Need some help with auto feed

[Grownsince95]

Much appreciated. I found myself back to this thread for a watering system guide and I may have found it :D

why do you have two pumps instead of one?

One pump replaces the air stone for fountain style aeration. Much more effective for a large resevoir.

 

[Arwood]

One pump replaces the air stone for fountain style aeration. Much more effective for a large resevoir.

Ohhh I dig it. Thank you! Going to add this info to my cannabible for future upgrades. Since I’m trying to use up what I already have, one of those large industrial totes I use to collect rainwater I can convert for watering. Already own tubing and I think there’s a fountain pump in the attic!

as I type this I realize I may have most of what I need already to get started today. Exciting! First is collecting the parts. Second, sterilizing the tote because my 2 y/o tossed a bunch of dog poop in there to watch it float. Kids. They don’t come out civilized. Lol

 

[Edinburgh]

I use botanacare pro grow they luv it, 1.5ml per USgal. Go light.

 

[JadedMarxist]

If you were to say drain to waste you could get away with having the res higher in elevation than the pots and let gravity creat the pressure needed to get water to plants. But if collecting you'd still need a return pump. Just a suggestion.

With my city presser of 65psi( give or take). Thru a 1 inch poly pipe I'm safe to run about 12 gpm at 65psi. A 1 inch squared 1 foot tall colour of water puts your water pressure at 14 psi or equivalent to air pressure. So raise your rex 6 feet higher then the pots and you have near 60psi +.
Just throwing the info out there aqua is the specialist when I come to this

 

[Aqua Man]

Yup that will work.

Been away a couple days. Catching up then I'll put a list together so you have options. Sorry for the delay.

 

[Jumpingspider]

I know I wasn't asked but I'm that annoying guy...

I set up an auto feed cheap and easy skipping the dripper/manifold 1/4 inch tubing and using 1/2 inch all the way to hydro rings. It's definitely way less than $200 all in for 6 sites but I wound up only running 4.

Here's a quick list of what's needed.

Rez - $30 I chose a 26 gal for my needs.
Submersible fountain pumps x2 - 1 400 gph 1 800 gph $45
Tubing and fittings - $20
Hydro Halo watering rings x6 - $50
Nearpow timer - $18

About $165 on amazon. I'm sure thrifty folk can do way better than me.

That's it.. so simple and effective! The proof is in my profile if you have a min to scroll through. After every run the halos need a good rinse and I've experienced ZERO clogs after 3 full runs.

How long would you be comfortable leaving this running without being there to check on?

 

[Grownsince95]

How long would you be comfortable leaving this running without being there to check on?

Depends on the size of the rez. Mine is 26 gal and never filled over 20 due to siphon issues.

Comfortable? 7 days. Had to leave it for 10 once and it basically ran out. It's about how much runoff you leave really. Without a pump to remove it the bottom of the tent fills up fast. You will be in "turkey baster hell" as I like to call it. I would use a shop vac but im in super stealth mode most of the time