Fertigation injector build out - Dosatron

[Bangarang]

In the next two weeks i am going to start building something similar to the easy feed system. Actually i am going to replicate JPLord01 system https://www.thcfarmer.com/community/attachments/001-jpg.203993/
https://www.thcfarmer.com/community/threads/automatic-nutrient-dosers.46925/
Peoplewish has a similar thread under Nutrients https://www.thcfarmer.com/community/threads/13-2-13-0-52-34-injectors.66275/

My biggest concern is my Ph. My water is high in alkalinity and i have to run something like .75ml/gallon of Nitric to stabilize my water in a reservoir.
1. What is the best Ph doser?
2. Do i need to put a bypass line or can i should i just turn off the Dosatron's?
3. Is there a reason these companies use Schedule 80 for everything?

PH injector should be the first injector in the line, you should have a mixing chamber at the end of the run before your zone valves. You could purchase the installation kit which would include all of the needed items such as pressure reducer, back flow preventer and mixing chamber. Dosatron is also working with Blue Lab on an inline monitor the ph, ec, tds and temp.

What is the purpose of the mixing chamber? Isn't the idea to just push it straight through your valves without the use of a pump?

 

[leadsled]

1. Dostaron will work excellent for all including ph. You can stick them in the order you need. water nitric, nutes, ph.
2. The dosatrons have a bypass valve so can turn the nutes off. I like to install a faucet so can also use that with h20.
3. Main reason seems to be the size of the quick release connectors. Can make the system smaller and more compact. Have done schedule 40, but prefer to do the 80 for previous reason.

Have you purchased any of the parts yet? Some master controllers has irrigation features like iponic, agrowtek to name a few.
I prefered to have different system for each part of automation. That way if one thing fails got backups.

fyi, There is a newer to the market irrigation controller that will do up to 20 valves and has wifi smart phone access.
The irrigation controller used in the easy feed is design for 6 valves. 2 of them can be master valves.

Here is a pre easy feed system without dosers. p.s. This setup uses a res. Can add the dosers when building or later.
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=icmag.com:+yukino_asano+irrigation+controller

Each dosatron has a mixing chamber, more info on there website about how it works.
fyi, There is a check valve behind the filter on the water input portion of the system. Not easy to see in photos or catalog. need to be there so there is not any backflow of nutes

Hope that helps.

 

[Bangarang]

Anyone used this product?

 

[Coir]

I have been using Dosatron injectors in my greenhouse for the last 20 something years. The newer models are definitely better than the previous versions I have gone through. I don't use acid so I am not sure how they would hold up but placing the acid injector inline with your water supply then using a "T" to split the pH corrected water into 2 more injectors that will draw up equal amounts of "A" and "B" concentrates should work fine. I use a checkvalve on the output side of each injector to prevent backflow and a ball valve on the input side of each to adjust flow so I can balance them. The two outputs are then combined through another "T" into a single sch40 main line. I have always used sch40 pipe and never had a problem.
One of my suppliers just had a sale on and the 14gpm models were $349 each.
Here is a picture of my two injector setup from years ago. It looks a bit more organized now but the system is still the same.

 

[leadsled]

Anyone used this product?

No. FYI. That setup is also not inline. Bluelab one is out now.
http://growershouse.com/bluelab-ph-controller-connect

Gettogro built an automated ph with peristatic pump.
Check out his threads, lots of excellent DIY and the guy is handy with the fabrication skill.

Are you looking at other ways than using dosatrons? Can get pricey when you got a bunch of them. Let people know what you are thinking about and then will be better able to help you reach your goal. Hope that helps.

I have been using Dosatron injectors in my greenhouse for the last 20 something years. The newer models are definitely better than the previous versions I have gone through. I don't use acid so I am not sure how they would hold up but placing the acid injector inline with your water supply then using a "T" to split the pH corrected water into 2 more injectors that will draw up equal amounts of "A" and "B" concentrates should work fine. I use a checkvalve on the output side of each injector to prevent backflow and a ball valve on the input side of each to adjust flow so I can balance them. The two outputs are then combined through another "T" into a single sch40 main line. I have always used sch40 pipe and never had a problem.
One of my suppliers just had a sale on and the 14gpm models were $349 each.
Here is a picture of my two injector setup from years ago. It looks a bit more organized now but the system is still the same.

Thanks for sharing. Do not see much on cannabis forums in that regard. imho always good for people to see what is possible.

 

[Bangarang]

Would this work? http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/p...61&ref=gbase&gclid=CLiTlfOthMECFURgfgoddh0A4Q
How does commerical ag adjust the ph of their water prior to adding nutrients?

 

[Bangarang]

I was thinking of building something like this with 3 dosers. Just have to figure out how to adjust the Ph first.

