skyview
Member
Check out this new video on setting Blumats up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnJsmHnLBMI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnJsmHnLBMI
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Blumat auto watering
- Thread starter sunnydog
- Start date
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- Tags
- blumat drippers irrigation watering
nastynate420
Member
What is a foot valve bwana?
Last edited:
Bwanabud
Active member
It's similar to a check valve, but goes on the bottom of your feed pipe,,,at the bottom of your rez. It only allows flow of water 1 way(towards the pump), and doesn't allow the water to back flow out of the system by use of a diaphragm.
So even if your rez goes dry, or you service the filter or pump...water stays in the piping, so it doesn't ever need bled/purged.
Here is Blumats version, with a 3/4" F inlet,,,,I'm sure you can find the same thing elsewhere cheaper.
http://www.sustainablevillage.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=271
Bad idea. The bubbles in the water will settle out in the lines.
Air stones aren't a good idea with Blumats.
The only real problem that I ever had with Blumats is vapor locking back when I was running a self-topping reservoir. We have lots of entrained air in the municipal system, and it gave me fits until I went to a 2-stage reservoir. I do kick on a stir pump a couple of times a day to move things around a bit. I've also read that air stones can play havoc with your pH, but don't have any direct experience with it.
*edit* Damn, SD was on it!
The tubing isn't messy. don't really believe any of it is. But then again I have a drain as part of my system. I like it because of the fact I have an insurance plan on my living soil. Unless a guy pulls a stoner move(which you can count on). I left the valve open when I was doing my weekly purge. Emptied out all my water. I'll have to go back and see how this effects the carrots. Wondering if I'll have to reset them or just make sure they are full. I can't remember what I've read about this problem. Read the thread, skim over as best you can. Then go back and do it agin. Then plan, build, enjoy.
Much respect
Much respect
If the carrots are still completely full, simply hand water the pots and call it good. However, you should be on the lookout for runaways for the next few days. I've had the rez go empty a few times. Never had to refill the carrots, but I have had runaways within a few days of refilling the rez.
Bwanabud
Active member
I go against the "norm" here it appears
...but I use air stones and a re-circulation pump in all of my rez's. I use 55 gal rez barrels with a 250 gph continuous duty pump(per barrel), I run a pressurized Blumat system and have never had air/vacuum lock issues.
I go against the "norm" here it appears
With a pressurized system, it's unlikely that you would have a vapor lock issue. However, with 5' of head yielding about 2-1/2 psi at the spike, it can cause serious (fatal, in my plant's case) problems.
Could you explain this?
I'd be happy to.
Vapor lock used to be a common issue in cars. At that time, the fuel pump was located at the engine and was a low-pressure design. With the advent of fuel injection, the pumps went into the fuel tank and moved to a high-pressure design. The combination of the higher pressure and the pump "pushing" fuel rather than using suction combined to eliminate vapor locking.
While not a direct comparison, pressurizing of the blumats is similar. You get .433 psi per foot of head from the reservoir elevation, and with most indoor installations it would be pretty difficult to get more than about 6' of head. This equates to 2.6 psi. Any entrained air bubbles in the nutrient are going to be larger than if they were in a higher-pressure system since they aren't compressed as much, and can easily resist the force being exerted by the reservoir head when they encounter resistance (like the pinch valve at the blumat). A pressurized system, whether it comes from a pressure-reducing valve on a hose bibb or from a pump/accumulator system, usually runs at about 15 psi. The bubbles are going to be correspondingly smaller and have a much harder time blocking the flow with 6x as much force being exerted against them.
bigbadbiddy
Well-known member
I haven't set up my Blumat system yet but want to run it using a 200l reservoir that I plan to fill with well-water.
I planned to use the elevation method and just keep the reservoir topped off regularly to ensure that there is always enough pressure.
However, when I purchased my Blumat kit (got a great deal when I found an old set that had been on display but never sold for years and the market wanted to get rid of it, I got half price with a bunch of extras thrown in), I got a pressure reduction nozzle with in the set.
