Blumat auto watering

[Eighths-n-Aces]

I was somehow under the impression that the blumat regulator delivered 35 psi. Damned if I can find a reference so I'm probably mistaken.

Per the literature it has the capacity to handle up to 500 drippers which turns into a lot of flow if an 8mm line pops off. That's a function of the design, of the size of the internal passages in the device.

I'll never run more than 18 drippers, our 3 person household Colorado maximum plant count for personal growing. Poking around for a way to extend the time to disaster led to... chicken nipples & what's apparently a much lower flow regulator.

I've also been leery of using the blumat regulator because of its 87 psi inlet pressure rating. Denver Water keeps the static pressure in our old neighborhood at 85-90 psi because of small mains & small supply lines to homes. Until a few years ago our line from the meter into the house was 1880's vintage lead pipe with an ID of 1/2". Don't even try to shower & run a lawn sprinkler at the same time.

took me a minute to find where i read the 1 bar thing because i looked everywhere else first. it's on the package ....



and of course the package is in every language but english. the second line says something like "ready to install and adjusted to 1 bar".

the one part of the blumats i don't worry that much about is the 8mm line. if you have ever tried getting those things apart you stop worrying about them popping off pretty fast. i'm more worried about them bursting but poly line has been around a long time and the failure rates are low. nothing is bulletproof

chicken nipples are awesome! i'm gonna get a pair just so i can say i have em probably end up using them too

didn't know about the restriction on the inlet pressures. that ISN'T on the package but it probably should be. good information! thanks!

 

[skyview]

What does this pressure reducer do? Why is it so expensive, is it important to use if you want to avoid runs?

Part of the reason is that many "pressure reducers" are really flow restrictors. In drip systems they work fine but because they require a relatively high flow rate and Blumats use such a low flow (cf. average drip emitter of 1 gpm, average Blumat 1/4 to 1/2 gallon per 24 hours, the cheaper ones don't work. And if the pressure is too high, the Blumat may not turn off.

 

[jav2043]

[URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=48914&pictureid=1499608&]View Image[/url]

i saw one of these drip tapes running a veggie bed that was around 50 square feet and thought i should see what they were about. a bed that big controlled by one blumat got my attention real fast and stuck in my head so i had to grab a couple. the one in the pic is a 10' running a 4x4 bed and i have a 6' running a 65 gallon smart pot and both work great. i like them better than the slave drippers

both run on the pressure system because i was having problems getting things dialed in on the elevated system, but i admit that i really didn't spend much time fighting with it .... i'm almost 100% sure they could work if somebody took the time

Nice find 8's I'm interested in drip tape as I'm about to jump into 4x4 beds next run. Is this the same thing you're using? https://www.sustainablevillage.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=59_76&page=2

 

[skyview]

There are also little systems for large fabric pots - 50-75 gallon, 100-150, and 150-250. I think the large one is about the same as a 4x4 bed:

https://www.sustainablevillage.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=59_75&product_id=279

 

[Eighths-n-Aces]

Is this the same thing you're using? https://www.sustainablevillage.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=59_76&page=2

i'm not sure jav. i'm not far from sustainable village so i was actually there when i picked them up. TBH it was not something i went there to get ...... the boss listened to what i was doing, pointed these things out to me and it turned out to be great advice.

i just went through the web site and can't seem to find anything that i'm 100% sure us what i actually have. i'll find out what the part or order number is and post it as soon as i can.

i don't want to fuck with the folks at the village today because it's the weekend but i'll get the information as soon as i can

 

[Eighths-n-Aces]

Is this the same thing you're using? https://www.sustainablevillage.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=59_76&page=2

no it's not.

talked to the folks at the village and found out the stuff that i have isn't on the website. they said they would put it on and that it should be one of the first things that you see when you go there for a while since it just got added.

look for "Plant Ring 10 foot" (i know they have 6 foot too and they work great) the part # is IG 15805 and i think he said they were about $12

 

[Cobra420]

BEST INVESTMENT EVER. I use them EVERYWHERE. In my 3 - 600w tents, in my mother tent, in my dual 150 cabs and now I use them in a newly made PLL SOG cab. Set them and forget them. I'm in the process of ordering a TON to start using in my greenhouse.

Recent grow from the PLL cab.

And the new run just put into 12/12, Blumats were set up earlier this evening.

I started off using their quick disconnects with stoppers in them. Pretty sure its my own fault from over tightening but they didn't seem to be worth the hassle. I now use the little white barbs in the pic with ease. Cheaper than the disconnects and I just use mini binder clips to clamp off right before the barb to do any necessary work.

