Auto watering help needed.

2com

Well-Known Member
PS:
I'd think one of the irrigation stores would literally walk you through choosing all the parts you need for your 'x' amount of plants setup. You've got lots of options in the us I think.

Hurry up though, so I can see what you did right, and wrong, and go from there. hahaha.
 

Wayne55

Well-Known Member
I just bought some of those hydro halo watering rings and they work pretty good, cheap and most important easy.

Now if only i didn't choose an 800gph pump they might actually drip (vs high velocity spray)
Same, except my pump is 550 gph and it's still a bit too powerful for my 4 plant halo setup. I'm just aiming for some low velocity streams but I haven't messed with it much since I got it working well enough.
 

guitarguy10

Well-Known Member
Same, except my pump is 550 gph and it's still a bit too powerful for my 4 plant halo setup. I'm just aiming for some low velocity streams but I haven't messed with it much since I got it working well enough.
yeah i want to get a voltage controller of some sort to reduce its output. i have a fan speed controller which i havnt tried yet but I'm pretty sure it uses PWM (aka the power will cycle on and off and aka not work correctly)
 

ElGrandeMongo

Well-Known Member
yeah i want to get a voltage controller of some sort to reduce its output. i have a fan speed controller which i havnt tried yet but I'm pretty sure it uses PWM (aka the power will cycle on and off and aka not work correctly)
I'm looking to automate with 8-10 rings next cycle... You think your 800gph would still spray hard with 10 rings? Would also be split at a T going into 2 tents with the reservoir in between them.
 

MidnightSun72

Well-Known Member
I am working on 100 site system in my head too. Although not really I am splitting it to 6 x 16 site systems, 6 seperate res etc. . But I am happy I stumbled on this thread so much shit I've wondered about. Thank you guys. I'll be asking some dumb questions in here soon. :bigjoint::bigjoint::bigjoint::bigjoint::eyesmoke:
 

guitarguy10

Well-Known Member
I'm looking to automate with 8-10 rings next cycle... You think your 800gph would still spray hard with 10 rings? Would also be split at a T going into 2 tents with the reservoir in between them.
I only have 2 plants in large 17" wide planters (like 10 gallons each) but tbh i think any problems you might run into would be based on distance from the pump and imo in your case i think it would be better to put ball valves in between each plant, that way you can more control the flow. a bit less automation but I'm just not sure if one pump would be adequate, at the very least the plants at the end of the line will get less flow so it would take you different times to water each plant. valves or a 2nd pump would be my suggestion, that would also eliminate the need for a t junction
 

getogrow

Well-Known Member
I am working on 100 site system in my head too. Although not really I am splitting it to 6 x 16 site systems, 6 seperate res etc. . But I am happy I stumbled on this thread so much shit I've wondered about. Thank you guys. I'll be asking some dumb questions in here soon. :bigjoint::bigjoint::bigjoint::bigjoint::eyesmoke:
There is no way you will ask stupider questions then me! :mrgreen:

PS:
I'd think one of the irrigation stores would literally walk you through choosing all the parts you need for your 'x' amount of plants setup. You've got lots of options in the us I think.

Hurry up though, so I can see what you did right, and wrong, and go from there. hahaha.
I dont know of any local irrigation joints. If i could talk to some company im sure i would be fine and im POSITIVE the salesmen will have me in his pocket!
My partner asked this last night: "How will a pc dripper ensure the flow is even?"
Me: "fuck, i dont know , they are called pressure compensating drippers so i assume they figured all that out before they started selling them?" :wall:

I hope its as simple as that... i do NOT want to learn every aspect of irrigation. I was literally hoping 2com would get the shit and tell me what not to do ...... But i suppose your waiting on me so i'll hurry up and get the fuckups outta the way for us. If you can get me a company email or salesmen on the line i 'll end up with whatever they recommend. Im to the point where i do not care much about price as much as i do getting it right the first or tenth try.

Im pretty sure its rumro that says "grab a pump and hook it up to pc drippers and your good" .....if i cant find a legit salesmen , then i'll try that way first.

Do we even need manifolds ? Or can we just run from the pump to the pc's direct ? no care about how long each run is ? Does it matter if we tee everything or do we need a "main line" with smaller line for each plant ?
 

2com

Well-Known Member
There is no way you will ask stupider questions then me! :mrgreen:


I dont know of any local irrigation joints. If i could talk to some company im sure i would be fine and im POSITIVE the salesmen will have me in his pocket!
My partner asked this last night: "How will a pc dripper ensure the flow is even?"
Me: "fuck, i dont know , they are called pressure compensating drippers so i assume they figured all that out before they started selling them?" :wall:

Yea, the ensure consistent pressure, and thus flow ('x' gph).

I hope its as simple as that... i do NOT want to learn every aspect of irrigation. I was literally hoping 2com would get the shit and tell me what not to do ...... But i suppose your waiting on me so i'll hurry up and get the fuckups outta the way for us. If you can get me a company email or salesmen on the line i 'll end up with whatever they recommend. Im to the point where i do not care much about price as much as i do getting it right the first or tenth try.

Just call any of the online irrigation places in the us that people have recommended to get these supplies from and ask if they can help you understand (and choose) what the different parts needed are.

Im pretty sure its rumro that says "grab a pump and hook it up to pc drippers and your good" .....if i cant find a legit salesmen , then i'll try that way first.

Do we even need manifolds ? Or can we just run from the pump to the pc's direct ? no care about how long each run is ? Does it matter if we tee everything or do we need a "main line" with smaller line for each plant ?

