Blumat auto watering

[overmyhead]

Thanks for all of this. So, I have two plans and I wanted your opinions:
Moms in 5 gal root pouches (like smart pots) with straight coco and a tiny bit of perlite, they're 12" wide not sure how tall - maybe 13 or 14". Second is a bed (36 x 24 x 8) with the same coco mix and 15 cuts going straight to flower. I am going to set up the moms this weekend and the new cuts next but was looking for some input on how you guys would set things up (number of sensors, extra drippers etc.) Right now I only have two patio kits didn't have option to order extra parts - if you recommend extra drippers etc where do you get them. Thanks

 

[overmyhead]

I need some help on info concerning the maxi outdoor sensors.........I`ve got an assload of coco and 5 gal/#5 smartpots in storage , and am in the process of looking at the blumats to feed my personal headies grow at a remote location due to security risks.........

Lazy`s in the midst of turmoil and I`m just wondering if the smaller units that come 25 per box would feed # 5 smartpots as I`ve read these units feed in a 10" diameter and the sp`s are close diameter wise , but deeper and that`s why I`m lookin into the maxi outdoor sensors with extensions to penetrate juice deep enough for my plants in coco..............

The box of 25 smaller cones is like 75 bucks , but the maxi outdoor sensors with nuthin included is $ 6.25 per , so you can see my concern payin well over double and with no fittings or tubing to put all together with......

Thanx in advance........DHF......

Where did you see the maxi's? I've heard that they will be OK with the 5 gal but that's the limit. No experience though but I have some 5's and am looking to set it up this weekend.

 

[sanjuan]

Quick disconnect/ fittings supplier?

Quick disconnect/ fittings supplier?

Ok I got my first 60 BLumats set up today, piece of cake, took about one hour. Remember to open the carrot and fill the ceramic cone with water, then soak the thing in water for a day or so. Then they are ready to use! Use 3/32" plastic barbed tees from kentsystems.com, they fit the 3mm OD blumat tubing just perfect.

I wanted to buy a bunch of quick-disconnects and fittings from kentsystems.com. Unfortunately, it has been weeks since I tried to register on their site (to order) but they never respond.

I tried registering as both an individual and a company. No response to my email asking how long registration approval should take. The only Google result was a press release saying prices would be going up the first of August.

Maybe kentsystems is going out of business. Can anyone recommend a supplier of similar quick disconnects and fittings?

 

[Lazyman]

I ended calling kent up and ordering on the phone, their website is hosed and they don't have the time to fix It I guess.

 

[sanjuan]

Thanks for the reply, Lazyman.
I ordered Luers (with lock rings) and disconnects by Value Plastics.

I plan to grow from regular seed so I want an elegant way to remove individual Smart Pots with their Blumats.

 

[#1cheesebuds]

wow wow wow wow. this is a really really great thread and was a great read too.

I am growing in straight coco and read that these can be used in the straight coco?

my ? is how to use these in flower. I am only in week 3 of flowering.
my 2 plants r in half gallon pots and living in a crawll space about 4' high and 4' wide.

If I got one of these how high would the water reserver thing need to be for the best outcome?

thx for yalls help on this.

 

[slowandeasy]

wow wow wow wow. this is a really really great thread and was a great read too.

I am growing in straight coco and read that these can be used in the straight coco?

my ? is how to use these in flower. I am only in week 3 of flowering.
my 2 plants r in half gallon pots and living in a crawll space about 4' high and 4' wide.

If I got one of these how high would the water reserver thing need to be for the best outcome?

thx for yalls help on this.

Get a Black 5 Gal Bucket, and set it on top of a regular 5 gal bucket, that is plenty high for you. Get a small air pump, stone and black air line. I would be more concerned with your height, 4 ft is not very much. Scrogging or training would be needed on your next run, as a full run with Blumats will grow huge plants in Coco. Also, up your pot size...I suggest 1 or 2 Gal Smart Pots for your size.

I set mine to drip every 3 seconds or so, and they never run off. Regular White Pots seem to cause problems with the Blumats sticking and flooding...have a tray underneath just incase. Instead of sitting your pots in a tray, I use plastic florescent lighting grids to elevate the Smart Pots. This way the roots grow out of the bottom, and if they ever flood...the trays underneath catch the runoff, but the plants will not sit in it. Once you have these dialed in, you can go on vacation for a week...come back with perfect plants that grew a shit ton! If you use white pots I would not trust it for that long, if they stick and you run out of water your plants could die. Good luck.

 

[#1cheesebuds]

OK big thanks for the great info. as of now my plants in half gallon pots and r under a screen and they have a tray under them too.

Ill have to wate till next time to have bigger pots. so for now will they work good enough?

wee. ooo man do I really love this these forums.

 

[overmyhead]

From blumat site, (I would NOT USE the slave drippers!)

