Setting up drip system help?

[louie]

I posted this question in a thread in the coco section but figure I will get a few more looks here too:

So I am in the process of building a drip system for an 8k (drip to waste in 2 gallon coco containers) ,with 128 drip sites. I plan on having 1/2" vinyl tubing coming off the pump and then looping around my set up and then connecting back into itself. I read that this is the way to equalize pressure in all drippers ( so that equal amounts of water come out of each 1/4" hose) coming off of the 1/2" main tube. I will have 1/4" tubing coming off of the 1/2" tubing and running to each plant with open tubes (no actual dripper). This is the thread where I read about the loop equalizing pressure. (pico's thread) link:

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=62654

So am i setting this up right? Or is there a better way to just have the 1/2" tube coming off of the pump running straight down my set up with a plug at the end (not loop back to itself) and have the 1/4" tubing coming off to each plant? And what size pump do you think I may need. I was looking at a 1/4 hp pump (rated at 1000-1800 gph) and a 1/2 hp pump (rated up to 2500 gph)?

 

[Sam the Caveman]

Making that loop will help equalize the pressure to all the outlets, but it won't be perfect. It will do though. If you wanted it perfect you could get some adjustable drippers and manually adjust each one but that would be a major pain.

I would definately run the loop as opposed to straight lining it with an end cap.

Are you mono cropping all 8 lights?

If your running a couple different strains, it might be a good idea to have multiple rez's in case a strain requires different things.

As far as the pump goes, I use a 160 gph pump turned down(restricted flow) for one light and its plenty powerful enough, so I'd say 1000gph would be good for 8 lights. I would go with a pump with the highest pressure rating, this will give you more even flow across all the outlets. check out Pan World pumps and look at the "max head" ratings, the highest will be the most pressure.

 

[louie]

Thanks for the info Sam! Yeah I will be mono cropping for sure. So the loop route is the way to go. Do you think I should use 1/2" vinyl for the loop or 1/2" PVC. 1/2" Vinyl would be easier to move and transport, but the PVC would be easier to loop back into itself. I was looking at a 1/4 hp submersible utility pump at Home Depot, they seem pretty fairly priced.

 

[Sam the Caveman]

I've used the 1/2" vinyl stuff before and it worked good, once i got it in place. Its stubborn as a mule to straighten out, even after a soak in how water.

If I was to do it again I would probably go with the most flexible garden hose I could find. It will cost a little bit more but its worth it. Although you might have to use a screw in type barb fitting instead of a double barb, since the garden hose is thicker than the vinyl. The screw in type might actually be easier, I was never able to push the double barb ones in with my hands, had to use pliars to hold the barb and force it in.

 

[Eternal_Ghost]

I recently built a drip system not as large as yours but close. I used 3/4 pvc for price n ease. A bunch of high hats and a 5/16 drill bit and your good to go. No barbs. You dont even have to glue pvc. Key to good flow is a inline filter ($15) and make sure all your drip lines are same length. best part is that it can easily come out of system and hooked to garden hose to clean out.

 

[louie]

Sam yeah I was thinking about going the pvc route because the vinyl tubing seems like it would be hard to flatten out. Eternal Ghost can you post a link or pic of the high hats you are talking about. And what do you mean no barb? Did you run open lines from the 3/4 pvc?

 

[RomulusUSA]

Eternal Ghost, I'd love more info.

 

[Wise]

Is it ok to use a float valve in this type of system?

 

[grapeman]

To maintain pressure, looping is never a good idea. Better to build a main line off the pump with lateral lines. Pull your drip hose off the lateral lines in equal numbers to maintain equal pressure. Always a good idea to put a pressure regulator (plastic 20 or 30 psi rated) is good and cheap and will prevent any drippers from blowing off due to high pressures..... plus it will totally equalize pressures and volume throughout the system.

That's the way we do it in the field and it guarantees equal water and nutes to each plant.

 

[louie]

Grapeman so you say I shouldn't run the loop. I don't plan on using drippers, I plan on using open 1/4" tubing with a t inserted in the end and then another small piece of tubing inserted into each end of the t so that it makes a small ring and I will put 4 or 5 holes in the ring to distribute the water evenly. I want to make sure I am understanding your setup; I would have my pump then filter then pressure regulator or would the regulator go at the end of the main 1/2" line after all the 1/4" lateral lines going to the individual plants? So essentially would have a plug at the end of the main line then too, since it wouldn't be looped back to itself?

 

[grapeman]

Grapeman so you say I shouldn't run the loop. I don't plan on using drippers, I plan on using open 1/4" tubing with a t inserted in the end and then another small piece of tubing inserted into each end of the t so that it makes a small ring and I will put 4 or 5 holes in the ring to distribute the water evenly. I want to make sure I am understanding your setup; I would have my pump then filter then pressure regulator or would the regulator go at the end of the main 1/2" line after all the 1/4" lateral lines going to the individual plants? So essentially would have a plug at the end of the main line then too, since it wouldn't be looped back to itself?

So..... the 1/4" tubing is free flow, which now makes a couple of things obvious. Without some sort of pressure compensation or pressure regulator, the further the loop run the less and less pressure you will have the further your loop. That means that tubing closer to your water source will flow freer, faster and more volume. Each tubing further away from the water source will deliver less and less water the further away it is from the water source. That's just simple hydraulics. That's why when we install a drip system, we use pressure compensating drippers, pressure regulators and all our runs are the same length. Even a full loop will deliver less water and pressure in the middle of the loop then the tubes right next to the water source. Now maybe you are only going to use a dozen or so tubes so the effect will be small, but if you plan to put 20 or more tubes into your loop, I'd give a bit more thought to the design. Also, if you are still going to use tubing in a loop without pressure regulators or pressure compensating emitters, then remember the longer you cut each 1/4" tube, the less water it will deliver. So by making the tubing shorter and shorter the further you are from the water source and longer and longer next to your water source, you could give a bit of balance to the system.... but not near as precise as doing it properly.
Good luck