GR865's Irrigation System Upgrade!

[gr865]

Upgraded my irrigation system.
I grow 5 plant vertical as my main and 5 plant horizontal as secondary.
From:
Eco 1056, three point drip per plant.

Rez and lines

Anti-siphon
Moved to tub, 8 gallon to 20 gallon, both usable gallons.


New setup:

This 8 port manifold works well, capped three ports.

Rainbird emitter, much better coverage throughout the profile.


GR

 

[upnsmoke13]

I grabbed the same pump, after seeing a post about it. I moved from a Ecoplus 396. I'm loving my new setup - after blowing my old setup apart! This little guy will build some pressure! Thank you for posting!

 

[gr865]

I grabbed the same pump, after seeing a post about it. I moved from a Ecoplus 396. I'm loving my new setup - after blowing my old setup apart! This little guy will build some pressure! Thank you for posting!

A little too much pressure, that is why I put the 30 PSI reducer in line, don't want to blow the heads off the Rainbird emitters, LOL

 

[upnsmoke13]

After posting I relised I'm using the same manifold also. I'm using DIY halos at the plants. I had to include a return line, running wide open, to relieve some pressure!

 

[gr865]

After getting, hopefully, the irrigation system working properly, timers right and times dialed in, making/mixing nute solution is very simple now. Due to the over-runs and tent flooding while on our adventure to Florida, I have only been putting in 3 to 6 gallons of nute mix in the rez, in case of timer malfunction. It has been running smoothly now for the past two weeks and since the new RO system is installed we will be running the rez 2/3's full or 5 to 6 days worth of solution. Will be nice using RO and not having to clean the rez weekly. No matter how clean rain water looks there is always a given amt of dirt in the water that settles to the bottom and causes little dirt balls in the bottom of the rez. It has not effected the system, no filter or emitter problems, but gets that stale water smell after a few days time.

Now with the RO water and the system responding properly it is much easier to keep the solution at a steady 1.2 EC. Will be increasing that to 1.4 in another week with a 1 to 2 ml increase in Canna A&B an the addition of KoolBloom. Started making a 25 gallon tank again of nute solution that I allow to stabilize for two days prior to adding any to the rez, which will be done every third or forth day around 8:00 AM. At 5 minutes total run time per night it uses around 2 to 2.5 gallons a night. This should give me 6 to 8 days between having to make fresh solution. I keep the tank in the garage so the temps will stay in the 50's keeping the solution stable.
I do not pH the solution until around 30 min to and hour prior to the each nights cycles starting, pH to 5.8 +/- 0.2 and it will remain stable throughout the rest of the cycles. I know this sort of defeats having 6 + days of solution but until I can afford a pH controller/monitor/doser I have to make adjustments daily.

Fifteen minutes after the final cycle ends at 7:02 AM the air pump begins and runs until 30 mins prior to the start of the next cycle. By doing this the O2 in the solution increase without having to run the air pump during the cycles and causing pH increase beyond the 0.3 range. So I allow for a 5.8 to 6.1 pH float during the cycles, the plants seem to respond well to this.

At present there are 4 cycles a night (total time of 5 minutes) but just received a new replacement Auto-Pilot Digital Timer from Hydro Farm for the one that failed on me. This timer can be set in Hours, Minutes and Seconds. If I get this working correctly I will increase from 4 to 6 cycles but the total time of the nightly runs will still be the same. Now I run three one minutes times and the forth an final run is two minutes. With 6 times I will break three of the cycles into 5 @ (0:35 seconds/cycle) and the final cycle of two minutes will remain the same. Will be getting minor DTW with the first 5 cycles and the final two minute cycle will flush any nute buildup in the pots.

Hope I did not bore you with my rambling but damn this G13 Haze has me buzzing like I am on white crosses, remember them, LOL

GR

 

[gr865]

After posting I relised I'm using the same manifold also. I'm using DIY halos at the plants. I had to include a return line, running wide open, to relieve some pressure!