1 Tropf-Blumat waters a surface area of about 20 - 25 cm diameter.
The number of Tropf-Blumats required is almost entirely independent of the number of plants being watered, however, the horizontal distribution of water in the substrate can vary. (Therefore, it is important to pay particular attention to the quality of the potting soil being used!)
Length of balcony boxes Tropf-Blumats required Combination of Tropf-Blumat + distributor drip
100 cm 4 possible, however not suggested
80 cm 3 possible, however not suggested
60 cm 2
Planter Ø Tropf-Blumats required Combination of Tropf-Blumat + distributor drip
up to 25 cm 1
from 25 - 40 cm 2 1 Tropf-Blumat with 2-3 distributor drippers
from 40 - 50 cm 3 2 Tropf-Blumats each with 2-4 distributor drippers

Tropf-Blumat or Distributor Dripper?
Fewer Tropf-Blumat units are needed when the more quickly installed distributor drippers are used. However, a word of warning, they have higher maintainance requirements! To be on the safe side, large containers should have at least two Tropf-Blumats plus distributor drippers.


Good luck!
SD
SD

Has anyone used the distribution drippers? Where can you find them in the states? I've got a couple 36x24x8" tubs that I think they'd work for but don't want to end up with troubles because I was cheap. Just set up my moms (5 gal smart pots with straight bcuzz coco) today and I'm stoked to see how this helps me treat my ladies right - my first hydro. Thanks everyone for sharing this knowledge!

 

[slowandeasy]

OK big thanks for the great info. as of now my plants in half gallon pots and r under a screen and they have a tray under them too.

Ill have to wate till next time to have bigger pots. so for now will they work good enough?

wee. ooo man do I really love this these forums.

They will work, just dont put drippers on as often. The Coco will look dry on top, but it will be moist underneath. The roots will grow upward and make a mound, I just turn my Blumat every so often to make a new mound of roots. Good luck.

 

[benzo]

They will work, just dont put drippers on as often. The Coco will look dry on top, but it will be moist underneath. The roots will grow upward and make a mound, I just turn my Blumat every so often to make a new mound of roots. Good luck.

So that dryness on top, with HUGE root mounds above the coco is normal?

 

[slowandeasy]

So that dryness on top, with HUGE root mounds above the coco is normal?

Yeah, I had a mother I vegged for a couple of months in a 1 Gal Smart Pot. The Roots grew so much, it look like I over filled my pots. They made the Coco and Smart Pot swell, and I would have to adjust the length of the dripper hose to avoid Mountains of roots!

 

[InducedSerenity]

Thanks to all for contributions to this thread - I'm about halfway through it.

I'd love input from any of you here or in my thread (Help me make the switch to Coco!). I'm currently running an 18-gallon DWC rubbermaid tub and am wondering if I can just fill it with coco and keep my integrated screen / lid (pics in thread).

If so - Should I use something like 4 Tropf Blumat (1 per plant) or just 2 Blumat Maxi per bin? Container is 18x22x15" high and 18 gallons. It seems like multiple normal cones would keep the medium more consistently watered but maybe Maxis would let it dry out more and perhaps get more oxygen?

Thanks!

iS

 

[overmyhead]

my local shop just had the drippers available, so i had to piece everything else together.

its alittle more work, but i like it better because i keep my money local, and because i "built" everything, i know exactly how it all works

Kelly, that looks like the way to go! a lot slicker than all those t's. Is your system working out pretty well so far?

Thanks!

 

[Kelly.]

...

 

[dubdi3mond]

is anyone running nutes through their blumats? I have the full h&g line getting ready to run through them in a few months

hopefully drip clean keeps things running smoothly

 

[gdbud]

I have been running GH nutes through my blumats without any problems I just mix the nutes in a 1 gallon jug and mix real well then slowly add it to my reservoir. I run one reservoir with just water then one with nutes then repeat. this seems to be working just fine for me so far. I'm also using drip clean.

How is everyone else feeding there plants while running with Blumats?

 

[Garuda]

I use Canna Terra Vega & Flores and blumats without any problems. I heard that organic nutes like BioBizz may lead to problems but mineral nutes work flawless.

 

[compost]

I have one of my blumats in each container connected to 5 slave drippers. What I am curious about is if I need to turn them up alot. Ille go into the room when the lights come on and see the drippers going. ille come back 4 or 5 hours later and there still dripping. When I check the soil moisture it is ussually at the low end of moist. Should I keep turning up the blumats or leave them where there at?

 

[BorkBorkBork]

How is everyone else feeding there plants while running with Blumats?

I use LC's mix w/ blood/bone/kelp dry ferts, and use water with my blumats. Hand-feed with Liquid Karma or EWC tea or molasses once a week or so.

When I check the soil moisture it is ussually at the low end of moist. Should I keep turning up the blumats or leave them where there at?

I've always found (whether hand watering or using the blumats) that the easiest way to check my moisture levels is by WEIGHT. Just lift he pot a little. If it feels too light, water a bit more (or turn the blumat drip up a little bit). Continue adjusting until desired level then check once a week or so.

I installed the blumats on this run about a week ago, and Sunny is right, that's about how long it takes to get them dialed in.


Still <3'ing my blumats. I've now got my res split, so I'm auto-watering both my veg and flower tents with a single res. Can't imagine doing another run without them!