Help locating pressure regulator/flow restrictors for drip setup

So last run way late in the game I built a manifold out of 1/2 PVC with ball valves, splitting into two and then using a 4-way to come out with 3 per leg for a total of 6 manifold outlets. I bought a danner 700 something gph pump and it seemed to do well unattended, drawing (very quickly) from a simple 5 gal bucket at time with plans to upsize later when automating with a timer.

I found 1 of the totes I had under the plants filled a couple inches deep with water one evening, the others were all fine with barely any run-off. Still not sure quite what went wrong there...

These were open ended 1/4 poly tubing that ran from the manifold to each plant. I had thought about looking into those black-hole drippers or just building a C-shaped rig from PVC with a couple small holes and capping the ends.

What seems to be missing from the equation is pressure regulation. At the ends of the poly tubing runs to ensure equal distribution pressure - right? I did some quick searching for PVC or Poly tubing compatible parts but wasn't finding things I'd expect - and what I did find in some cases was ridiculously expensive!

What do you folks who've automated their drip/dtw systems know of out there I may be overlooking? I'll be using some oversized pots with amended soil/coco mix - either 5 gals or 7 gals, each of those a little underfilled.

I think I may also need a siphon &/or backflow preventer potentially as well if I understand things...

Would my best option to be perhaps just make the PVC piece described (C-shape like those black hole dripper deals) but then try and tap and use normal drip emitters? I would like to find something threaded perhaps if so. I've got the taps to do so, which seems like a more secure approach and doesn't require any glue/etc...

Have you considered running Blumats?

Trial and Error... At the same time do what research you can and see what other guys are doing! Don't expect someone to solve the puzzle... you'll figure it out...

XipXipXoom said:

Have you considered running Blumats?

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I've looked at the option, but haven't dug into it very deep. One odd thing I noticed on a PDF from their site was it mentioned 'for outdoor use only'... Which I'm not outdoors but how the hell would it matter. Seemed a very odd thing to put on their materials.

Also, in this PVC apparatus, I planned on having a threaded cap I could unscrew and then run full-flow if I wanted to do anything like a flushing/heavy watering for some reason (water in a top dress, etc). For a few cents extra in the PVC setup I could have that flexibility.

I'm finding the drip emitters are available in threaded options, so I'm leaning towards that. Now the question is what GPH to I aim for. I was planning to use pretty large containers (7 gal smart pots filled to at least 5 probably) with an amended soil/coco mixture (has lots more in there but a mix regardless). After peeking in the threads on running dtw coco it sounds like I shouldn't be using more than 3 or 5 gallons perhaps.

Lawyers make Blumats add for outdoor use only to cover them from home damage liabilty due to indoor flooding. A similar example of our over-litigious society is auto-makers not giving some cars any tow rating, and recommending against towing, but then you buy a hitch from uhaul made exclusively for that car. Outdoor blumats are the ones you want, not the ones made for containers.

I would say 7gal is too big, 3g seems better (1k lights?). I grew 100% coco in 3gal smartpots under a 600w and found them too big. Smaller pots are better with automated feeding because air/oxygen has less material to move through to get to the roots. Larger pots better for outdoor handwatering. There are huge plants grown in 6x6 rockwool cubes on automated drip. Coco retains a lot of water so think about adding a good bit of perlite or make "chow mix"

NewGrower2011 said:

What do you folks who've automated their drip/dtw systems know of out there I may be overlooking?

Click to expand...

i've done automatic feed dtw in hempy buckets. i'm doing the same with GH waterfarms now. i set my timer so that they all over-water. with a hempy bucket, the hole acts as your overflow and i cut the water level hose shorter to the same effect on the waterfarms.

i hated coco. had much better luck with other mediums: growstones and hydroton

I have a drip system with 1/2" tubing going to a ball valve at each plant with an 8" drip ring. I have it in a loop with a ball valve just before it returns to the rez so I can regulate the overall pressure. Then I set the drip rates about the same and timed how long it took to get runoff. I have a rez of water and a rez of nutes. The water kicks on 2x a day for 1 minute and shortly after, the nutes kick on 3x a day for 2 min and 1 min. This keeps the system and coco flushed.

Pretty simple and very effective

This is what I did (just posted in different thread sorry)
Easy auto waterer:
A 18 gal tote with airstones and a 396 ecoplus pump into a https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RUJ2OE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I made some halos out of 1/4" flexible water line, drilled 4 tiny holes & connected them to the manifold. Adjust the flow to get a little runoff, in one minute. Now plug your ecoplus into one of these, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004LP1FKY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1. Program as many feedings as needed. Catch your runoff in a tote & toss every day.
The manifold let's you adjust the lines individually. I like it but the nutes must be completely dissolved or liquids.