Drip emitters vs open flow

Hey There,

I have used a few different versions or a drip system in the past and I am currently replacing one that I have used for a few years with great success. It’s a very simple system using black hose and 4 gph drip emitters across 24 plant sites.

As I am redesigning my system, I am considering moving to pvc for a more stable footprint. My question is do I have to use drip emitters? I have always used them and assumed they kept the pressure uniform across drip sites and allow for a slower water drip.

My main issue with the emitters is they plug up over time due to hard water and nutes. When they plug if I don’t catch it, that plant might go without or reduced water.

I am thinking on a solid pvc system with open lines. Water time will be less but I am not concerned about that so much. I am concerned about maintaining pressure across all the plant sites. I have two stakes per plant so 48 sites.

Anyone have any experience with this situation.

nurrgle said:

Hey There,

I have used a few different versions or a drip system in the past and I am currently replacing one that I have used for a few years with great success. It’s a very simple system using black hose and 4 gph drip emitters across 24 plant sites.

As I am redesigning my system, I am considering moving to pvc for a more stable footprint. My question is do I have to use drip emitters? I have always used them and assumed they kept the pressure uniform across drip sites and allow for a slower water drip.

My main issue with the emitters is they plug up over time due to hard water and nutes. When they plug if I don’t catch it, that plant might go without or reduced water.

I am thinking on a solid pvc system with open lines. Water time will be less but I am not concerned about that so much. I am concerned about maintaining pressure across all the plant sites. I have two stakes per plant so 48 sites.

Anyone have any experience with this situation.

Click to expand...

Ive been asked to build a very similar setup, and I am wondering the same thing. I plan to run 2 stakes per sight as well as having open or less constricted emitters due to future clogs. The room is going to have 24 plants so its basically the same setup as you .. 48 lines total. Im going to guess and say that by keeping the hard pipe flat on the ground so the air must rise out before water comes out and running my tubing up and around the lid will help a bit as well as making all of my lines exact lengths? Also a high pressure pump that can adjust down pressure should be adequate control over the pressure. Ill be starting tomorrow so ill let you know how the pressure goes as well as any other info I can provide.

So I got this setup and I am pretty stoked on how it’s working

I needed up with 23 plants and 48 emitters.
I used the hydrofarm drip hose and 4 gal per hour emitters pushes into that Jose for each distribution point. The gph emitters help to maintain constant pressure through out the system.

All lines need to be the same length so water travels the same distance.

with the 4 gph emitters,each plant site is given 1.75 liters in 4 minutes. I do two cycles per day one at lights on and one halfway through. Once I hit heavy flower, I add an additional 4 minutes to the timer about 2 hours before the lights shut off.

I have done pvc drips but for a smaller room with just 24 plants, the soft black hydrofarm hose is perfect. I already had the pump and spent only $60 for the components. At that rate I just replace the lines every other round. That way nothing plugs up

Do you use a minifold right off of your water pump and then disperse into equal distant hose? Just wondering how i should connect the drip hose to my pump. Picture?

I run from a submersible pump directly to a 1/2” T. Then after the T I have a valve on each line so I can shut it off if need be. I also have a barb inside the revisor at the top of the line to prevent siphoning
Because I am just replacing the lines, I only have a sock filter over the pump rather then a strainer.

I won’t be able to provide a picture until later this evening.

I use air manifolds. Able to adjust flow for each line. Not as exact as a dripper.



My res is only a few feet away.

nurrgle said:

I run from a submersible pump directly to a 1/2” T. Then after the T I have a valve on each line so I can shut it off if need be. I also have a barb inside the revisor at the top of the line to prevent siphoning
Because I am just replacing the lines, I only have a sock filter over the pump rather then a strainer.

I won’t be able to provide a picture until later this evening.

Click to expand...

I'm very interested ! Thanks for the fast reply also

TintEastwood said:

I use air manifolds. Able to adjust flow for each line. Not as exact as a dripper.

View attachment 4426700

My res is only a few feet away.

Click to expand...

Lol good idea. . I thought about getting those water catchers that the lines drip onto but I would need to many idk if it's worth it or if I should go right into the pots

nurrgle said:

I run from a submersible pump directly to a 1/2” T. Then after the T I have a valve on each line so I can shut it off if need be. I also have a barb inside the revisor at the top of the line to prevent siphoning
Because I am just replacing the lines, I only have a sock filter over the pump rather then a strainer.

I won’t be able to provide a picture until later this evening.

Click to expand...

Sounds similar to what i used to run before going to pvc with manifolds. Pressure compensating drippers are a must and then it doesnt matter the length of drip lines for each plant or distance from pump. Also for clogging you can add an inline filter in your poly mainline. Some drippers are terrible for clogging and some alot better. Best ones i found were Ceta pressure compensating ones that you can open easily to clean if they clog.

grinonmygrill420 said:

Do you use a minifold right off of your water pump and then disperse into equal distant hose? Just wondering how i should connect the drip hose to my pump. Picture?

Click to expand...

