JohnDee
Well-Known Member
Hi Rky...When I read aquarium tubing I just assumed clear. Of course you used opaque tubing. My bad.
Getting my Hydrofarms set up using your runoff mod. If I ever find my camera usb cable I'll send you a pix.
Cheers,
JD
Need help with automated top fed system asap!
- Thread starter psychadelibud
- Start date
Getting my Hydrofarms set up using your runoff mod. If I ever find my camera usb cable I'll send you a pix.
Cheers,
JD
rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
i bought a huge roll of that stuff a few years ago.
but i do know the tubing you are talking about: it was black but not flexy. it would kink up really easily
psychadelibud
Well-Known Member
@rkymtnman do you have any filters? Pressure regulators? Anti siphoning devices?
Also, could you show me some pics of your irrigation setup?
So basically, I get three pumps (and I assume I can use all three on one timer, correct?) and run a mainline from each pump and on the end of each line is a DIG manifold? Just trying to picture this and see if what I am thinking is correct.
Also, could you show me some pics of your irrigation setup?
So basically, I get three pumps (and I assume I can use all three on one timer, correct?) and run a mainline from each pump and on the end of each line is a DIG manifold? Just trying to picture this and see if what I am thinking is correct.
ApfelStrudel
Well-Known Member
Here's my anti syphoning device. A needle stuck in the hose hahahaha. Works like a charm.
rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Deluxe-Submersible-Hydroponics-Aquaponics/dp/B01E9IO748/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2X1EU6XE5CYZA&keywords=300+gph+submersible+pump&qid=1554054584&s=gateway&sprefix=300+gph+,aps,697&sr=8-3
a pump similar to this, mine is threaded on the outlet, i think it was a 1/2" 5" long pvc riser that i used and the dig maniforld threads on to that.
for anti siphoning, i keep one of the outlets on the dig manifold open (no tubing on it).
and then a spaghetti like mess of silicone tubing out to each plant site. i tried to cut them all roughly the same length.
psychadelibud
Well-Known Member
@rkymtnman
I am gonna go with those dig 12 outlet manifolds. Just gonna cut PVC as the main line into 3 separate pieces... one short for beginning of room, the second to reach the middle of the room and the third to reach the back of the room... Does this sound feasible?? Do you have any filters to filter out debris and stuff connected to your main line?
Did you end up using the 1/8 lines that the dig manifolds are meant for or did you use the 1/4 adapters for your drip lines??
Also, I would love to know how your lines run from your pump to the main PVC line? Do you have garden hoses connected to the pumps, coming over top of reservoir and down to the floor connected to your PVC lines or is your pump connected toPVC, straight shot out?
I almost have this down, gonna have to send out my order this morning if I am gonna make it before Thursday gets here.
Thank you so much for all your help man!
rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
i used standard aquarium tubing which i think is 3/16"
this is what i used to connect pump to dig:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/1-2-in-x-4-in-PVC-Riser-38084/100178165
not sure what you mean by this?
psychadelibud
Well-Known Member
@rkymtnman @ApfelStrudel
Ended up going with the DIG 12 outlet manifolds... I had more plants than I thought LOL. I counted 40 and guess I was off around 4 or 5. Basically, I got 4 300gph fountain pumps, 4 timers, and just gonna run the whole thing with poly or vinyl for now till I arrive back home, then I will tweak it up a hair. I have read great things about the DIG manifolds as well. Wish amazon had offered the adjustable digs on prime but nope, had to go with the 1gph manifolds. I have to have it shipped and set up by Wednesday, latest. That was my quickest shipping option.
With 4 manifolds, 4 pumps and 4 timers, yes, seems like overkill... however, its gonna be the simplest way to dial them in without having to screw around with a bunch of stuff. Just a straight shot from my reservoir, pump, out to plant location. It should at least get me by when I return home. The timers I got, had good reviews as well and got down to the nitty gritty (the seconds).
As far as anti siphoning goes, I am thinking about just poking holes into the top of my lines right before they drop out of the reservoir, I heard that worked pretty well and al back flow just goes right back into it... all I can do is hope, if it doesnt work out when I get all my shit and get it put together Wednesday night, then I guess I wont be going out of town for 4 or 5 days... not letting this grow go, that's how important it is to me.
Ended up going with the DIG 12 outlet manifolds... I had more plants than I thought LOL. I counted 40 and guess I was off around 4 or 5. Basically, I got 4 300gph fountain pumps, 4 timers, and just gonna run the whole thing with poly or vinyl for now till I arrive back home, then I will tweak it up a hair. I have read great things about the DIG manifolds as well. Wish amazon had offered the adjustable digs on prime but nope, had to go with the 1gph manifolds. I have to have it shipped and set up by Wednesday, latest. That was my quickest shipping option.
With 4 manifolds, 4 pumps and 4 timers, yes, seems like overkill... however, its gonna be the simplest way to dial them in without having to screw around with a bunch of stuff. Just a straight shot from my reservoir, pump, out to plant location. It should at least get me by when I return home. The timers I got, had good reviews as well and got down to the nitty gritty (the seconds).
