Flex Micro Deep Clean and Weekly Maintenance

Updated

Follow the instructions in this section to deep clean your Flex Micro. A deep clean is recommended:

  • Every 2 months OR
  • When there is significant build-up of plant matter

Before starting maintenance, confirm you have:

  • A drain hose with quick-connect fitting
  • Access to a sink or floor drain
  • A shop vac
  • Hot water
  • Hypochlorous acid or your approved sanitizer
  • Clean towels

Step 1: Drain the Flex Micro system

  1. Unplug submersible pump and airstone
  2. Remove grow trays from the Flex Micro
  3. Remove the plastic tray covers and drain covers from all three tiers
  4. Connect hose to the quick connect on vertical irrigation line, ensure the end of the hose is placed where water will be disposed
  5. Close the main send valve
  6. Open drain valve and plug in pump to start emptying the tank
  7. As the water level gets low, pick up the side of the tank opposite of the submersible pump to allow as much water to be drained out as possible
  8. When you hear the pump pulling in air, unplug the pump. If there’s any residual water in the tank, use a shop vac to remove the water.

Step 2: Cleaning the Flex Micro

  1. Start at the top tier, working your way down. Spray hypochlorous acid onto the flood table, scrub with scrub pad to remove any calcification, then wipe with a clean towel.
  2. Repeat Step 1 for the bottom two tiers.
  3. Remove both submersible pump and airstone, slide the tank off of the Flex Micro, remove tank lid
  4. Spray the inside of the tank and the flood tables with hypochlorous acid
  5. Clean with scrub pad to remove any calcification, then wipe with a clean towel. Repeat for the tank lid, plastic tray covers, and drain covers.
  6. Spray down the equipment again with hypochlorous acid, let air dry on equipment for sanitization.
  7. Rinse submersible pump with warm water to flush out any debris, wipe down outside of pump with a towel. Repeat this step to clean the airstone.
  8. Spray submersible pump and airstone with hypochlorous acid, let air dry for sanitization.

Step 3: Reassemble the Flex Micro

  1. Place tank and tank lid back onto Flex Micro
  2. Place submersible pump and airstone into the tank, attach vertical irrigation line onto the submersible pump
  3. Open the main send valve
  4. Close drain valve that is connected to the hose
  5. Place drain covers and plastic tray covers back onto the three flood tables
  6. Fill tank with water, half way on the submersible pump to run a “clean” cycle for about 15 minutes
  7. Turn off pump, wait 5-10 minutes for the water to drain back into the tank
  8. Close main send valve, open up drain valve, drain remaining water out of the tank
  9. Unplug the pump, close drain valve and remove the hose
  10. Refill the tank up to max water line
  11. Open main send valve
  12. Plug submersible pump into timer, plug in airstone
  13. Place any seedling/microgreen trays back into the flood table
  14. Cover any unused tray spaces with non-perforated trays to prevent algae growth
  15. You can now adjust your nutrient and pH levels!

Weekly Maintenance:

  1. Unplug the submersible pump
  2. Remove all trays from flood table
  3. Start at the top tier, working your way down. Spray hypochlorous acid onto the flood table, clean with scrub pad to remove any calcification, then wipe with a clean towel.
  4. Repeat Step 3 for the bottom two tiers
  5. Spray hypochlorous acid onto bottom of the non perforated trays that cover unused spaces in the Flex Micro, wipe down with a towel, place back into Flex Micro. Do not spray hypochlorous acid on the trays with plants.
  6. Spray tank lid with hypochlorous acid and wipe with a towel
  7. Adjust nutrients and pH as needed, at least once per week
    1. pH = 5.5-6.
    2. Nutrient = Base TDS + 400.