLING THE PCS STATION LINER:
THE STATION LINER IS TO BE FITTED ONLY ONCE
THE GRID HAD BEEN INSTALLED INSIDE OF THE
CORE (AS SHOWN ON PAGE 5 & 6).
PLACE THE STATION LINER INSIDE THE CORE WITH
THE MESH MATERIAL FACING DOWNWARDS UNTIL
IT IS RESTING FIRMLY AGAINST THE GRID.
ALIGN THE FOUR CUT OUTS NEAR THE TOP OF THE
STATION LINER WITH THE CORE HANDLES AND FOLD
THE EDGES OF THE STATION LINER OVER THE EDGE
OF THE CORE (AS SHOWN ON PAGE 6 & 7).
EACH PCS COMPLETE STATION KIT COMES WITH THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS 1 X CORE (MAIN POT)
AND 1 X ACCESSORIES KIT (PARTS). INSIDE THE ACCESSORIES KIT YOU WILL FIND THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS
1 X BASE, 1 X GRID, 1 X BASE BOLT, 1 X STATION LINER, 1 X SPRAY SYSTEM AND 3 X SPRAY SYSTEM LEGS.