Nonphixion
Active member
Heres the post about panda mulch cuz I couldn't figure out what it was. Do you think it will work for air pots as well, SD.
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Blumat auto watering
- Thread starter sunnydog
- Start date
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- blumat drippers irrigation watering
I'm not gonna lie.. blumats while making everything awesome in-between ...they can be a heck of a lot of work setting up. Using blumats requires me to use a medium like coco ..meaning I have to pot and transplant. Then I have to give each plant individual attention while I handwater/dial cone. Closet grow no problem, but it all adds up when doing anything of size. Jeez.. what is a procrastinating stoner to do..
I'm a hydro grower from my start and in comparison blumat/coco is still a lot more work then just sitting a cube on a table or popping a netcup in a tube.
I've been in coco for some time now because I always return to it to achieve consistent/successful results every-time without issue, but kneeling down potting plants, etc is a pain in my back (literally). I'm always itchin to go back to ebb/flow...
set up
set up
I find, especially after setting up the pressure reducer,I can set up 30 or so pots, come back after 3-4 days, re-adjust any errant individuals(usually two or three) and all is good.
After over 33yrs. in our hobby(I'm old,LOL), I have found these to be the easiest,BEST,and, most forgiving way to grow.
I have tried them ALL!(I was an ebb and flow guy for most of that time,too)!
set up
I find, especially after setting up the pressure reducer,I can set up 30 or so pots, come back after 3-4 days, re-adjust any errant individuals(usually two or three) and all is good.
After over 33yrs. in our hobby(I'm old,LOL), I have found these to be the easiest,BEST,and, most forgiving way to grow.
I have tried them ALL!(I was an ebb and flow guy for most of that time,too)!
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some useless clutter for the thread.
i have used water crystals for my last 3 outdoor grows, and they are almost as awesome as
blumats. almost.v now, for thoughts on keeping the entire 5 gallon bucket wet at all times, with no dry
spots/corners. i think water crystals might be the final piece to the puzzle. WC's work amazing for no maintenance OD grows,
and with the B-MaT's we are going for no maintenance, right?
ive toyed with the indoor water crystal idea before; now im gonna follow through.
thinking...............
RBDF
i have used water crystals for my last 3 outdoor grows, and they are almost as awesome as
blumats. almost.v now, for thoughts on keeping the entire 5 gallon bucket wet at all times, with no dry
spots/corners. i think water crystals might be the final piece to the puzzle. WC's work amazing for no maintenance OD grows,
and with the B-MaT's we are going for no maintenance, right?
ive toyed with the indoor water crystal idea before; now im gonna follow through.
thinking...............
RBDF
Hmmmmm.....
T
TribalSeeds
Did you guys have to order a shut off valve (or 2) and extra t's for the loop and purge set ups?
I don't.... never had a problem. I run a short line off the rez about 4 inches. T it off... run one line to the plants. the other line I drilled a small hole in the top of my rez and stuck it threw there.
I heard that if any air gets in the line it will be released threw there?
T
TribalSeeds
Did the kit supply grommets for the rez?
Yup.
Good stuff!
Good stuff!
Highly recommended, I use bagfuls of it , Kitty litter!
I mix it in my rotting tub to control moisture.
Good stuff!
you should try calcined diatomaceous earth. good stuff
Highly recommended, I use bagfuls of it , Kitty litter!
I mix it in my rotting tub to control moisture.
joedogsong
Member
2010 posts
2010 posts
so I finally finished the entire thread, good, bad, repeated, lazy readers who's questions would have been answered if they'd just read a post above their own. It's all good.
The King of them all: "Read the Directions"
BUT, the advanced course is to read the whole thing.
I'll be setting up mine next week in a converted costco carport and will be getting my water from an irrigation ditch. No pressurized water but I do have minimal electricity. Heat will be an issue and I'm concerned about water bubbles in the lines with just gravity flow.
Earlier in the thread someone asked about running a pump in the res through the loop with a valve at the return to control the pressure created by the pump.
This would alleviate needing to elevate the res, keep air bubbles on the move, keep the line pressurized for proper drip consistency, and keep the 'just' water moving as the return line being a created waterfall for increased dissolved oxygen . This is to supply as much as I can fit into a 10' by 20' Solexx covered structure. Supply lines are 1/2" pvc going around the perimeter with attached drip lines. This is a low volume inline pump attached in the pvc line which is hard piped to the 35 gal plastic barrel. There is no constant source of water so the barrel cannot be set up to refill itself.
In the spirit of preventative medicine, does the inline pump sound like a feasible application for the Blumats?
