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DIY Drip irrigation question?

kazuyalaw

New member
Hello Icmag! I've been lurking this site for a couple years now and used to be on overgrow back in the day. Love a place where we can exchange our experiences and knowledge to help us gain a better understanding on growing our beloved plant. I'm currently doing a small (5 plant) personal grow using 100% coco coir and canna A+B plus cannazym (light feeding schedule). Hand-watering twice a day and now in flowering. I got a 600 watts HPS in a 5x5 and the beans are bag seed sativas (super lemon haze and chemdawg). Got 1 plant in a 1 gallon plastic pot and the others in little pots, not sure the exact size but about 1/4 gallon (drying out fast!). I want to set-up a simple drip irrigation system on a timer to help out and as a back-up if I ever need to leave, etc...

I have this cheap dollar store drip irrigation kit (cost me under $4!) and a small Marina 75 aquarium pump (2.3 watts @ 1.98 PSI). Can I make something decent out of these materials? Any tips? Is there any guides you would recommend on drip irrigation? Preferably something for a small personal set-up.

Thanks in advance and may the good vibrations reach all of you! :party:
 

leger

New member
Hello Icmag! I've been lurking this site for a couple years now and used to be on overgrow back in the day. Love a place where we can exchange our experiences and knowledge to help us gain a better understanding on growing our beloved plant. I'm currently doing a small (5 plant) personal grow using 100% coco coir and canna A+B plus cannazym (light feeding schedule). Hand-watering twice a day and now in flowering. I got a 600 watts HPS in a 5x5 and the beans are bag seed sativas (super lemon haze and chemdawg). Got 1 plant in a 1 gallon plastic pot and the others in little pots, not sure the exact size but about 1/4 gallon (drying out fast!). I want to set-up a simple drip irrigation system on a timer to help out and as a back-up if I ever need to leave, etc...

I have this cheap dollar store drip irrigation kit (cost me under $4!) and a small Marina 75 aquarium pump (2.3 watts @ 1.98 PSI). Can I make something decent out of these materials? Any tips? Is there any guides you would recommend on drip irrigation? Preferably something for a small personal set-up.

Thanks in advance and may the good vibrations reach all of you! :party:

So, do you have a water pump? i believe from the google i did, the marina 75 is an air pump. which will put air in your water, but not move your water. if you have a water pump, get some 1/2 in tubing from your local grow store, usually cheaper then home depot or lowes.

use the 1/2 tubing as your main line, coming from your water pump inside your reservoir. Run your line down the middle of your room, leave an extra 1 foot of slack minimum. then use 1/4 in line as feed tubes to each plant individually. figure out your timers and done.
 

AgentPothead

Just this guy, ya know?
If you are going the home brew version I agree with leger, hydro shop for the win. If you don't want to use a water pump, you can use gravity pressure, but if a valve fails it will cause the water to flood out. Pumps only pump when they are powered, better for long periods of time if you can guarantee power supply. For a timer you don't want one of the clicky ones like https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MVFF59S/ because the least amount of time they can run is 15 minutes, not very granular. Something like https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MVF16JG/ is granular down to 1 minute, but it only has 8 "programs" which I'm not sure is enough for a watering schedule. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0184CG9K0/ is a short period timer, you can turn things on at max every 30 minutes. No matter what system you use you will need to experiment and dial it in for your specific setup. How much water is being pumped, how much water the plants can drink. There are a few threads on DIY https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=252172 for example, but it's really not wicked complicated. If you do go this route know you will need to flush the system probably once a month to clean out salt buildup.
 

leger

New member
ALSO! from your feed line coming out of the reservoir, make sure you have a breather hole, or you will siphon your entire reservoir out.
 