You would run a mainline, 1/2" black poly is the easiest and cheapest to work with. Right off your pump, then depending on how many plants you would be doing you would T off that line for your rows. If only doing a small grow just one mainline would be fine, then you run your spagetti line off the mainline to your plants. I prefer to install 1/4 inch tees in the poly so you can run 2 plants off that. And then put your dippers at the plant end of the spaghetti line, this way also makes it easy if you need to change out drippers, then your not pulling them out of the poly mainline which is a pain.

nurrgle said:

I run from a submersible pump directly to a 1/2” T. Then after the T I have a valve on each line so I can shut it off if need be. I also have a barb inside the revisor at the top of the line to prevent siphoning
Because I am just replacing the lines, I only have a sock filter over the pump rather then a strainer.

I won’t be able to provide a picture until later this evening.

Click to expand...

I tried running direct with ball valve, T & siphoning elbow at first. Seamed good if i did it manually but it wasn't holding pressure properly or not dispersing evenly when turned on & id have to play with valves going to each plant.
Then i bought this OB motor looking head which goes directly to my submersible. Supposedly keeps pump primed, stop siphoning & always ready when the timer kicks on to disperse evenly.
Idk though. Still not dialed into where i dont have to be there to feed.
Have x3 rows like this on a closed loop system. 4428355[/ATTACH]

hybridway2 said:

I tried running direct with ball valve, T & siphoning elbow at first. Seamed good if i did it manually but it wasn't holding pressure properly or not dispersing evenly when turned on & id have to play with valves going to each plant.
Then i bought this OB motor looking head which goes directly to my submersible. Supposedly keeps pump primed, stop siphoning & always ready when the timer kicks on to disperse evenly. View attachment 4428353
Idk though. Still not dialed into where i dont have to be there to feed.
Have x3 rows like this on a closed loop system. 4428355[/ATTACH]View attachment 4428357

Click to expand...

Are you running open lines or drippers?

I have been contemplating similar angles and was concerned with even distribution pressure. Wouldn't those GPH limiters have the same tendency to clog as drippers?

That's why I was leaning towards open-flow - but - with ball valves at each site. That way I could tweak and tune the flow rate and when clogged just open them up and flush then fiddle with pressure adjustment again. Then with also being a noob to this type of setup was worried about flooding and looked at those vacuum breakers versus just using an extra leg ran off a T from the pump and return to rez for the benefits that gives (aerate/mix).

Is there a standard industrial term/name for that self-priming deal? Definitely looks like it'd offer some option in how you could setup the rez in relation to the grow.

Read some reviews on these not clogging,
Lots of people really happy on IG with them
So far only 2weeks into flower with my test,
I’m very happy with them.
I’ll be removing all the floraflex matrix n square tops for them.

I haven’t had an issue using the GPH emitters. I have 80 of them on a few lines now and they work great. I punch the emitter into the soft hydrofarm hose then use a 24” 1/4” feeder tube to a basket.

I replace the whole setup every couple runs and use drip clean as well. I like the pvc hard lines but I can do a 8 light room for $75 plus the pump.

I grabbed a pic of how I run from the line and a couple tops. Lights are out and harvest if Friday so sorry for the quality.

nurrgle said:

I haven’t had an issue using the GPH emitters. I have 80 of them on a few lines now and they work great. I punch the emitter into the soft hydrofarm hose then use a 24” 1/4” feeder tube to a basket.

I replace the whole setup every couple runs and use drip clean as well. I like the pvc hard lines but I can do a 8 light room for $75 plus the pump.

I grabbed a pic of how I run from the line and a couple tops. Lights are out and harvest if Friday so sorry for the quality.

Click to expand...

Yup thats definitely an easy and efficient way to do it. Can you open those drippers ? I used to do that with the drippers in the poly line but switched it up to 1/4" tees into the poly then dripper on the end of the spagetti line, makes changing out drippers way easier. Hope i dont regret going to pvc and manifolds! But looking forward to not having to buy hundreds of drippers every round.

I used manifolds and hard lines when I was running rock wool and was super worried about each plant site getting an equal amount of feed. Loved them and have thought about switching back.

BigHornBuds said:

View attachment 4429791

Read some reviews on these not clogging,
Lots of people really happy on IG with them
So far only 2weeks into flower with my test,
I’m very happy with them.
I’ll be removing all the floraflex matrix n square tops for them.

Click to expand...

Could these be used in smaller 1 gal pots?

dubekoms said:

Could these be used in smaller 1 gal pots?

Click to expand...

Yup

westcoast420 said:

Are you running open lines or drippers?

Click to expand...

My bad, they are either or. However hard you decide to run the pressure.
Im pretty much using it for a full feed, DTW, every other day. Thats when they're dry too. Some faster then others & those get a mini-feed inbetween or water.
See the blue halos? They are called 9" Drip Emitters. Each has its own to control, ball valve as well as one for each isle & x2 @ the main, one on each side if the wall.
Man, its a whole nuther world from hand feeding.