Your return goes back to the main rez, good idea. What I did was put an Anti-Siphon valve prior to the white pressure reducer which cuts the pressure some but mainly keeps the rez from siphoning into the tent and flood it. I actually made that for my old system and even though I don't believe there is a chance of flooding now, as long as the system works as designed, through siphoning the main rez.
Only chance of flooding is what happened while I was in Florida, my timer failed to shut down the system and pumped 15 gallon into my 8 gallon sump which flooded the tent with the other 7 gallons.

 

[upnsmoke13]

Only trouble I've had, having to reduce the flow at the manifold to the point on next cycle it doesn't flow from every port. Been tweaking things but may end up shutting return line. I wanted the reduction in noise but the nutes are more important! I'm leaving Black Friday for two weeks, with the girls at 4 weeks into flower, and I'd like to come home to the right kind of surprise!
BTW: Have you ever used a Rubbermaid Brute trash can as a res? I'm thinking of using a 50 gallon while gone but not sure about it holding up. Already tried a 31 gallon tote but it swelled beyond believe with only 24 gallons in it. Looking for a trustworthy res!

 

[gr865]

I have been looking at these, mine is a cheap one also and bloats big time.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-38-Gal-Tough-Storage-Tote-in-Black-206114/301356003

https://www.lowes.com/pd/COMMANDER-64-Gallon-256-Quart-Black-Tote-with-Latching-Lid/1000421927

Do you have a pH monitor/controller?
How will you keep your pH adjusted?

Just curious.

GR

 

[upnsmoke13]

I have no experience with a res that size! Im going away, for two weeks, and am trying to put something together that'll feed while gone. Megacrop has been pretty steady - am not thinking things won't be out of spec but hopefully they'll be wet!
I do have a tds meter but my digital ph pen took a dump, so I'm using my liquid right now. Im bubbling right now but would like to go to waterfall for a steadier ph. Any thoughts on how much waterfall would suffice?

 

[upnsmoke13]

To answer your question: i was going to adjust low & let it swing. My res is usually steady for at least a week, so I'm just hoping for the best! Any better suggestions?

 

[gr865]

You can put a small pump in the rez an just let it circulate the rez, that will give you plenty of O2 in the solution. If you want you can add a riser, put a spray nozzle on there and let it aeriate that way, but I think you might get increased pH fluctuation.
I am considering increasing my rez size on my next grow an add a pH monitor/controller.

https://www.amazon.com/Bluelab-CONTPH-Controller-Monitoring-Solution/dp/B00O9CBYZ0

If it works as they say, I could set my system to water 2 to 3 gallons/day for 5 plants in smart pot/coco, and be gone for 10 days to two weeks at a time. Now that would only be during early veg as when they get tied to the screens they need to be monitored for growth every few days so the don't grow into the lamps. When not growing vertical it would be a 15 to 20 plant SOG so I could be away for two weeks with no problem. Would still have my grow buddy come and check them regularly, he would just not have to do anything unless something go weird.

The real deal would be like an ol' boy in Mont. does it. He grows and makes vape oil, very high quality. His grow is in an industrial park and he is set up with a 500 gallon storage tank that he mixes his nute solution in to keep his 100 gallon rez filled. He has all the monitors to adjust everything as needed. He also does all of this from home, he has a camera focused on the control panel so he can see what his EC, pH, temp, volume of water used each cycle and cameras to view the plants to monitor them for lights, air movement, growth and the such. He only has to go in every 10 to 15 days to work the plants and fill tank and adjust nutes. It is so sweet, I was damn impressed when we visited him and picked up some FECO he had made for me when I needed a larger batch than I can make here. Mine is good but his was excellent.

 

[upnsmoke13]

If I understand, you kill the bubbles before the feeding cycle starts? How come?
I've tried a submersible, in a 18 gal tote with 12 gal of water but it got too warm. I really don't have a problem with the bubbles but if circulation is better, then why not?