leger

New member
If you are going the home brew version I agree with leger, hydro shop for the win. If you don't want to use a water pump, you can use gravity pressure, but if a valve fails it will cause the water to flood out. Pumps only pump when they are powered, better for long periods of time if you can guarantee power supply. For a timer you don't want one of the clicky ones like https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MVFF59S/ because the least amount of time they can run is 15 minutes, not very granular. Something like https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MVF16JG/ is granular down to 1 minute, but it only has 8 "programs" which I'm not sure is enough for a watering schedule. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0184CG9K0/ is a short period timer, you can turn things on at max every 30 minutes. No matter what system you use you will need to experiment and dial it in for your specific setup. How much water is being pumped, how much water the plants can drink. There are a few threads on DIY https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=252172 for example, but it's really not wicked complicated. If you do go this route know you will need to flush the system probably once a month to clean out salt buildup.

This is fantastic information! Great advice.
 

AgentPothead

Just this guy, ya know?
Thanks. I don't run drip but I've been studying it. If we didn't have wood floors here I would definitely be using it.
 

Riviera123

Active member
For what it’s worth my blumat experience

For what it’s worth my blumat experience

I have tried Blumats and thought they were the greatest thing in the world . Its a great system for outdoors as u dont heave to worry about floods. My Blumats did a run out like 3 times and flooded . I’d say if u do use them use small resivor like 5 gallons . I quit using them and went to automatic drip on timer with pump .So much easier I’m Watering every 3 hours when the lights r on in coco and they are so much easier to regulate. Blumats can be a pain in the ass to adjust the flow and a big learning curve in the beginning . They are not inexpensive as well . All u need is a pump , a good digital timer that measures down to 1 min , a half inch line a distributer and 1/4 inch hose to each pot with little plastic hose clip stakes
 

THC delta 9

Member
hi kuzuyalaw

I'm actually growing in coco coir so i had the same issue of you

what i bought is this

https://www.elektronik-star.de/Gart...type=search&searchparam=blumfeldt bewasserung

But if you cannot find it in the US you could buy this

https://www.amazon.com/Yardeen-Auto...530186460&sr=8-4&keywords=watering+timer+pump


For 30 bucks you'll have pump, tubes, control unit...all you'll have to do is to connect it, to test it and then you're good to go!!

if you're interested here is my garden 2018

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=354016

Bye and good grow!!
 

mowood3479

Active member
Veteran
Google pico manifold icmag
It will bring u to a good drip irrigation dyi tutorial.
I do it pico style except i use 1/2” poly instead of pvc
 

kazuyalaw

New member
So, do you have a water pump? i believe from the google i did, the marina 75 is an air pump. which will put air in your water, but not move your water. if you have a water pump, get some 1/2 in tubing from your local grow store, usually cheaper then home depot or lowes.

use the 1/2 tubing as your main line, coming from your water pump inside your reservoir. Run your line down the middle of your room, leave an extra 1 foot of slack minimum. then use 1/4 in line as feed tubes to each plant individually. figure out your timers and done.


Ahhhhhh ok hahaha. I was wondering how the hell is this air pump going to work! Thank you leger, straight to the point advice. What would be a minimum GPH (gallons per hour) rating for the water pump? Taking into consideration there is only 5 plants in a 5x5 area and I would like to finish them in nothing more than 2 gallons containers.


ALSO! from your feed line coming out of the reservoir, make sure you have a breather hole, or you will siphon your entire reservoir out.


:yoinks: Good looking out!
 

kazuyalaw

New member
If you are going the home brew version I agree with leger, hydro shop for the win. If you don't want to use a water pump, you can use gravity pressure, but if a valve fails it will cause the water to flood out. Pumps only pump when they are powered, better for long periods of time if you can guarantee power supply. For a timer you don't want one of the clicky ones like https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MVFF59S/ because the least amount of time they can run is 15 minutes, not very granular. Something like https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MVF16JG/ is granular down to 1 minute, but it only has 8 "programs" which I'm not sure is enough for a watering schedule. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0184CG9K0/ is a short period timer, you can turn things on at max every 30 minutes. No matter what system you use you will need to experiment and dial it in for your specific setup. How much water is being pumped, how much water the plants can drink. There are a few threads on DIY https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=252172 for example, but it's really not wicked complicated. If you do go this route know you will need to flush the system probably once a month to clean out salt buildup.


