Blumat auto watering

[heady blunts]

i drew a diagram for the consistent pressure double res

 

[dgr]

Heady,
Where's the seat?

On a serious note, where is the vacuum break to prevent it from siphoning back into the lower reservoir? Do you just poke a hole in the clear tubing?

 

[heady blunts]

Heady,
Where's the seat?

On a serious note, where is the vacuum break to prevent it from siphoning back into the lower reservoir? Do you just poke a hole in the clear tubing?

whoa, you mean if the power goes out? that is a very very good point!

you think poking a hole in the water pump tube at its apex would solve the problem? is there an aquarium valve i could use?

 

[laylow]

nice diagram...

 

[dgr]

Ahhh, I see. You are constantly circulating. I thought you were on a timer. That'd keep it close to full but your way keeps it constantly actually full.

They make airline check valve for aquariums. They're known for clogging and failing. I think a drip line 90 degree barb stuck into a hole in the tube and spraying either back down the tube or onto the upper tank surface would suffice. You could also re-zip tie your fill hose so that it is above the top level and dripping/spraying above the water level. Anything to get the tube to suck air should the pump turn off.

Again, nice system you created.

 

[NachoConQueso]

what nutes are you using? i know people experience clogging with certain nute lines.

are you adding drip clean?

I've used H & G AB Coco w/ Drip Clean and now Dyna-Gro without Drip Clean. I get the same results either way. I can't blame the lines and hoses because no matter what, when I'm down at a lower water level my solution gets particles and such. If I could keep the large particles from traveling down the main line (like a fine screen or something), that'd be best I suppose.

 

[fukndenny]

i finally drew the diagram for a vented line set up. this is how mine is set up (actually i don't have a shut off valve -- it's not necessary, just convenient). credit goes to GDbud for the idea. works great and especially well suited for micro grows.

also here's the loop diagram again just so it's all in one convenient location.

This makes me more confused, can you help a brotha' out?

I am not certain I understand the "dump" line.. how does that work? What's the dump part for?

I am lost. and I'd like not to be. I thought blumats worked with one main line that the mini lines split off with t's and that was it, so im confused by the dump reference in the diagram.

Is this just to empty the rez? maybe im too stoned.

pls advise

 

[whadeezlrg]

This makes me more confused, can you help a brotha' out?

I am not certain I understand the "dump" line.. how does that work? What's the dump part for?

I am lost. and I'd like not to be. I thought blumats worked with one main line that the mini lines split off with t's and that was it, so im confused by the dump reference in the diagram.

Is this just to empty the rez? maybe im too stoned.

pls advise

im pretty sure your on the right track although I have mine ran in a solid loop, i feel like if i need to purge the system i can just open up the lowest blumat to full flow and bleed out any air.

 

[heady blunts]

This makes me more confused, can you help a brotha' out?

I am not certain I understand the "dump" line.. how does that work? What's the dump part for?

I am lost. and I'd like not to be. I thought blumats worked with one main line that the mini lines split off with t's and that was it, so im confused by the dump reference in the diagram.

Is this just to empty the rez? maybe im too stoned.

pls advise

yea it's just to empty the res and clear any bubbles/build up in the lines. i run a vented line with no valves. but sunnyd and lazy both use the on/off valves for convenience so i added them to the diagram to make it "the ideal"

like whadeezlrg said, if i need to flush the lines i just take off the last drip line and let it drain out of the end tee.

 

[fukndenny]

yea it's just to empty the res and clear any bubbles/build up in the lines. i run a vented line with no valves. but sunnyd and lazy both use the on/off valves for convenience so i added them to the diagram to make it "the ideal"

like whadeezlrg said, if i need to flush the lines i just take off the last drip line and let it drain out of the end tee.

thanks for confirming.

 

[laughingmoon]

Can someone give me an approximate length of drip line provided per carrot in the patio kit?

 

[BRNEYDBVR]

Can someone give me an approximate length of drip line provided per carrot in the patio kit?

It's not much... about 5-6 inches per carrot.

That's why you keep hearing the advice to buy a "spare" roll of the 3mm tubing. This way you can leave the 8mm feed line on the ground and run the 3mm tubing up to the carrot in the pot.

 

[laughingmoon]

Thank you. edit: 22ft of 8mm is supplied.

 

[BRNEYDBVR]

Thank you. I don't remember seeing anything about extra 8mm line needing to be bought. Suffice to say, a sufficient supply is given?

Your welcome.
When I first set up my blumats, I used 8 of them in a 4x4 tent.... I then took the tent down, ditched my old 8mm feed line and re-ran my 8mm line into a more rectangle shape, instead of a square.
So yeah, if your only hooking up what comes in the patio kit, you'll have plenty of 8mm feed line. I had enough to run 2 different set ups and I still have several feet of it left. But you might want to consider buying a few extra 90 degree elbows (and maybe a "T" or 2)....makes it much easier to turn corners. Oh, and the 8mm tubing is MUCH easier to work with if you heat it up before you mess with it. I used some really hot water and soaked the line until it was much softer.

 

[laughingmoon]

My original plan was to do a loop design in my little tent, but I think I'm going to do a straight line down the center. I'm only trying 4 1gal (or is it 2?) smartpots this round in a 2x2 tent.

 

[BRNEYDBVR]

If it was me.... I'd run a straight line down the center. Easier, but either way will work.
You might want to put a "relief valve" in the feed line, right after the reservoir. Any air trapped in the line will be able to bleed off and won't cause any problems with your carrots. I just put an upside down "T" fitting in the 8mm line and a small piece of tubing sticking straight up in the air, open ended....worked tits.

Oh yeah.... Drip Clean is your friend!....and always check your carrots after a top off to the reservoir. The extra pressure will some times cause the blumats to drip faster than you want, and you need to adjust them a bit.

 

[laughingmoon]

Yes, I will be doing that, as well as a dump at the end of the line, just to make my life a bit easier. Between the vent, having the drip lines going upward, and the line dump, I should avoid any air problems.
Does Home Depot carry a 8mm plastic barbed tee? I only saw Std. measurements.

 

[Dislexus]

8mm is easy to convert to standard it is .34 stone.

 

[BRNEYDBVR]

I checked the depot and lowes....didn't find any, but that doesn't mean you can't find em. I ended up getting a few from blumat with the extra 90 degree elbows.

 

[laughingmoon]

8mm is easy to convert to standard it is .34 stone.

8mm = .314 in, 3/8 in = .375, which is what I saw locally