FOOP Organic Nutrients & Blumat Watering System

Hey guys,

I am planning on setting up a blumat system but I'm still very new to all of this.

I am using a soil mix of promix/coco/perlite. I use FOOP organic nutrients, they told me that it won't clog the blumat or any other drip system. I have a 44 gal res, a 550 gph pump (both of which were left by old roomates) and a 12 piece blumat system with additional drippers. My plan is to fill the res, put the submersible pump in as a mixer to keep the water moving, and then use gravity to distribute the water to the plants.

The whole purpose of this is so that I can be gone for a few days here and there, as I do travel for work, and sometimes go away with the family.

Is 550 gph too strong of a pump to use as a mixer? Should I get a small pump for the blumats or is gravity preferable? If I was to get a pump, I was thinking I'd put it on a wifi outlet thing I have to turn on and off, watering them when needed. Is the nutrient mixed water good for days? I've read other places that it goes bad in 24 hours?

Thanks

I wouldn't consider putting nutrient of any sort through the tiny tubing used in the Blumat system.
It's just asking for clogs and reliability issues

That's what I was thinking, which is why I contacted them. Right on their packaging they say "And unlink other organic brands which clog up commercial irrigation systems, FOOP works with drip lines, 1:100 injectors and industrial sprayers/applicators."

I think I might still give it a try as I need some sort of temporary automatic watering system for when I am away. Otherwise I'm just gonna have to pay my homie to check on them from time to time... lol. He said that because I am using a predominantly soil mix that I should be fine for a few days, but I don't want to take any chances that I don't have to...

Is there a method you'd recommend for my situation?

Thanks dude!

vitalsine said:

That's what I was thinking, which is why I contacted them. Right on their packaging they say "And unlink other organic brands which clog up commercial irrigation systems, FOOP works with drip lines, 1:100 injectors and industrial sprayers/applicators."

I think I might still give it a try as I need some sort of temporary automatic watering system for when I am away. Otherwise I'm just gonna have to pay my homie to check on them from time to time... lol. He said that because I am using a predominantly soil mix that I should be fine for a few days, but I don't want to take any chances that I don't have to...

Is there a method you'd recommend for my situation?

Thanks dude!

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If your in soil, why apply liquid nutrients at every watering?
I'm not familiar with what that nutrient is but Blumats are fantastic.
I'd look at dry amendments. Front load your soil and top dress as needed while letting the Blumats do the labor of watering.
Look into Grean Bicycles. 2 products only. Super simple and results that convinced me to switch from hydro

I've heard of green bicycles. FOOP is still relatively new from what I know, but I have a few friends who love it and I've read some good reviews online. Maybe I will try green bicycles next. Dry amendments seem great, I honestly didn't know they existed before ordering the FOOP lol. This is my first grow and I just kinda went with what I was introduced to. I have seen some videos and read a few journals of people who use the dry amendments and it seems like it might be the way to go with blumats. Then I don't have to worry about mixing anything. I really appreciate the feedback bro. I think you are right on the money.

You can still apply Tea's or other organic feeds manually with the Blumats installed.They just won't water for a few days after a heavy saturation.
$50 gallons of anything don't fly in my neck of the woods.
This recent explosion of nutrient companies hitting the market as more and more states legalize is just disgusting. I guess they are all just seeing dollar signs with all the potential new growers taking an interest.
Check out my journal in my sig and you can see a no bs start to finish usage of the Grean Bicycles from myself as a first time indoor organic grower.
Half of my soil is on round 3 with only a very light amending

OneHitDone said:

You can still apply Tea's or other organic feeds manually with the Blumats installed. They just won't water for a few days after a heavy saturation.
$50 gallons of anything don't fly in my neck of the woods.
This recent explosion of nutrient companies hitting the market as more and more states legalize is just disgusting. I guess they are all just seeing dollar signs with all the potential new growers taking an interest.
Check out my journal in my sig and you can see a no bs start to finish usage of the Green Bicycles from myself as a first time indoor organic grower.
Half of my soil is on round 3 with only a very light amending

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Now that you mention it, I have seen your journal, I think that's where I heard about Green Bicycles lol. It was on here for sure, the videos on their site were very informative. What kind of soil do you use? I mixed mine by hand, ProMix Myco Organic, Roots Organic Coco, and Mother Earth Large & Coarse Perlite Size 3. I'm not sure if I would be able to continue that as my medium, I do have a shitload left... lol. Like 40 gallons. Once I transplant to 7 gal pots I will only have 16 gallons though, so I could probably change to something that compliments the dry amendments.