Thank you for the info AgentPothead! I'm going to go with the pump inside, gotta minimize the flood risks. For the timer I'm looking for flexibility so I can have the option to water more frequently later on. I've noticed hand watering in veg at times I would be hitting them with x3 instead of x1-2 and they just explode with growth. Can't wait to automate that!

Do you just flush the system with tap water or you need a special solution?
 

kazuyalaw

New member
i can recommend sonoffs as a timer, but only up to 4 waterings/day

Wow I didn't think they made wifi timers! I'll need more than 4 waterings/day. Wonder if this is something that can be updated in the app to increase the amount of timing schedules.
 

kazuyalaw

New member
i can recommend sonoffs as a timer, but only up to 4 waterings/day

Wow I didn't think they made wifi timers! I'll need more than 4 waterings/day. Wonder if this is something that can be updated in the app to increase the amount of timing schedules.
 

AgentPothead

Just this guy, ya know?
Thank you for the info AgentPothead! I'm going to go with the pump inside, gotta minimize the flood risks. For the timer I'm looking for flexibility so I can have the option to water more frequently later on. I've noticed hand watering in veg at times I would be hitting them with x3 instead of x1-2 and they just explode with growth. Can't wait to automate that!

Do you just flush the system with tap water or you need a special solution?
I don't have one setup but I know Drip Clean and FloraKleen are both supposed to be decent for cleaning out salt buildup. I bet there is somebody who knows what those are made of and a homemade way to make a way to clean salt buildup.
 

kazuyalaw

New member
I don't have one setup but I know Drip Clean and FloraKleen are both supposed to be decent for cleaning out salt buildup. I bet there is somebody who knows what those are made of and a homemade way to make a way to clean salt buildup.


I checked and I'm seeing different things like sugar water, citric acid, PeKacid. I would get one of the popular options but I just want to know what I'm buying. So far it looks like Pekacid might be it.
 

kazuyalaw

New member
I have tried Blumats and thought they were the greatest thing in the world . Its a great system for outdoors as u dont heave to worry about floods. My Blumats did a run out like 3 times and flooded . I’d say if u do use them use small resivor like 5 gallons . I quit using them and went to automatic drip on timer with pump .So much easier I’m Watering every 3 hours when the lights r on in coco and they are so much easier to regulate. Blumats can be a pain in the ass to adjust the flow and a big learning curve in the beginning . They are not inexpensive as well . All u need is a pump , a good digital timer that measures down to 1 min , a half inch line a distributer and 1/4 inch hose to each pot with little plastic hose clip stakes


I was thinking of Blumats for my outdoor veggie garden but they are pretty pricey. I'm gonna attempt to set up straightforward system like you mentioned and if all goes well I'll do a bigger one outdoors for the veggies. Thanks for the tips Riviera123, you guys are scaring me with all those flood stories, I'm gonna have to be careful!
 

kazuyalaw

New member
hi kuzuyalaw

I'm actually growing in coco coir so i had the same issue of you

what i bought is this

https://www.elektronik-star.de/Gart...type=search&searchparam=blumfeldt bewasserung

But if you cannot find it in the US you could buy this

https://www.amazon.com/Yardeen-Auto...530186460&sr=8-4&keywords=watering+timer+pump


For 30 bucks you'll have pump, tubes, control unit...all you'll have to do is to connect it, to test it and then you're good to go!!

if you're interested here is my garden 2018

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=354016

Bye and good grow!!


Plug and play, all set-up already, nice. Gracias amigo!
 

AgentPothead

Just this guy, ya know?
I checked and I'm seeing different things like sugar water, citric acid, PeKacid. I would get one of the popular options but I just want to know what I'm buying. So far it looks like Pekacid might be it.
PeKacid is fittingly named it's very acidic be careful running it too often it is very low ph.
 
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