As far as anti siphoning goes, I am thinking about just poking holes into the top of my lines right before they drop out of the reservoir, I heard that worked pretty well and al back flow just goes right back into it... all I can do is hope, if it doesnt work out when I get all my shit and get it put together Wednesday night, then I guess I wont be going out of town for 4 or 5 days... not letting this grow go, that's how important it is to me.
psychadelibud
Well-Known Member
Sorry I wasn't clear on that one rky... but what I meant by that was, is your entire main line from pump all the way out 5o the manifolds PVC all the way? Or do you have a vinyl, poly or rubber hose on your pump, coming out of tank and connecting to your main PVC pipe via adapters? Just curious exactly how your line runs and what type of line you run all the way from the pump, to the manifold.
rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
my whole setup is in my external reservoir (30 gal trashcan) except for the aquarium tubing that goes out to the plant sites.
so sitting on the bottom of the res is the pump with that 4" pvc riser (post 47) threaded into it and then the DiG threaded onto that. so give or take it's about 10" tall. mine is only setup for 4 plants.
psychadelibud
Well-Known Member
Only for 4 plants? I went with the same setup you did for 40 plants, 4 pumps, 4 manifolds, do you think those pumps you recommended is enough to feed all of those plants?
rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
yeah man, 4 plants. i like to be able to go away and not babysit these girls for weeks at a time. lol.
pump size doesn't really matter, your timer duration is what matters.
psychadelibud
Well-Known Member
Lol I hear ya man. I used to only grow between 4 to 6... that was before I started growing to make a living, though, back when personal head stash was the goal... I miss the control and simplicity of it, its a totally different ball game running a larger commercial grow. I wouldn't really consider mine commercial, but with 4 lights I am yielding around 6 to 8 lbs per run, depending on a lot of factors. I actually had a nice fellar here on RIU a few weeks ago send me some CMH bulbs, ballasts... I am thinking about throwing a couple of those in there with my already 4000 watts and see how much it helps with yield and overall quality. I have a good friend over on icmag that claims it almost doubled his yield and that the trich production was much more prominent. So we will see how that goes...
Well, we are fixing to find out how it goes.. I have just recieved about a third of my supplies today When the rest of it gets here tomorrow, I am gonna hook it up immediately and start playing around with it. Wish me luck lol...
I really appreciate all of your help and ideas... if it weren't for you I would have ended up going with a totally different setup and it likely would have failed. I ended up getting 4 pumps, gonna have 4 main lines. Basically what I plan on doing is pumping the water from each line out directly to the DIG manifolds that will be connected to a tee and sprinkler riser at the end of each plant.
Does the DIG manifold need to be placed higher than the pots? Or does that matter?
psychadelibud
Well-Known Member
I also wish I had the option of being able to get the same dig manifolds you have, the adjustable ones. But amazon didn't offer them, not on prime anyway... So my manifolds will be rated at 1gph... But I believe you can take the emitters out of the manifold on the inside and let it run straight through, not sure. You may know something about that??
Also I got stuck with 1/8 tubing for the manifolds... so I dont see myself getting a fast drip,m, wish I had got the adapters to hook up to the 1/4. The 1/8 is the standard for the dig manifolds though.
Also I got stuck with 1/8 tubing for the manifolds... so I dont see myself getting a fast drip,m, wish I had got the adapters to hook up to the 1/4. The 1/8 is the standard for the dig manifolds though.
rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
mine is lower but i'm sure it works either way.
good luck! it will take a bit to get your timers dialed in.
rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
not really. i run mine wide open. i figured cutting each aquarium tubing the same length would keep the flow rates roughly the same.
psychadelibud
Well-Known Member
Well supposedly the digs are supposed to distribute water evenly regardless of the length of the tubes. Not sure how legit that is, but that is what they claim...
rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
yeah
if you're ok with posting pics, i'd love to see your setup when you get done with it.
you're right about that. i forgot that was their claim. mines been in use for probably 4 or 5 years now with no issues.
if you're ok with posting pics, i'd love to see your setup when you get done with it.
psychadelibud
Well-Known Member
Yes I am fine with posting photos.. I will throw some up when I am finished. I am very excited about getting the drip system up and going, have been wanting to switch to drip irrigation for years now!
Do you post photos? If so, would love to see yours as well rky.
psychadelibud
Well-Known Member
@rkymtnman
Do you have an inline filter or any sort of filter installed within your drip setup?? Just curious, I didn't order a filter but I think surely I can get by without one for just those 5 days till I can get me one to throw on there...
I think I read that the DIG manifolds already come equipped with built in filters, but not sure if they are reliable or sufficient.
Do you have an inline filter or any sort of filter installed within your drip setup?? Just curious, I didn't order a filter but I think surely I can get by without one for just those 5 days till I can get me one to throw on there...
I think I read that the DIG manifolds already come equipped with built in filters, but not sure if they are reliable or sufficient.