show and tell about your automated drip/sprayer systems

HydroRed

HydroRed

Well-Known Member
Lots of great setups in here. I love admiring other growers ingenuity on here.
I run DWC drip ring buckets that use the individual buckets as their res with an air pump to siphon/drip.
I run anywhere from a 4-8 bucket setup under (1 or 2) 1K' HPS
Not the most convenient of reservoirs, but its automated drip and has yet to leak a drop or fail to drip in years of the same system.
Monster root balls and remarkable yields....and VERY inexpensive.
I also have a 27 gal res up on milk crates with a hose and valve to fill/top off the individual res buckets. I have it elevated so I dont even need a pump to fill from it.

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guerrilla medic

guerrilla medic

Well-Known Member
@Chillin chillin that is a sharp looking setup you're running there bro. Thanks for posting up the pics.

@DDub i'm honestly not sure about pump size relative to sprayers numbers. I believe my pump is like 3.3 gpm 45psi. The most stakes I have personally ran on one pump was 44(green 5gph netafim). I am actually building a system at my buddies place tomorrow that will have 62 of the previously mentioned stakes, so we'll see how she does with that load. The main line that i'm using is 3/4" hard poly line from home depot. Its like 20 bucks for 100 feet. I use the 5 gallon buckets because they are cheap. I actually only fill them a little over halfway.
 
gr865

gr865

Well-Known Member
Hopefully this is the place to ask this. I will be running Canna Coco in two to three gallon smart pots. My cabinet, 4 X 2.5 X 6' is in my garage and in the summer it get quite warm. My air intake comes from inside the house so keeping the inside cabinet cool is not an issue, will be running a 6" fan with filter in the cabinet.
What I think will be an issue is the drip irrigation system. I plan on having my res inside the house where my intake air line is located and running a line through the wall into the box and once inside the box has it set up something like this, got this pic online I hope they don't mind me using it.
ic's irrig.jpg
So the feed line comes through the wall, will be a flex line that attaches externally to the line that's inside the cabinet. I want it set up so the feed line drains back into the res to aerate before being pumped to the plants again. Do I have to worry about the flex line heating up and causing the water/nutes to heat up? I expect no more than 18" of flex line and probably less. I would think that the water/nutes being delivered would cool the flex line rapidly causing no harm.

Another question please, I will not be using emitters on the lines, just open feed hose, probaby 3/16" ID. If i have the lines drain back to the res could that cause a issues?
My mighty grow space!
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Thanks y'all!
GR
 
C

Chillin chillin

Well-Known Member
gr865 said:
Hopefully this is the place to ask this. I will be running Canna Coco in two to three gallon smart pots. My cabinet, 4 X 2.5 X 6' is in my garage and in the summer it get quite warm. My air intake comes from inside the house so keeping the inside cabinet cool is not an issue, will be running a 6" fan with filter in the cabinet.
What I think will be an issue is the drip irrigation system. I plan on having my res inside the house where my intake air line is located and running a line through the wall into the box and once inside the box has it set up something like this, got this pic online I hope they don't mind me using it.
View attachment 3662553
So the feed line comes through the wall, will be a flex line that attaches externally to the line that's inside the cabinet. I want it set up so the feed line drains back into the res to aerate before being pumped to the plants again. Do I have to worry about the flex line heating up and causing the water/nutes to heat up? I expect no more than 18" of flex line and probably less. I would think that the water/nutes being delivered would cool the flex line rapidly causing no harm.

Another question please, I will not be using emitters on the lines, just open feed hose, probaby 3/16" ID. If i have the lines drain back to the res could that cause a issues?
My mighty grow space!
View attachment 3662569 View attachment 3662570

Thanks y'all!
GR
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should be good. The worst is the water in the flex line heats up causing bad ph flux but wouldn't sweat it since it's just a small amount
 
DDub

DDub

Well-Known Member
Chillin chillin said:
My resevore temps get up to 73, I have to drop my ph daily but gotta do something every day. Lol
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I'm seeing conflicting info regarding allowable res temp and ph fluctuation. In my history with Hydro (DWC and Ebb Buckets) rez temp had to be monitored closely. In other multi-feed DTW posts its outlined that anything under 75-76 assuming at least 2-3 feeds is an acceptable temp in DTW. In fact some argue Nute uptake is most efficient at an even slightly higher temp. Is this true in your situation Chillin?

