So I wana make a soil irrigation system...

[Cel]

...But where the hell to start? :eek:

Hello all

I have been laboring to water my 20 odd plants growing in 5litre pots, so i wana start building an irrigation system.
I've been browsing places for drippers and whatnot but I havent the foggiest what to get.
I would like to be able to water 50 plants automatically without the backbreaking manual watering with a gravitized tank and hose.
Any advise is GREATLY appreciated.
I realise I will need a Pump with sufficient strength to enable successful watering, how big im not really sure tho...
To tell ya the truth, i dont really grasp the principal behind the mechanics of an irrigation system.
If you can point me towards the right direction where i can educate myself it'd be a nice start too :)
Muchly appreciated and sorry for the rant lol

Cel

[Fing_57]

1/2 drip line with feeders to each pot
could put a 2nd for feeding only (tea's) after or durring watering


edit
you can use gravity to do this

5gl (as needed) bucket and run the 1/2 with the feeders to the pots

[Fing_57]

IF you can find them

Indoor Marijuana Cutlivation 101
or
New School Outdoor Marijuana Cutlivation 100

both are helpfull for LOTS of systems and ways of doing things like you asked

http://www.homegrownbud.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=11737&stc=1&d=1189438506

[Shadows]

What type of medium are you currently using? That will dictate how your irrigation system will work.

If you are in a basic soil mix, 65% soil, 35% vermiculite/perlite, you do NOT want a constant drip cycle. A timer will be needed, or a manual shut off valve that you can turn on and OFF as needed. Dripping constantly will work with it, but for 50 plants you'd be topping the res daily ( I had a 3 gallon setup with gravity feed, feeding 6 drip heads constant. Needed a refil nightly.)

If your using a perlite heavy mix (around 50% perlite) you're bordering on being able to go constant drip cycle. It will still be high maintenance, but your medium will handle that amount of water easier while still stay high in O2 content. The 'drip' itself can be set up to fall on the soil, and not ride down the stake used, to possibly keep the DO content of the water up. ( I dont know for sure that it will, but logic says a drop of water splashing on the soil will create alot of surface area for that drop to become well oxygenated.)


What type of nutrients will you be using as well? Soil ferts will work best if they are used in a hand feeding, while the drip system supplies nothing but plain water. They can build up in the soil fast and become toxic in no time if used in the res. Or, you can set up a 2 way valve with a 20 gallon res with float valve as your plain water tank and a 5 gallon res where you'll add your nutrients. Switch the valve and let the 5 gal run thru them all (preferably on a pump so distribution to all plants is equal. Gravity feed will rely on "The path of least resistance" and an air bubble in the line from runnin a res dry is a lot of resistance. a pump eliminates that issue/concern

If your using hydro nutrients in a highly soil medium, I'd almost be inclined to use it as the soil mix above, just to save on nutrients use overall (keepin a 20gal res topped off and up to proper PPM will be expensive). With the soil nutrients, I'd feed once a week and water only (with Ca added) the rest of the time. For hydro nutrients and a separate res for them, I'd feed twice a week, water with Ca rest of the time. (Just makes sense to use the soils ability to hold nutrients to your advantage.)

360degree drip heads are 3 bucks for 4 (with a stake on them) or you can get inline 360degree heads that have no stake (about 6 per pak ~4buks). I prefer the inline ones because it does not require a Y or T to add a head, just cut it in. That is unless you use a 1/2 or 3/4 feed line and do taps off of it, but this 6 pak of heads also has taps so your still OK there. Dont get the inline ones tho if you plan to do the feed line, wasted effort to cap them all where needed.

Both Lowes and HD sell complete Drip Irrigation setups. Some include a 120v timer, some dont. I'd get one of those kits for starters just to get familiar with all the parts and pieces and then go back and find just what I wanted to do the job with.

[Cel]

hey Fing and Shadows

Thanx to both of you kind chaps to attempt at enlightening me :)

while both of you have said things that makes alot more sense to me now this line is inevitably the most helpful...

I'd get one of those kits for starters just to get familiar with all the parts and pieces and then go back and find just what I wanted to do the job with.
I didnt know what half of the terms you used were. Some are self explanatory while some werent hehe. which is why getting something i can play with should help me get familiar as you said.
This hydro-shop near happens to sell this gravity system, though he is an ass lol very grumpy and not inclined to share much info :shrug:
I think i may aswell give it a go on a dozen pots for now to ease the strain slightly.
I'll post back in this thread to let u know how it went and to seek advise if i end up struggling :)

Thanx again

Cel

[Fing_57]

its simple lines flowing water/ferts to your plants

this is what I use .... pump is optional
I also gravity feed/tea my plants with a 1gl jug and a 1/4 line


http://www.homegrownbud.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=11841&stc=1&d=1190139918

set it on a chair/table/hang it
http://www.homegrownbud.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=11842&stc=1&d=1190140540

[Mr. Bud]

Great thread dude, thanks for the info guys... I will be needing to run a water supply because of the location... Thanks...