2010 posts
so I finally finished the entire thread, good, bad, repeated, lazy readers who's questions would have been answered if they'd just read a post above their own. It's all good.
The King of them all: "Read the Directions"
BUT, the advanced course is to read the whole thing.
I'll be setting up mine next week in a converted costco carport and will be getting my water from an irrigation ditch. No pressurized water but I do have minimal electricity. Heat will be an issue and I'm concerned about water bubbles in the lines with just gravity flow.
Earlier in the thread someone asked about running a pump in the res through the loop with a valve at the return to control the pressure created by the pump.
This would alleviate needing to elevate the res, keep air bubbles on the move, keep the line pressurized for proper drip consistency, and keep the 'just' water moving as the return line being a created waterfall for increased dissolved oxygen . This is to supply as much as I can fit into a 10' by 20' Solexx covered structure. Supply lines are 1/2" pvc going around the perimeter with attached drip lines. This is a low volume inline pump attached in the pvc line which is hard piped to the 35 gal plastic barrel. There is no constant source of water so the barrel cannot be set up to refill itself.
In the spirit of preventative medicine, does the inline pump sound like a feasible application for the Blumats?
G
greenmatter
IMHO 1/2" supply lines solve all the bubble problems, but i had issues with my pump warming the rez up when i was running it 24/7........ and it was not summer yet
i'm using the pump for a totally different reason than you are , but i think you might have the same problem
anything is worth a shot! good luck!
i'm using the pump for a totally different reason than you are , but i think you might have the same problem
anything is worth a shot! good luck!
The thru-hull that comes in the kit? Or the tool to cut the hole?
Unless you go the custom route w/ 1/2" bulkhead/normal tubing/kent tees you'll need to buy more blumat thru-hulls.. or some other type of 8mm bulkhead fitting. You'll likely have to order this online unless you can find a similar thru-hull from HD or lowes that will fit the stock 8mm distribution tubing.
If you mean the tool to drive the hole I just use a regular drill bit for a thru-hull or a conical step bit for the larger bulkhead fitting (from harbor freight).
Here is link to blumat thru-hull.
http://www.planetearthhydro.com/thru-hull-connect/
$6/ea!!! and they bend really easy. Easy to break..hard to get tubing off of.
That is the benefit to going the kent tees/regular tubing/bulkhead.
Unless you go the custom route w/ 1/2" bulkhead/normal tubing/kent tees you'll need to buy more blumat thru-hulls.. or some other type of 8mm bulkhead fitting. You'll likely have to order this online unless you can find a similar thru-hull from HD or lowes that will fit the stock 8mm distribution tubing.
If you mean the tool to drive the hole I just use a regular drill bit for a thru-hull or a conical step bit for the larger bulkhead fitting (from harbor freight).
Here is link to blumat thru-hull.
http://www.planetearthhydro.com/thru-hull-connect/
$6/ea!!! and they bend really easy. Easy to break..hard to get tubing off of.
That is the benefit to going the kent tees/regular tubing/bulkhead.
joedogsong
Member
Yea Green I can't afford to get the water any warmer that's why I'll be using an inline pump, outside the res.We shall see...
Just got my blumats today! I ordered the patio set and some extra 3mm hose. Thanks to all the helpful folks here in this thread for the information and tips. I just have to order the 3/32" barbed T and I'm all ready to go.
I just wanted to give a big thank you to all the contributors to this thread.
I asked the guy at the local hydro shop about these and he obviously has never heard of them or doesn't know how they work.
When I described the blumats and how they've been proven to work, the guy says to me: "Well, to get vigorous roots, it's better to have a flood of water that leaches out all the old stuff, ya know? You don't want something that's just dripping on there and keeping the soil moist because you're losing oxygen and the roots won't be as vigorous. The plants need a drying out period and all that."
Yeah, ok dude.
From what I've seen on here, these things work and I can't wait to give them a go.
HB.
I just wanted to give a big thank you to all the contributors to this thread.
I asked the guy at the local hydro shop about these and he obviously has never heard of them or doesn't know how they work.
When I described the blumats and how they've been proven to work, the guy says to me: "Well, to get vigorous roots, it's better to have a flood of water that leaches out all the old stuff, ya know? You don't want something that's just dripping on there and keeping the soil moist because you're losing oxygen and the roots won't be as vigorous. The plants need a drying out period and all that."
Yeah, ok dude.
From what I've seen on here, these things work and I can't wait to give them a go.
HB.
Oh dear. Did you do a face palm in front of that guy? He didn't say a single thing that was actually right. How can someone actually spout so much misinformation, and not realize how stupid they are? FFS.