Just gave your journal another quick skim and I am liking what I'm seeing for results. I'll give it an in-depth read over the next couple days. I really appreciate you chiming in man. I've been trying to soak up as much info as possible the past few weeks. I read about blumats recently and was very impressed, it sounds like exactly what I want to do. I've wanted to try living soil since before I got into this as well, but I was told that I should start like this by a friend who I think doesn't realize how easy it is, or looks anyway... lol. I'm sure after reading your journal you'll have me sold.

vitalsine said:

Now that you mention it, I have seen your journal, I think that's where I heard about Green Bicycles lol. It was on here for sure, the videos on their site were very informative. What kind of soil do you use? I mixed mine by hand, ProMix Myco Organic, Roots Organic Coco, and Mother Earth Large & Coarse Perlite Size 3. I'm not sure if I would be able to continue that as my medium, I do have a shitload left... lol. Like 40 gallons. Once I transplant to 7 gal pots I will only have 16 gallons though, so I could probably change to something that compliments the dry amendments.

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It's on page 1 or my journal - the "meat and potatoes" portion
Sunshine #4
Kellog Palm and Catus
Cheap worm castings
Grean Bicycles Ocean Bounty

That is the mix I started with and works perfectly well. Since going to beds I have that mix on the top half with the bottom consisting of 2/3 Pumice, 1/3 Peat with some Dolomite Lime, Gypsum, and Green Sand only. No "organics" down low. Only mineral inputs.
I won't be using Sunshine #4 much in the future - good product but cheaper to just mix individual ingredients and prefer pumice over perlite with the exception of in germination mixes.

vitalsine said:

Just gave your journal another quick skim and I am liking what I'm seeing for results. I'll give it an in-depth read over the next couple days. I really appreciate you chiming in man. I've been trying to soak up as much info as possible the past few weeks. I read about blumats recently and was very impressed, it sounds like exactly what I want to do. I've wanted to try living soil since before I got into this as well, but I was told that I should start like this by a friend who I think doesn't realize how easy it is, or looks anyway... lol. I'm sure after reading your journal you'll have me sold.

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I would say my approach is "organic" but not living soil in the sense of no till with worms and all that. Not doing that indoor.
I need to turn and burn, crop get's harvested - twist out the stems and lighting fluff top layer and add any amendments if needed and another batch of plants drops in immediately. I run perpetual with harvests monthly and NO vegging in my flowering beds

I think I'm sold. lol. I think I'm going to order some for my next run. Does this stuff have expiration dates? Just curious. I am wondering if I should order exactly what I need, or if I can just order in bulk and have it on deck.

vitalsine said:

I think I'm sold. lol. I think I'm going to order some for my next run. Does this stuff have expiration dates? Just curious. I am wondering if I should order exactly what I need, or if I can just order in bulk and have it on deck.

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Might get oxidized in a decade or so
Ive used a couple hundred pounds of the Ocean Bounty now. Got crazy and did all of my berries and fruit trees and also my veggie garden.

If your looking for a slick device for brewing the tea, Check out the Bubble Snake by TEA LAB.

If you already have the FOOP use it up.
Just apply it by hand once a week rather than running it though the blumats

I'll look into it. Man that Icing looks awesome with no reamending at all? Sick beds you built too. I am really digging what you got going on haha. I'm about it!

I def don't have as big of a garden, just a 5x5. Maybe I could build a 4x4 bed like yours. I also grow with LED, 3x SF 2000's. Been thinking of picking up a Gavita LEP for flowering though. But then again, I don't know if I need it or what. I've been blowing too much money lately haha. I told my girl though, this is an investment that will pay for itself in 6 months or less, once I get it dialed in anyway.

OneHitDone said:

If you already have the FOOP use it up.
Just apply it by hand once a week rather than running it though the blumats

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Yea I am going to wait to do the blumats. I have a 4x3 tent and a 2x2 tent on the way though, so I might just start the GB in another tent. Just seems to easy, once I finish the FOOP I will get things more organized, but just starting I don't have a cycle/system in place yet for perpetual harvesting or whatever like you mentioned.

What do you use for an air pump on that bubble snake? I am looking at a 793GPH on amazon that they suggested to go with it.

I'm actually gonna hit the hay. I will catch up with you tomorrow. Thanks so much brother. Very helpful. Your grow looks killer too. I look forward to following your journal! That Mendo Breath looked unreal!

vitalsine said:

What do you use for an air pump on that bubble snake? I am looking at a 793GPH on amazon that they suggested to go with it.

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One of the small "commercial" style ones. would have to check how many gph it is. Can't go wrong with the one they recommend or if you need a pump anyway just buy the "compost tea kit" that's everything but the bucket

So I ordered some stuff before bed. Lol. I'm gonna do some rearranging and get the 4x3 and 2x2 up asap so I can pop some beans and try this stuff out. It just seems like it will work so much better for me. I'll keep running foop in the 5x5 til harvest, I only have enough for one run of that anyway, only bought the starter kit. I'll let you know how it goes! Thanks again dude!!