Need some help with this outdoor drip system PRONTO

Mp grown

Mp grown

Member
This is an outdoor grow...I have a 50 gallon res. With a ecoplus 633 water pump. The 1/2 hose is looped around the pots and is connected with 1/2" (13MM) TEE which comes back to the res. I need to pump water through 40 feet of 1/2 inch hose. I have three 30 gallon and three 20 gallon pots with one main 1/4 line coming off the 1/2 line coming up to the pots which then branch off 6 dippers for the 30 gallon pots and 4 drippers for the 20 gallon pots. Here is my question?

What do i need to do to have an even flow of water?
Is my pump the wrong one or can i make some adjustments in order to get a constant flow of water?
Is there a certain way that i could change my whole system in order to get what im looking for?

Thanks for your time to help me out i really appreciate it
 
GreenThumbSucker

GreenThumbSucker

Well-Known Member
Sounds like an epic grow.

An even flow of water isn't necessary, as long as all of them flow. I would let them run all day. Plants in drip LOVE flowing water.
 
noxiously

noxiously

Well-Known Member
It's hard to get an even flow, or an even drip rate. The pots that are closest to the beginning of the line will have better pressure, and better flow rate than the ones at the end. By the time the water reaches the end of the line it loses alot of pressure and that will result in a slower/weaker drip which means less water than the ones that are closer to the pump. I'm actually not quite sure how you have it set up because for some reason I can't picture it in my head....maybe I shouldn't have "medicated" before reading, lol.
 
Clown Baby

Clown Baby

Well-Known Member
They do sell pressure-compensating drip emitters. Although I'm not sure that you can find them at a regular hardware store. I think they drip a constant rate anywhere between 10 and 50 psi? I cant remember the range exactly.

Do you know what head is? Not blowjob head, like lift head. Basically if you have a main 1/2" line on the floor, and 1/4" lines coming out of it, you want to keep all of this 1/4" lines roughly the same height.

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========RESERVOIR

Those pumps have limited pressure, and water is going to want to find the path of least resistance. Meaning if you were pumping water down the === line and out of the reservoir, All (well most, if theres a dripper restricting flow) of the water will be coming out of the 1/4" line on the far right. Because it has to go up the least distance (fighting less gravity) out of the main line.


Here are 2 possible solutions:
1. Then end of your main 1/2" line is capped, right? It should be... Make sure your main line is flat against the ground, not going up and down. Then plug into the main with your 1/4" drip line. Each drip line should come directly from the main. So if you have ten drip lines, you should be plugging into your main at 10 different points. Also, try to keep each of those 1/4" drip lines the same height. Again, referring to the example, if you have 3 lines at 1 foot height and 3 lines at 7feet height, your lines at 7feet arent going to get any flow.

2. run your 1/2" mainline into a manifold. http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/Search?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&keyword=drip manifold&Ns=None&Ntpr=1&Ntpc=1&selectedCatgry=SEARCH+ALL
Then run the 1/4" driplines from the manifold to the pots.



#1 will work better if your plants are all planted in a straight line.
#2 is better if your plants are clustered together
 
Mike Young

Mike Young

Well-Known Member
You're 633 gph pump will handle a decent amount of head. I'm currently running 2 of em with 5' of head. Depending on your climate, you may want to bury your main res, and pump up to a second (smaller) res, and let gravity feed your lines. I would also not be afraid of completely ditching the drippers & allowing the 1/4" tubing to provide the flow. Pics?
 
GreenThumbSucker

GreenThumbSucker

Well-Known Member
Clown Baby said:
They do sell pressure-compensating drip emitters. Although I'm not sure that you can find them at a regular hardware store. I think they drip a constant rate anywhere between 10 and 50 psi? I cant remember the range exactly.

Do you know what head is? Not blowjob head, like lift head. Basically if you have a main 1/2" line on the floor, and 1/4" lines coming out of it, you want to keep all of this 1/4" lines roughly the same height.

| |
| | |
| | | |
========RESERVOIR

Those pumps have limited pressure, and water is going to want to find the path of least resistance. Meaning if you were pumping water down the === line and out of the reservoir, All (well most, if theres a dripper restricting flow) of the water will be coming out of the 1/4" line on the far right. Because it has to go up the least distance (fighting less gravity) out of the main line.


Here are 2 possible solutions:
1. Then end of your main 1/2" line is capped, right? It should be... Make sure your main line is flat against the ground, not going up and down. Then plug into the main with your 1/4" drip line. Each drip line should come directly from the main. So if you have ten drip lines, you should be plugging into your main at 10 different points. Also, try to keep each of those 1/4" drip lines the same height. Again, referring to the example, if you have 3 lines at 1 foot height and 3 lines at 7feet height, your lines at 7feet arent going to get any flow.

2. run your 1/2" mainline into a manifold. http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/Search?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&keyword=drip manifold&Ns=None&Ntpr=1&Ntpc=1&selectedCatgry=SEARCH+ALL
Then run the 1/4" driplines from the manifold to the pots.



#1 will work better if your plants are all planted in a straight line.
#2 is better if your plants are clustered together
Click to expand...
Solution number 2 is what I used to run...

Back in my drip days, after a few crops I started using these manifolds. They are cheap, they work like a charm, they make it easier to keep things orderly, and you can get them at any hardware store that sells Rain Bird lawn irrigation products.
 
Mp grown

Mp grown

Member
noxiously said:
It's hard to get an even flow, or an even drip rate. The pots that are closest to the beginning of the line will have better pressure, and better flow rate than the ones at the end. By the time the water reaches the end of the line it loses alot of pressure and that will result in a slower/weaker drip which means less water than the ones that are closer to the pump. I'm actually not quite sure how you have it set up because for some reason I can't picture it in my head....maybe I shouldn't have "medicated" before reading, lol.[/QUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKPiiw62Hek&list=UU6qfbLbgAYrw5jAwh8MZ_cg&index=1&feature=plpp_videoOTE]
i fixed my issue with my system and it works like a champ check out my video
Click to expand...
 
superstoner1

superstoner1

Well-Known Member
for that pump and that many drippers i would run 3/4" from the pump making a t from that to each pot using 1/2". or get the 1056 ecoplus.
 
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