 

[Xcoregamerskillz]

Can I ask whether you guys agitate your nutrient solution, and how? I'm new to Automated drip feeding, trying to get something together for a new set up. I loved the nutes I was using (Nectar for The Gods) but it says to make sure it's agitated if using a reservoir (the stuff will settle fairly quickly). Mixing small batches every day is a pain.
My last grow failed because I was away and my "helper" forgot to water. Lost a whole crop, got discouragef, and haven't grown in a year. This time I want to make sure I can be away for a bit if I have to.

 

[gr865]

@ Xcoregamerskillz
I was using airstones but they caused my pH to rise to quickly and also effected the EC.
I switched to a small aquarium pump just to move the water and pick up O2 from the water motion. I don't use anything that will settle out, but I run the small pump for 5 minutes prior to the start of the irrg. cycle start time till a minute after the cycle stops. I do this for each of my 8 start times.
I have tried multiple methods for introducing O2 into the system, airstones, waterfall, etc. and this seems to work just fine. It is very important to move the solution to pick up O2.
I am not a fan of nutes that require agitation, too much to go wrong. I use Canna Nutes it all blends together well.

I am still tweaking the system but I have it close.

 

[Xcoregamerskillz]

I'll have to ask the owner of my local store. He recommended these nutes. Thanks for the advice though. If I decide to switch nutes I'll definitely be copying your design.

 

[gr865]

I am always working on my system, not sure if what I do helps or hinders but i like to play, LOL

 

[Keesje]

I am always working on my system, not sure if what I do helps or hinders but i like to play, LOL

I can relate to that.
Sometimes the buidling is more fun then the growing.

A small remark...
Putting DO in your reservoir is unnecessary. Your plants will get all the oxygen they need.
Through the small holes and gaps between the rocks.
Oxygen in gaseous state.
Circulation of your reservoir is needed only to keep the nutes mixed up. If it is necessary at all...

 

[gr865]

I can relate to that.
Sometimes the buidling is more fun then the growing.

A small remark...
Putting DO in your reservoir is unnecessary. Your plants will get all the oxygen they need.
Through the small holes and gaps between the rocks.
Oxygen in gaseous state.
Circulation of your reservoir is needed only to keep the nutes mixed up. If it is necessary at all...

Yeah, I like building stuff, next project is a 35 site EZ cloner. Just bought the Tote for it, a 17 gallon Commander, thought about the 27 gallon but think it is too big for my space.


As far as DO is concerned, I agree, I run my small circulation pump during lights out, any movement of the water adds DO. I only run it for 5 minutes three times during lights on and that is mainly to keep the solution mixed. Once I set my pH just before the lights come on and prior to first irrigation cycle it fluctuates only minor, 5.8 to 5.95 - 6.0 over the 12 hour light cycle.

This is a change to post #14 I only run it now as stated above.

GR

 

[Keesje]

That whole pH rising thing is also something that apparently can happen when you use a bubbler.
This is what I read on a forum for people who keep fish in an aquarium

In addition to the sound that makes every air pump, the use of an air pump has another major disadvantage. The rising air bubbles in the aquarium also drive CO2 out of the water. The pH value can also rise as a result of the removal of the carbon (CO2). Therefore, you should only use an air pump in the aquarium if needed.

I am no expert on this, but I did read this before.
Also I think we can learn a lot from people who have aquariums and koi.
They write a lot about the connection between CO2 and pH.

 

[gr865]

Just completed my DIY EZ Cloner, This will be cool going to do a 34 clone run for an 18 to 24 plant SOG. The rest of the clones will go to the group of vets I work with. They are becoming good growers, one kicked my ass on G/W last grow. LOL From what I have read I can get the same amt of bud in a horizontal SOG as I get with a 5 plant vertical grow. That will be great as my second and last grow of the season. These two grow should get me enough FECO to last me the full year. Good medicine!