automated irrigation of organic garden, will this work?
- Thread starter weetsie
- Start date
cannafarmer
Member
Something else to consider. When you have many feet of line, the pressure and gph can vary quite a bit. You can pick up pressure compensating inline regulators that will keep the flow rate pretty consistent at each plant. Got mine at Lowe's for about a $1 each if I remember correctly.
Medshed
Well-Known Member
Hey King of Queen - I have only experienced this problem with inadequate aeration. When I ran the Earth Juice line in my autopots I never had a problem with spoilage. I treated the res like a fish tank. That means you are trying to keep a colony of creatures alive at all times. Proper oxygen, no dramatic swings in environment (food level, temperature, etc.). One of the big rules of fish tanks is don't drain too much water at once. I never let my res get below about 30% full. That way the microherd stays healthy and happy.
thanks, the drippers or more accuratly sprayers are adjustable from off to 40lph and as the res is so huge the lift the pump has to make barely changes so flow should be pretty consistent from that.
i guessed that air would increase organic ferts life when mixed, how long would you think safe to leave a very well oxegenated mix for?
Medshed
Well-Known Member
I've gone about 9 months without draining the res completely. I use a fish tank cleaning hose to suck the sludge off the bottom once a week or so. Also keep a big square of fish tank filter material in there to give the critters a place to cling onto. I don’t know if there is a maximum time really. I've had fish tanks that went years without a complete drain and fill. If you keep the environment well suited for life they'll keep on living (happily everafter).