Blumat auto watering

[sunnydog]

Im stoked. I got a reply Roland Weninger from Blumat. He is going to send me 24 new blumats. He said there was a problem with the production run from 10 years ago, and that they recalled those. Are mine from ten years ago? I have no clue, but Im glad he's going to replace the damaged ones.

Excellent!!!

 

[Dave Coulier]

I may come out of this even more ahead than I thought. Phoenix Organics has said they'll send me another Patio Kit, but I dont really need more blumats. I replied saying, "If you wanted to give me a Seedling Heating mat, instead of the Kit, I wouldn't be able to refuse."

Haha. I hope I can get that, then Ill just have to pick up a thermostat somewhere. Been wanting one for awhile.

Ill keep my fingers crossed.

Oh, and I was kind enough to inform PO that Blumat had already taken care of the problem. Im not one to try and get more than I should get, but Ill subtly suggest something for my troubles.

 

[Lapides]

I've dealt with both Roland and his wife. They are both very nice people.

 

[dubdi3mond]

I just received my blumats from Sustainable Village, everything in the package looks perfect! My boxes of the patio and balcony kit all were packaged nicely and nothing was broken or loose.

It will be about a month before I get to use them but I will keep you updated when I do

 

[overmyhead]

I may have a solution to these problems.
It seems these issues are caused by a vapor lock issue in the line.
Bubbles accumulate in the hose ,no more water gets past, just like in a car.
Then, cause the medium is drying out, drippers open up fully.
If water ultimately gets past the bubbles, the sensor carrot cannot react fast enough to stop over watering.

So, what seems to have worked for me, is .....

First, feed the system water from BOTH ENDS i.e. a loop.At the res, put a "t" fitting. Connect both ends of your water distribution line to the T. Now you have a water supply loop. This is important.

Second, I put a "T" with a bit of hose and shut off valve somewhere around the middle of the loop,and use this to purge a gallon or two from the line about once a week.
You can see/feel the bubbles leaving.

Hope this helps!
SD

Thanks! is this T something that is specific to blumats or can one be picked up at lowes?

I'm planning to use these for moms (6 different ones for dift strains) and like to use pure blend pro grow but am skeptical as to how it might affect this system (i've always handwatered with it), any thoughts?

 

[benzo]

Thanks! is this T something that is specific to blumats or can one be picked up at lowes?

I'm planning to use these for moms (6 different ones for dift strains) and like to use pure blend pro grow but am skeptical as to how it might affect this system (i've always handwatered with it), any thoughts?

When you buy the deck and patio kit, they throw in a bunch of extra/random parts and that "T" is included

This is what it looks like setup on a loop

 

[sanjuan]

The Blumat 8mm tubing is 6mm ID (looks like) so 1/4 inch barbed fittings should work fine.

 

[compost]

If anyone can help I would be in your debt. I have now hooked up blumats on my big containers twice and still having no luck. When I twist them to get the intial water flow I get nothing. Thats with them turned up all the way. Gonna post my setup and steps if someone can tell me what I am doing wrong please.

First I fill them up with water and screw the lid on tight.
I submerse them in water for 6-24 hours.
I have less then 10 feet of supply hose that loops back to the res.
There is a total of 4 blumats and 10 drippers.(1 blumat with 5 drippers and one extra blumat per container)
The res is almost 3 feet above the blumats.

I have not got a single drip out of the system yet even from the two blumats that don't have any drippers attached. Any ideas or suggestions would be great.

 

[benzo]

If anyone can help I would be in your debt. I have now hooked up blumats on my big containers twice and still having no luck. When I twist them to get the intial water flow I get nothing. Thats with them turned up all the way. Gonna post my setup and steps if someone can tell me what I am doing wrong please.

First I fill them up with water and screw the lid on tight.
I submerse them in water for 6-24 hours.
I have less then 10 feet of supply hose that loops back to the res.
There is a total of 4 blumats and 10 drippers.(1 blumat with 5 drippers and one extra blumat per container)
The res is almost 3 feet above the blumats.

