Cross breeding undercurrent and fogponics

shawnery

Well-Known Member
So here's the parts list so far. I was thinking I could get away with running only two considering in the open they are supposed to cover 15sqft. The bucket is a 13 gallon hdx tote which are about 16" by 12" and 12" tall which is a guess but close enough. My plan was to run one at each long end to increase spread before roots.
  1. Aquatec cdb 8800 will run @ 105 psi with 16 heads
  2. Pressure switch
  3. Solenoid valve
  4. Transformer
  5. Pressure gauge
  6. 3 gallon ro tank for accumulator
  7. .0012 brass nozzle @ 20 - 80kg/cm, flow rate @ 80 -145ml/min
  8. 3 way slip tee and 2 way slip tees for nozzles
  9. 50ft 1/4" irrigation tube
Anything I'm missing?

Here's a diagram of my undercurrent and the hpa modes happening. The cad converter cut the very bottom lines away but you can see the idea.

Red line is return.
Blue line is feed.
Black line connecting is 1/4" HPA line.
Green shape are slip connectors and spray heads.

From left to right on bottom is,
Big white circle is accumulator.
Two small squares are solenoids and pressure switch.
Small white circle is pressure guage.
Medium white rectangle is hpa pump.
Large white rectangle is epi.
Small square at end is undercurrent pump.
 

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Atomizer

Well-Known Member
If its a hybrid system you may as well run the nozzles direct from the pump via a cycle timer. You`ll need some decent filtration for those nozzles and plenty of spares ;)
 

shawnery

Well-Known Member
50 micron filter on undercurrent return line then a finer filter before the input line for the hpa pump. I'll also be running 3 to 4 ppm's of pool shock as well which should also help with scale.

I agree though that there may be a shitload of cleaning.

Does this seem like a good build?
 

Atomizer

Well-Known Member
I`d be looking for something with a 250-325 mesh screen and even that may not be enough. Those nozzles love to clog.
 

Atomizer

Well-Known Member
The fuel filter in the link wont be close to 250-325 mesh. For those nozzles, go for the highest mesh number (smallest micron size) filter you can find and hope for the best.
 

shawnery

Well-Known Member
Now I understand! If its rated by microns you go for the smaller number but if its rated by by mesh number higher us better?!

Thanks!
 

5BY5LEC

Well-Known Member
You want the 155 mesh from home depot. DIG 3/4 MPT 155 Mesh.
Take a look at that screen. You need a scope to see the holes. If anything its too fine.
If I lose a hair leaning over the res I will find it later in the filter ha.
 

Atomizer

Well-Known Member
You want the 155 mesh from home depot. DIG 3/4 MPT 155 Mesh.
Take a look at that screen. You need a scope to see the holes. If anything its too fine.
If I lose a hair leaning over the res I will find it later in the filter ha.
That mesh size is ok for most purposes but not those nozzles and a recirculating res ;) Debris is rarely spherical, if a short hair hits the screen head on. it could find its way through.
 

5BY5LEC

Well-Known Member
That mesh size is ok for most purposes but not those nozzles and a recirculating res ;) Debris is rarely spherical, if a short hair hits the screen head on. it could find its way through.
How would you actually size a filter for use with those?
Would you just get one that has a finer mesh than the nozzle size?
 

shawnery

Well-Known Member
I have a 50 micron filter and that should be comparable to about a 270 mesh. The only problem is that it doesn't connect straight to the sprayers. The 50 micron filter feeds the recirc pump and then that feeds the epi. The hpa pump will feed directly off of the epi. Opening the lid could allow something in there so I guess better to be safe than sorry.

They sell this one for lpa on some websites and as hpa on others and not sure of the micron or mesh but you would assume if they're made for misting heads than they would be the right size?

CISNO Low Pressure Garden Misting System DIY Filter (Filter) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0746GQ6P6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_wQIWBb54GYDVE
 

Larry3215

Well-Known Member
You might want to consider trying some stainless nozzles instead of brass. Brass will corrode in the nute mixture and add copper to t he water = bad. That corrosion has a lot to do with the clogging.

https://www.aeromist.com/misting-nozzles/high-pressure-303-ss-anti-drip-misting-nozzle-024-x-10-24.html

or

https://fogco.com/product/cleanable-ss-nozzle-012-orifice-025-gpm-brown-o-ring/

or

https://azcoolmist.com/misting-nozzles.html?cat=8&p=2

or

https://www.ecologictechnologiesinc.com/fog_systems_fog_nozzles.html

Its a good idea to add no-drip or anti-drip valves to them as well. All of the above suppliers have them as an option or included in some cases.

Makes for a much cleaner spray with fewer or no drips wasting nutes.
 

5BY5LEC

Well-Known Member
You might want to consider trying some stainless nozzles instead of brass. Brass will corrode in the nute mixture and add copper to t he water = bad. That corrosion has a lot to do with the clogging.

https://www.aeromist.com/misting-nozzles/high-pressure-303-ss-anti-drip-misting-nozzle-024-x-10-24.html

or

https://fogco.com/product/cleanable-ss-nozzle-012-orifice-025-gpm-brown-o-ring/

or

https://azcoolmist.com/misting-nozzles.html?cat=8&p=2

or

https://www.ecologictechnologiesinc.com/fog_systems_fog_nozzles.html

Its a good idea to add no-drip or anti-drip valves to them as well. All of the above suppliers have them as an option or included in some cases.

Makes for a much cleaner spray with fewer or no drips wasting nutes.
That is such a great idea. It would take very little corrosion to clog such a small orfice.
 

Atomizer

Well-Known Member
The brass patio misting nozzles have a stainless steel core and orifice. They are prone to clogging in their normal application which is plain tapwater run to waste. Almost everyone buys those nozzles first because they are cheap and the easiest to find.
 
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