 

[leadsled]

Would this work? http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/p...61&ref=gbase&gclid=CLiTlfOthMECFURgfgoddh0A4Q
How does commerical ag adjust the ph of their water prior to adding nutrients?

Best to account for alkalinity of the h20 in addition to the ph. Do a water test then adjust according to ph and alkalinity. If ph is out of range and will effect nutrient solubility, then ph adjustment needs to be before the dosers.

p.s. Look like I may have been wrong about that first model of ph doser. may work inline.

I was thinking of building something like this with 3 dosers. Just have to figure out how to adjust the Ph first.

Why not use another dosatron inline? They are cheaper than the peristatic pump style and less parts to fail.

ok if you need two dosatrons (one for acid, one for base)then could be looking at around same cost.

Without a res you need to use an inline doser or way to run it inline to correct your ph. Can takes time for the solution to mix with water and correct the ph

Some of the perstatic pump style ph dosers are designed to work with a reservoir.

I attached the Argue nutrient dosing handbook. The dosatron website is also very helpfull. they have diagrams for different setups,. lots of good information .

It is a good read on many of the things to think about with inline dosing. Not only ph but nutrient interactions.

Any more questions ask away. Hope that helpful.

 

[Coir]

Call dosatron and ask them about using one of their injectors for nitric acid. They have a white colored model that I think is specifically for acid injection. They are much cheaper than the pump you posted.

 

[leadsled]

As far as the ph adjustment and using a dosatron with acid here is the data from the manufacturer:
Here is the spec on the dosatron:
Can do acid up to 17%

They also have a tool on there site to choose the doser that is right for your application.


Would not hurt to contact dosatron about the inline model blue lab is working on. Pros and cons, improvements etc.

 

[Quantrill]

I just add nitric to my A concentrate and Sulfuric to my B concentrate. No need for a third injector just for acid, IMO.

You have to account for the nutrients the acids add to the mix of course.

I tried plumbing mine in parallel and found that one was feeding much more than the other, so I rearranged them to be plumbed in series.

 

[Bangarang]

I just add nitric to my A concentrate and Sulfuric to my B concentrate. No need for a third injector just for acid, IMO.

You have to account for the nutrients the acids add to the mix of course.

I tried plumbing mine in parallel and found that one was feeding much more than the other, so I rearranged them to be plumbed in series.

Never thought about adding the Nitric to my part A. They have a white doser for acids, i could take 70ml Nitric and mix to 1 gal and set to 1:100 and should technically be fine. At least that is what the Rep said.
Q what kind of emitters do you use? Correct me if i am wrong but you have know your water pressure and number of drip sites (gpm/gph) in order to choose the best model. Do you use the 40/14/11 gallon dosatrons?
Coir she was interested in why you run yours through a T and not in a series. I tried describing the concept of how it would avoid back flow and crystallization of nutrients, but again what do i know.

 

[Coir]

I use the ND High from Netafim. Found on this page: http://www.irrigationglobal.com/contents/en-us/d48_supertif_online_pc_drippers.html
I have a moderate slope and the ND emitters have a built in check valve.
I have always had mine in a parallel configuration so that part a and part b remain separated as long as possible. I don't need them to be reacting in the downstream mixing chamber of the Dosatron. One less thing to worry about.
To keep the flow even between the two, simply use a ball valve in front of each one to adjust them.

 

[Quantrill]

Correct me if i am wrong but you have know your water pressure and number of drip sites (gpm/gph) in order to choose the best model.

That is correct, you need to determine the flow you will have, to get the proper size injector.
I use the Dosatron DM11-F injector.

With low flow requirements, you will have to remember that plumbing the injectors in parallel will cut the flow through each injector by the number of injectors in parallel.

I have always had mine in a parallel configuration so that part a and part b remain separated as long as possible. I don't need them to be reacting in the downstream mixing chamber of the Dosatron. One less thing to worry about.

This is exactly why I plumbed mine in parallel initially. But I can assure you it is not a concern of mine anymore, not at the concentrations we are delivering for plant food. I did not have the ball valves on the individual inlets for adjustment, if I had, I may still be rocking the parallel plumbing.

I'm not trying to get you to change your setup, by any means. Just sharing info to help Bangarang make an informed decision.

 

[Bangarang]

Coir by have your split do you have to use a smaller dosatron (11 or 14)? Because the flow rate is divided in half?

 

[Coir]

I use the 14GPM units. To give you an idea, I have approximately 1000 3.8L/H emitters. That translates to 63.3LPM divided by 2 for parallel plumbing equals 37.6LPM per unit. There are several I can choose from to fit this flow rate and I opted for the 14 since the 11gpm unit would be near it's max in my situation.