When you say you have to drop your Ph daily, is it due to some form of a Carb supplement or temperature?

I totally understand your manifold setup now Chillin. Thanks for help.
 
C

Chillin chillin

Well-Known Member
DDub said:
I'm seeing conflicting info regarding allowable res temp and ph fluctuation. In my history with Hydro (DWC and Ebb Buckets) rez temp had to be monitored closely. In other multi-feed DTW posts its outlined that anything under 75-76 assuming at least 2-3 feeds is an acceptable temp in DTW. In fact some argue Nute uptake is most efficient at an even slightly higher temp. Is this true in your situation Chillin?

When you say you have to drop your Ph daily, is it due to some form of a Carb supplement or temperature?

I totally understand your manifold setup now Chillin. Thanks for help.
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In the room where my resl gets up to 73 it's just a big room. My resevores are getting a lil heat from the Gavidas and I use carbs in my drip system which is why I feel I need to drop the ph daily
As far as nute uptake being greater @ higher res temps, never looked into that.
 
DDub

DDub

Well-Known Member
Chillin I have two questions that are becoming hard to figure out.

What are the benefits or disadvantages to both a closed and open loop manifold system? If the pump is strong enough does it really matter at all?

Second, are flow compensating Drippers required? If 1/4 lines from manifold are same length does that remove the need if there is a need?

I'm basically down to these Dial-A-Flo I mentioned above or Black Holes. I see some people use flow valve barbs from manifold to 1/4 feed lines. It seems they're a pain in th ass to fine tune but I'm totally willing to do so if necessary. Any input you can give as how to easiest manage flow from one pump to 40+ sites would be greatly appreciated. It appears you have this figured out. Thanks again man!
 
C

Chillin chillin

Well-Known Member
DDub said:
Chillin I have two questions that are becoming hard to figure out.

What are the benefits or disadvantages to both a closed and open loop manifold system? If the pump is strong enough does it really matter at all?

Second, are flow compensating Drippers required? If 1/4 lines from manifold are same length does that remove the need if there is a need?

I'm basically down to these Dial-A-Flo I mentioned above or Black Holes. I see some people use flow valve barbs from manifold to 1/4 feed lines. It seems they're a pain in th ass to fine tune but I'm totally willing to do so if necessary. Any input you can give as how to easiest manage flow from one pump to 40+ sites would be greatly appreciated. It appears you have this figured out. Thanks again man!
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A closed loop system will save on nutrients but if 1 plant gets a root disease they all get it. I've ran both and w closed I had to flush frequently. I thought an open system would cost way more in nutrients but feeding 8x a day for 1 min and not much run off.
The back pressure from the drippers is key to running many drip sites off this pump. 1 run 312 sites off 1 pump in 1 place I work
 
DDub

DDub

Well-Known Member
Chillin chillin said:
Only few hrs a day easy
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Can you show a pic of how the Poly lines link to the PVC in your system? Is there multiple poly lines hooking to the PVC which is what I assume or is it all circulated? My guess is you run a line for each row and plug or crimp each end?

Also do you think using 1" PVC for all PVC portions would be ok?
 
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Chillin chillin

Well-Known Member
DDub said:
Can you show a pic of how the Poly lines link to the PVC in your system? Is there multiple poly lines hooking to the PVC which is what I assume or is it all circulated? My guess is you run a line for each row and plug or crimp each end?

Also do you think using 1" PVC for all PVC portions would be ok?
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Remember you only want to reduce your pvc size from your pump to increase pressure, never increase the lines diameter as it will decrease pressure. I run pvc to my table then run a poly line down the table zip tie the other end. I poke 4 gph dripers down the poly line and run 1/4" line from dripers to black cap.
I'll take pics later
 
C

Chillin chillin

Well-Known Member
image.jpg Notice the shut off valve immediately after the resevore also make it so the pump can be removed in case of failure also an anti flo valve(need few of these) so the water stops @ dripers when pump shuts off
 
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