Blumat auto watering

[binaryfission]

A friend of mine is has used the pressure reducer outdoors this year and it has worked well.
Indoors, As I have stated before, my concern is in case of a mishap, it never runs out of water.


SD

I'm sure you guys know this but,

they make timer/controllers for faucets. something like this cheap one.

They get much fancier and i'm sure someone could figure out something.

As long as your medium didn't leach the carrot dry whilst the water was off it could work... or not??

answers?

 

[sunnydog]

White Supply Line???

White Supply Line???

Noticed WHITE supply line is available.
I think this would be better for many of us, as it would stay cooler and help minimize any potential vapor lock issues.
I try to keep as much of my line covered as possible for this reason.

So...maybe next person to order some might want to try the white line???

SD

 

[sunnydog]

I'm sure you guys know this but,

they make timer/controllers for faucets. something like this cheap one.

They get much fancier and i'm sure someone could figure out something.

As long as your medium didn't leach the carrot dry whilst the water was off it could work... or not??

answers?

I have thought along these lines before.

Problem would probably be (LOL) the beauty of the slow drip would be defeated- that is, the medium would be dryer, and the B-M's would be in "Full Open" position.
This could lead to flooding and calibration issues.

However, it might work! Give it a try.

I tend towards loving the SIMPLICITY of this system as is.

But , I am old!!! LOL!

SD

 

[binaryfission]

but it would only get to full open if the carrot dried out correct? I'm just curious now. lol
but when the lines are full they don't instantly deplete. so you would have some lag time, especially with 50'+ of hose?

I'm just speculating.... am i understanding how they work correctly?

 

[sunnydog]

but it would only get to full open if the carrot dried out correct? I'm just curious now. lol
but when the lines are full they don't instantly deplete. so you would have some lag time, especially with 50'+ of hose?

I'm just speculating.... am i understanding how they work correctly?

I think full open happens way before carrot dry out.
And once the lines are closed not much drips out, as it creates a suction in the line. This can be tested by turning off the supply valve and opening the bleeder,not much dribbles out, and what does is now replaced with air, also bad.


SD

 

[sanjuan]

Noticed WHITE supply line is available.
I think this would be better for many of us, as it would stay cooler and help minimize any potential vapor lock issues.
I try to keep as much of my line covered as possible for this reason.

So...maybe next person to order some might want to try the white line???

SD

I bought some of the white 8mm tubing with my order from Germany. It is lined with a black interior, so no algae worries there.

 

[sunnydog]

I bought some of the white 8mm tubing with my order from Germany. It is lined with a black interior, so no algae worries there.

 

[IGrowMedicine]

Can you use a smaller res, say 25 gal. and put it on a shelf??

SD

I could probably do that, but don't like the idea of having 5 different shelves at 5 different levels holding water. And I fear that having the res 15' away from the furthest plant might not be to good either. I don't know, just doesn't seem like there would be enough suction to travel that far while giving all the plants the same amount of water. I'm still on the fence between these and irrigation lines with pump.

 

[sunnydog]

I could probably do that, but don't like the idea of having 5 different shelves at 5 different levels holding water. And I fear that having the res 15' away from the furthest plant might not be to good either. I don't know, just doesn't seem like there would be enough suction to travel that far while giving all the plants the same amount of water. I'm still on the fence between these and irrigation lines with pump.

Why do you need 5 levels of res??????????
As to the rest.....trust us, it works just fine!

SD

 

[sanjuan]

IGM: consider this an updated version of the ancient irrigation canals and aquaducts. Divert a river up in the mountains and channel it to where you need it at the lower elevations.

Plants can have equal amounts of water because each Tropf has an adjuster cap on top. The dripper at the end of the line will likely not be screwed down as far as the dripper closest to the reservoir.

 

[IGrowMedicine]

Alright, I see what you guys are saying. I was thinking 5 different reservoirs for 5 different levels of plants. each level will be a foot lower than the next. Am I missing something? I might just have to suck it up and experiment with a few beforehand, cause I'm a hands on learner. If I have it in front of me and can mess with it I'd be able to recognize if it would work in my situation or not. SD, I see you are growing vertical. Do you have just one res to water all your plants? Thanks for all your help and patience guys, this is just the one thing that I'm not fully confident about in my upcoming setup.

 

[gdbud]

Why don't you come out of your resavior with a 1/2" pvc line and run it along each level and the tap each blumat off the 1/2" line.

 

[dubdi3mond]

just letting you guys know that I ordered some accessories from the international blumat site and they showed up about 3 weeks later, cost quite a bit but hopefully is well worth it.. got the roll of drip line and some shut off valves should make my life a bit easier

 

[sunnydog]

Alright, I see what you guys are saying. I was thinking 5 different reservoirs for 5 different levels of plants. each level will be a foot lower than the next. Am I missing something? I might just have to suck it up and experiment with a few beforehand, cause I'm a hands on learner. If I have it in front of me and can mess with it I'd be able to recognize if it would work in my situation or not. SD, I see you are growing vertical. Do you have just one res to water all your plants? Thanks for all your help and patience guys, this is just the one thing that I'm not fully confident about in my upcoming setup.

Yes, one res.
If you are growing verti.,go around the top with supply line, put a "t" for each side, drop a length of supply straight down and then put the distributor Ts on this.

 

[IGrowMedicine]

Why don't you come out of your resavior with a 1/2" pvc line and run it along each level and the tap each blumat off the 1/2" line.

That's kinda what I wanted to do, but would it still create the suction effect without any pumps?

 

[IGrowMedicine]

Yes, one res.
If you are growing verti.,go around the top with supply line, put a "t" for each side, drop a length of supply straight down and then put the distributor Ts on this.

So you are saying run 1 line from my res and place it on the top shelf, then place a "tee" connector at each plant and run it straight down to the 4 shelves below it? Just making sure. That seems very plausible.

 

[gdbud]

That's kinda what I wanted to do, but would it still create the suction effect without any pumps?

By placing the reservoir above the Blumats you are having gravity work for you there is no suction effect. You do though have friction from the line working against you. The smaller the line the more friction you have which equals less water flow, So if you are going a longer distance or trying to feed lots of feeder tubes a larger tubbing will aid in the water flow.

 

[sunnydog]

So you are saying run 1 line from my res and place it on the top shelf, then place a "tee" connector at each plant and run it straight down to the 4 shelves below it? Just making sure. That seems very plausible.

I run the line slightly above the highest pot, attached to the top of my shelves.
In the middle of each sides run, I place a "T" pointing downwards, with like 2-3 feet of line.
On this down-line is where the "t"s for the sides worth of drippers are located.
Every situation may well be different, but the basic principles are always the same.
You can make this as fancy as you want, supply line loop+ bleeder,(HIGHLY RECOMMENDED,SEE PREV. POSTS) shutoff valves, etc.


Hope this helps ,
SD

 

[IGrowMedicine]

Thanks guys, I think I'm starting to see the picture. I'm gonna finish reading through the thread, and finish on your journal SD, and if I have any more questions after that I know where I can get help. Thanks.

 

[BorkBorkBork]

Sunny, you use LC's #1 with dry ferts too, correct?

Do you use any additives at all? LK, molasses, EWC tea or anything?

If so, how do you apply it? Do you handwater with it (this is what I do once or twice a week with one of the three) or do you add it to the res?

Same goes for anyone else using a "super soil" and watering MAINLY plain water using Blumats.