Question for those who have an auto watering setup

[robertmarley]

I set up an autowater system that when it runs for 2 minutes gives about 10% runoff.. can dial it to put out more or less. Its a 160 gph pump inside a trash can running to 1/2 inch hose split and then tapped 12 times for 1/4 inch lines running to each plant.

My real question is how are you guys set up or what are you using to ensure that the entire pot gets satured and pass through from the nutrient? It seems as though the nutrient runs just down through the center of the plant where the line is and out the bottom but doesnt hit the outer areas of the pot and it causes burn.

 

[RetroGrow]

I think you should use a drip ring, which will distribute the nutrient solution.

http://www.hydroponics.net/i/134070

http://www.wormsway.com/detail.aspx?sku=AM253&AC=1

 

[coconaut]

I've tried many kinds of drippers, sprayers, manifolds, tubing, fittings, and pumps. High pressure, low pressure systems.
I've finally got a system I'm happy with, to get it right all it took was a bit of DIY.
I made my own manifold out of 2" PVC, and drippers out of 1/2" CPVC. I used pneumatic push-to-connect fittings for my 1/4" connections, these allow for a much greater flow than barbed fittings.
I use a low pressure Eheim hobby pump. It's flow rate is advertised as 317gph.

 

[dunkybones]

Drippers will run throught the medium fairly quickly. If you are using larger pots, you can put multiple dripper heads in each pot and adjust flow/time accordingly, you can install drip rings as mentioned above, or repeated waterings will allow the medium to saturate through wicking. But nothing automated will give you that nice even flood like hand watering does, drip rings probably come closest.

 

[BlindDate]

Using a surfactant like AN "Wet Betty" helps.

 

[robertmarley]

Something like SM90?
should work for a wetting agent? helps water spread?

Thanks to those who posted there ideas. I think drip rings sound the best and didnt even realize they sold those seperate from hydrofarms.

 

[LJB]

I've always used a 1/4" T staked at the middle near the main stem.

Two streams out away from the middle.

It seems to work well, but I happen to have have a pack of these and am going to try them tonight.

 

[Lazyman]

A bit of dish soap works as well as any other wetting agent for about 1% of the price. I use catch trays under each pot so that the runoff can be wicked back up into the plant, it's usually all gone by the next morning anyway.

 

[Shcrews]

wow are those drip rings really like 5 bucks each?? i was just thinking about buying 50, but fUCK THAT

seems like they are very simple to make, just get some 1/4" T's, tubing, and a drill.

 

[robertmarley]

yeah.. they are super expensive.. you'd have to be real uniform in trying to copy them or you wouldnt get even distribution amongst your plants..

 

[turbolaser4528]

yeah.. they are super expensive.. you'd have to be real uniform in trying to copy them or you wouldn't get even distribution amongst your plants..

you think? With the same size tiny drill-bit I think it'd be pretty easy to at least come close to even distribution, just keep the spacing as even as possible between holes and I don't see how there any difference?

am going to try this out, would buy the drip rings but yeah 5 bills a pop is a bit much for tubing and a t connector imho

 

[dunkybones]

I made drip rings out of 1/4" tee John Guest plastic quick connects (purchased online for $1.85 delivered), and the standard 1/4" drip line i'm already using. A drill bit didn't work for the holes because the plastic is kind of 'self-healing.' But the hole punch for drip system worked beautifully. The same thing could be done even cheaper with a standard 1/4" barbed tee, but I like the quick disconnect so I can pop them off the plants if necessary. Plus they look kind of NASA.

 

[turbolaser4528]

I made drip rings out of 1/4" tee John Guest plastic quick connects (purchased online for $1.85 delivered), and the standard 1/4" drip line i'm already using. A drill bit didn't work for the holes because the plastic is kind of 'self-healing.' But the hole punch for drip system worked beautifully. The same thing could be done even cheaper with a standard 1/4" barbed tee, but I like the quick disconnect so I can pop them off the plants if necessary. Plus they look kind of NASA.

sounds pretty legit, any pictures?

 

[dunkybones]

I'll work on that..

 

[robertmarley]

Yeah that does sound good with said quick disconnect fittings.. would be great for moving and rotating plants around

 

[geopolitical]

I just used a standard waterfarm style drip ring. Just a loop of tubing with some holes punched in it. That sort of setup has worked well for me in coco, leca and perlite. Only issue is that any emitter with small holes is going to get filled with nute salts or debris the pump filter missed after a while.

Any emitter setup is going to be only as reliable as your maintenance program is consistent. Even bad designs can work well if they're kept in good shape by regular cleaning. The ring setup is probably not a great design. Flow across all the holes isn't even, if it's not set up just a little off from level it can work poorly, etc. But it's worked great as long as I know the limitations and keep it clean and set up properly.

 

[dunkybones]

quick connect drip ring

quick connect drip ring

I think the john guest 1/4" quick connect was $1.80 bought in bulk. The ring is punched through with the drip line punch, a drill made a burr, not a whole. I use raindrip stakes to hold them steady. Pop off the main line and the ring moves around with the plant. If they get knocked crooked, they'll water heavier on one side than the other, but still distributes nute better than a single spigot. Assembles/disassembles in seconds, makes any size ring you want.

 

[turbolaser4528]

or just put your drainage holes on the sides only. slightly above the bottom (.5-2") to create a "bato" style bucket.

This creates a mini reservoir at the bottom of the pot allowing an even moisture profile through the wicking of nutrient solution throughout the bucket. Also provides safety net if something happens, thats what i do with a dripper setup running 5x per day at 1min intervals.

thats just me, good luck!

 

[transplant]

re you useing a something like a 2 galon drip gage? I run a 3/4 line from pump, poke holes in line , cut a V in my 1/4 line then poke it into the 3/4 directly then run to the blue drip steaks multiple lines, no problems even feed. 5-10 seconds every hour. Some plants drink more, add more lines! Mine is a no clog systyme!