I have not got a single drip out of the system yet even from the two blumats that don't have any drippers attached. Any ideas or suggestions would be great.

Haha same thing happened to me. ya gotta untwist it all the way. then pull the line out a little bit. the line is probably crimped. so squeeze it with your fingers, and it should open up and let water out. then re-twist it closed till you only get a drop

 

[Lapides]

Haha same thing happened to me. ya gotta untwist it all the way. then pull the line out a little bit. the line is probably crimped. so squeeze it with your fingers, and it should open up and let water out. then re-twist it closed till you only get a drop

Yeah, what he said. Either that or you have a clog somewhere near the rez. That's all i can really think of.

 

[sunnydog]

Seems like when they are stored dry... the drip line can get pinched and sticks to it self in a perma -pinch.
This does not happen in use.

SD

 

[compost]

thanks guys. went into the room last night and one was actually working so tonight ille uncrimp the rest of them. Im very excited to take more work off my back lol.

 

[DHF]

I need some help on info concerning the maxi outdoor sensors.........I`ve got an assload of coco and 5 gal/#5 smartpots in storage , and am in the process of looking at the blumats to feed my personal headies grow at a remote location due to security risks.........

Lazy`s in the midst of turmoil and I`m just wondering if the smaller units that come 25 per box would feed # 5 smartpots as I`ve read these units feed in a 10" diameter and the sp`s are close diameter wise , but deeper and that`s why I`m lookin into the maxi outdoor sensors with extensions to penetrate juice deep enough for my plants in coco..............

The box of 25 smaller cones is like 75 bucks , but the maxi outdoor sensors with nuthin included is $ 6.25 per , so you can see my concern payin well over double and with no fittings or tubing to put all together with......

Thanx in advance........DHF......

 

[benzo]

Transplant help!
I'm going to transplant into bigger containers.

Can I take the blumat out of the coco. Transplant, then put the blumat back in?

Or do I need to submerge the blumat in water for an hour again, and completely drench the coco before putting it back in, just like when I first started using them out of the box?

 

[BorkBorkBork]

Transplant help!
I'm going to transplant into bigger containers.

Can I take the blumat out of the coco. Transplant, then put the blumat back in?

Or do I need to submerge the blumat in water for an hour again, and completely drench the coco before putting it back in, just like when I first started using them out of the box?

Should not be a problem, just don't let it dry out!

 

[sunnydog]

Transplant help!
I'm going to transplant into bigger containers.

Can I take the blumat out of the coco. Transplant, then put the blumat back in?

Or do I need to submerge the blumat in water for an hour again, and completely drench the coco before putting it back in, just like when I first started using them out of the box?

It will be fine.
However, you should check your water level in the cone and top off if needed.
Also, do not leave it unattended, as after a few minutes, the valve will open(as it should, as it senses dryness) and you will have a mess.
It has happened to me!

SD

 

[gdbud]

It will be fine.
However, you should check your water level in the cone and top off if needed.
Also, do not leave it unattended, as after a few minutes, the valve will open(as it should, as it senses dryness) and you will have a mess.
It has happened to me!

SD

What I did when I transplanted in to larger pots was to remove the Blumats and place them into a container of water just to keep the valve from opening then into the new pots.

 

[BORNaSMOKER]

Just bought 150 of these... so far only teething problems!!!

I didn't tighten the head to the cone enough when I was filling them so a couple failed. After setting them up again they all seem to run nicely

Nice one sunny dog!!

 

[sunnydog]

Just bought 150 of these... so far only teething problems!!!

I didn't tighten the head to the cone enough when I was filling them so a couple failed. After setting them up again they all seem to run nicely

Nice one sunny dog!!

Cool...... They take about a week or so to dial in perfectly.

SD

 

[compost]

Adjusted mine to water last night. When the soil was wet enough for me with no run off I tightened them to stop. Just curious they should be about where I want them now???

Also I have 2 blumats and 5 drippers per container. I was curious if I could run each blumat with 3 drippers and connect the drippers at the end instead of putting an end piece on since the two strings would run parallel.