It is supposed to be used when connecting the Blumat to a sink/water line in a household.
Was about to sell it off on ebay or something when I read into this thread a bit and heard all the rave about pressurizing the Blumat system.
As the main line will run a few meters (about 7 I believe) before it reaches the plants, I surmise that pressurizing my Blumat system might be desirable going forward.
Here's the question:
Can I still use a pressurized system when working with a reservoir instead of a water line/sink connection?
Would I just use a submersible water pump (like the ones being used in ponds etc.) and connect the pressure reduction nozzle to its end/exit hose and on to the main Blumat line?
If this would be a smart/possible setup then I sure am glad I haven't drilled the hole in the water reservoir yet
I planned to use the elevation method and just keep the reservoir topped off regularly to ensure that there is always enough pressure.
However, when I purchased my Blumat kit (got a great deal when I found an old set that had been on display but never sold for years and the market wanted to get rid of it, I got half price with a bunch of extras thrown in), I got a pressure reduction nozzle with in the set.
It is supposed to be used when connecting the Blumat to a sink/water line in a household.
Was about to sell it off on ebay or something when I read into this thread a bit and heard all the rave about pressurizing the Blumat system.
As the main line will run a few meters (about 7 I believe) before it reaches the plants, I surmise that pressurizing my Blumat system might be desirable going forward.
Here's the question:
Can I still use a pressurized system when working with a reservoir instead of a water line/sink connection?
Would I just use a submersible water pump (like the ones being used in ponds etc.) and connect the pressure reduction nozzle to its end/exit hose and on to the main Blumat line?
If this would be a smart/possible setup then I sure am glad I haven't drilled the hole in the water reservoir yet
I didn't get the "fatal" part, lol
The fatal part was what happened to my plants when I was out of town. I regularly travel for 10-12 days a month, and I once came back to a full reservoir and dried-out, dead plants. I use 5-quart air-pots with coco, and a near-constant drip is required to keep the media at the right moisture content when the plants get big. At some point, enough air had accumulated in the lines to stop the nutrient flow, and the plants were well beyond saving by the time I got home.
Here's the question:
Can I still use a pressurized system when working with a reservoir instead of a water line/sink connection?
Would I just use a submersible water pump (like the ones being used in ponds etc.) and connect the pressure reduction nozzle to its end/exit hose and on to the main Blumat line?
If this would be a smart/possible setup then I sure am glad I haven't drilled the hole in the water reservoir yet
It is more difficult than just using a submersible pump, but it can be done. Dead-heading a continuously-running pump will overheat the pump and the water, and destroy the pump. If you look back a ways in the thread, or at some of the commercial offerings, you will see that they use an accumulator/pump combination similar to a well pump and pressure tank. The pump pressurizes the accumulator, which in turn carries the demand for an interval before the pump needs to kick back on.
bigbadbiddy
Well-known member
Thanks rives, as always, quality advice.
I will read back a bit in the thread and see what I can learn.
Will pester with some more questions in case I don't understand
But that will be a few weeks down the road as I still have some more work on the veg chamber and room proper to do before getting to the Blumat system and flower chamber setup.
Cheers!
I will read back a bit in the thread and see what I can learn.
Will pester with some more questions in case I don't understand
But that will be a few weeks down the road as I still have some more work on the veg chamber and room proper to do before getting to the Blumat system and flower chamber setup.
Cheers!
I was always worried about runaways with a pressure system. I've found that runaways with a non-pressurized system are actually WORSE, because the adjustment knob is so much looser. With a pressure system, they're tightened almost shut, all the time.
spaceboy
Active member
Hey whats up everyone. Thinking about upgrading to a pressurized system and was wondering what you guys think of the SV basic pump system which includes pump, accumulator, pressure regulator, t filter and bulkhead fitting. Not really sure if i need the pressure regulator or the t filter/strainer so Im debating between this kit or just getting pump and accumulator. Thoughts?