Don't need manifolds (if you're thinking of those "octobubbler", manifold heads, etc.). You can basically run a "loop" of tubing through the garden/plants, that is fed from the pump. Then you puncture the tubing wherever you want to insert a drip emitter. Then you pop the emitter in the hole and run smaller hose from it to the plant. And repeat.
*The length of hose after the emitter will be the only thing that could cause any amount of uneven watering I think. Shouldn't be a big deal, but still, good idea to measure the longest distance you'll need and cut them all that length.

Crop farmer has a couple very short videos where you can get the idea. "crop farmer netafim" search that or something similar.
Replies in body ^.
 

HunterMFG

Member
I haven’t read through all four pages, but what I’d recommend based on the replies I did read would be to check out Floraflex. I only ran 4 plants on my first grow in five gallon fabric pots. I bought a pack of the 10.5”-12” matrix which fit over the top of the coco/perlite perfectly. Get the pads that go under the matrix too. You’ll also need a bubbler for every four plants you’re feeding. I’ll post a link for it below.

You’ll also need a good pump, I went with a eco plus 1056 because it’s powerful enough but wasn’t the firehose of a pump recommended from Floraflex. The first time we set it up using the pump they recommended, everything exploded from the insane pressure. It was like 4450 GPH. That’s what you use to empty a swimming pool lol.

You’ll also need their 1/4” tubing and some 1/2” hydro tubing to connect the pump to the pvc which runs to the bubbler. If anyone cares enough to reply, I can post some more pictures and a detailed write-up.

 

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getogrow

Well-Known Member
Netafim is not getting back with me as i expected so im just gonna buy a roll of 1/2", a roll of 1/4" and a bunch of tee's and a pump. i'll let you guys know how bad it went in a couple weeks.
 

2com

Well-Known Member
Netafim is not getting back with me as i expected so im just gonna buy a roll of 1/2", a roll of 1/4" and a bunch of tee's and a pump. i'll let you guys know how bad it went in a couple weeks.
Call drip works. Or call/contact "Craft Farmer", he has a website and an ig, and yt account too. Or contact "wolverinegrown" on ig. I bet either one of'em gets back to you pretty quick, and would be willing to help you figure out what you need, or understand. Craft Farmer also sells pre-made kits.

Or call dripworks and ask them if someone has 15-20 minutes to spend assisting you with putting together a drip system, after you provide them with your situation/needs and wants.
 

getogrow

Well-Known Member
Mandy at dripworks is not the most knowledable but she gave it hell. They dont sell pumps so she said all we need is a pressure regulator at 30psi and the line. She said a 1/2" line can handle 240 gph.
So the pump going to a 1/2" line and several 1/4" lines coming off that one for the plants. Simple as that. She didnt know anything about the pumps but gave me a website to help.

She said PumpBiz.com for help and waterpumpsdirect.com if i already know what pump i need. So pumpbiz it is...
 

2com

Well-Known Member
Mandy at dripworks is not the most knowledable but she gave it hell. They dont sell pumps so she said all we need is a pressure regulator at 30psi and the line. She said a 1/2" line can handle 240 gph.
So the pump going to a 1/2" line and several 1/4" lines coming off that one for the plants. Simple as that. She didnt know anything about the pumps but gave me a website to help.

She said PumpBiz.com for help and waterpumpsdirect.com if i already know what pump i need. So pumpbiz it is...
Thanks for sharing, dude. Thanks for giving it hell, Mandy.

I thought you already had a shurflo water pump.

Edit - they are often called "Jetpumps", "shallow well jet pumps", and eve "sprinkler pumps" (I *think*).
 

getogrow

Well-Known Member
Thanks for sharing, dude. Thanks for giving it hell, Mandy.

I thought you already had a shurflo water pump.

Edit - they are often called "Jetpumps", "shallow well jet pumps", and eve "sprinkler pumps" (I *think*).
No i never bought one. i just put a link up to see if it would work. Them shu flos are fairly cheap.... Right now im stuck on the right pump. I was wanting a magnetic drive but im not seeing one anywhere for a price i can deal with. All i am seeing is diaphram pumps.... will that work ?

She said to give them 30psi , so maybe a 50 psi pump with a regulator ?

Also she linked me to pc stakes instead of drippers. That would make things a few bucks cheaper.

The netafim folks got back with me and basically said i would not need PC unless the terrain was uneven. He recommended not even using pc and using regular drippers. Im not sure why. I thought he knew what i was growing but maybe not.... If i wanted to wing it , then i would wing it with the pvc i have laying around... i'll stick with dripworks.
 

2com

Well-Known Member
No i never bought one. i just put a link up to see if it would work. Them shu flos are fairly cheap.... Right now im stuck on the right pump. I was wanting a magnetic drive but im not seeing one anywhere for a price i can deal with. All i am seeing is diaphram pumps.... will that work ?

She said to give them 30psi , so maybe a 50 psi pump with a regulator ?

Also she linked me to pc stakes instead of drippers. That would make things a few bucks cheaper.

The netafim folks got back with me and basically said i would not need PC unless the terrain was uneven. He recommended not even using pc and using regular drippers. Im not sure why. I thought he knew what i was growing but maybe not.... If i wanted to wing it , then i would wing it with the pvc i have laying around... i'll stick with dripworks.
A magnetic drive water pump, like an aquarium pump? That won't do. They don't make high enough pressure, they're for flow.
An RV diaphragm pump can work, and a "shallow well / sprinkler / jet pump" style will work.

It's about the psi if using pc drippers, which I think will give the best results. I'll pm you in a bit.
 

getogrow

Well-Known Member
A magnetic drive water pump, like an aquarium pump? That won't do. They don't make high enough pressure, they're for flow.
An RV diaphragm pump can work, and a "shallow well / sprinkler / jet pump" style will work.

It's about the psi if using pc drippers, which I think will give the best results. I'll pm you in a bit.
Thank you sir. Im a bit lost
 
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