The amount of freedom I have now from these things pay for themselves 10 fold. I use a water only organic mix and just set them and forget them. Thanks SunnyDog for the recommendation.

 

[Jhhnn]

Beautiful results Cobra 420.

I also use a water only soil mix w/ occasional ewc tea. It's not just about the convenience for me, but about the results. My plants absolutely thrive on the even moisture in the soil recipe Eighths-n-Aces gave me. It's virtually impossible to over water in 5 gal fabric pots. The mix is very open & drains so well that it almost demands blumats. Otherwise, I'd be watering all the time.

 

[Nomad28743]

Cobra,
What size are those black square pots please?
My guess is 6".

 

[Cobra420]

Beautiful results Cobra 420.

I also use a water only soil mix w/ occasional ewc tea. It's not just about the convenience for me, but about the results. My plants absolutely thrive on the even moisture in the soil recipe Eighths-n-Aces gave me. It's virtually impossible to over water in 5 gal fabric pots. The mix is very open & drains so well that it almost demands blumats. Otherwise, I'd be watering all the time.

Thanks! Great point. Since using them, I've had the healthiest plants I've ever grown.

Cobra,
What size are those black square pots please?
My guess is 6".

5-3/8 x 5-3/8 at the top, 4-1/4 x 4-1/4 at the bottom and 6" tall. They work GREAT.

 

[Nomad28743]

TY cobra.

 

[dyna mo humm]

I'm sure there are 'some' answers to my questions but 283 pages is quite a bit to read through. I'm hoping somebody can just answer a few questions for me.

Can somebody tell me how many blumats to use in 36" x 16" x 12" geo planters?
(The planters work out to be 4 cubic feet, just shy of 30 gallons of soil. I want to run 2 plants per planter. I plan on using no till organic soil method.)

What size 'carrots' would I need?
How many 'carrots' per planter?

Only straight water?
Can I run teas through them?

Thanks

 

[Lapides]

Gonna have to read like everyone else

 

[Nomad28743]

I agree with Lapides plus I bet you will have additional questions answered you are not aware you need answered. Any knowledge worth acquiring is worth the work. It honors the fine people who went to the trouble of posting all this great info here for you to shave off a year of your learning curve if you are just willing to match their work and read the entire thread.
This hobby appears to be an endless learning process that requires great patience and the necessity to devote time to researching others successes and failures which are so generously shared here.
You could at least use the search tool and try to help yourself also.
Or you could call Sustainable Village and they could answer those questions. Then if you actually followed through and bought the blumats reading the thread top to bottom may save you considerable trouble.

You can lead a man to blumats, but you can't make him think.

 

[Nomad28743]

I agree with Lapides plus I bet you will have additional questions answered you are not aware you need answered. Any knowledge worth acquiring is worth the work. It honors the fine people who went to the trouble of posting all this great info here for you to shave off a year of your learning curve if you are just willing to match their work and read the entire thread.
This hobby appears to be an endless learning process that requires great patience and the necessity to devote time to researching others successes and failures which are so generously shared here.
You could at least use the search tool and try to help yourself also.
Or you could call Sustainable Village and they could answer those questions. Then if you actually followed through and bought the blumats reading the thread top to bottom may save you considerable trouble.

You can lead a man to blumats, but you can't make him think.

 

[Nomad28743]

Opps,
My satellite connection coughed during the rain storm and I thought it did not take the first post, sorry.
Besides I need extra posts to reach 50!

 

[dyna mo humm]

I've read plenty. I've researched plenty. I just had a few questions

I'm thinking of going with a single 'carrot' per geo planter and either using the drippers or the soaker hoses. I was primarily looking for answers regarding that.
Is one carrot enough?

I am far from a 'new' grower looking for the easy way out. I was just asking a few questions to try and save myself some time. Between my GH's and my I.D. garden I'm just very busy especially this time of year. I currently run an ebb n flow in my main spot and have for years. I'll be setting up a second spot soon that needs to run somewhat by itself. Auto watering in soil is probably the best bet for such an operation, imo. That's why I'm here in this thread.

Think I'll just take my ball and go home........

 

[thchunter]

blumats are so easy to use beats any topspinner dripper and idiot proof as well

 

[Nomad28743]

Bummer just saw my frivolous post did not count towards my 50. So I made this one!

 

[westtexas]

I prefer the misters as part of the growth cycle is affected be spraying the proper water your leaves and YES flowers....