Gravity Fed Irrigation help

[The_Core]

Hey everyone, Just looking for any DIY links for a 5 Gallon Bucket simple gravity fed irrigation system. Trying to just run 1 main hose out of the bucket down into the garden and smaller Lines coming off the main one. And at the bucket having a on and off valve. I was looking on here and on the net and it seemed the only gravity irrigation was drip system. I do not want drip. I want to open up the valve count and within 10 seconds or so every grow bag is fully watered. If anyone could help me with a DIY link or their ideas would be appreciated.

 

[Sat X RB]

can't quite picture what you want ... but your bucket will have to have sufficient 'Head'. that is, must be high enuf above yr plants for water to flow. the higher the head the more pressure to yr plants ... the smaller the hoses/tubing you will be able to use ... and the quicker the task of watering will get done.

the main line from yr bucket needs to be big enuf to supply the smaller hoses. there is this thing called friction which will hold up/ slow down flow if yr main line is not big enuf diameter or yr head is not high enuf.

if I 'm seeing yr idea correctly you will need to start the siphon from yr bucket each time the bucket runs out. so to my mind what you imagine is not an ideal set up because you'll have to disconnect the main line each time to restart the siphon ... and then reconnect it once ater begins to flow.

can you install a 'bucket' large enuf for several waterings and put a tap in the main line so that you don't have to restart the siphon each time you water?

your idea would work much better if you were connected to some sort of pressure supply. the pressure (say mains pressure) can be regulated by the addition of a tap in the supply line (turn the tap on a little for low pressure/flow, turn it on a lot for high).

hope that's clear ... ?

 

[Mister_D]

Simple enough, grab a 1/2" drain fitting from the hydro store, drill the correct sized hole in the bottom of your 5 gal bucket for the drain fitting, install drain fitting in bucket, attach 1/2" main line to drain fitting, install a ball valve in the 1/2" line right after the bucket, use equal length runs (keeps the flow to each plant even) of 1/4" open ended drip line to feed each plant. Hang you 5gal bucket from the ceiling and open the ball valve when you want to water.

 

[The_Core]

Simple enough, grab a 1/2" drain fitting from the hydro store, drill the correct sized hole in the bottom of your 5 gal bucket for the drain fitting, install drain fitting in bucket, attach 1/2" main line to drain fitting, install a ball valve in the 1/2" line right after the bucket, use equal length runs (keeps the flow to each plant even) of 1/4" open ended drip line to feed each plant. Hang you 5gal bucket from the ceiling and open the ball valve when you want to water.

I think I pretty much understand what you're saying.

5 Gallon bucket
Drill hole in bottom of bucket
Install drain fitting in that hole
attach main line to the fitting
install ball valve onto main line

Then what? I attach drip lines into the main line, making sure each drip line is the same length? I was looking for more water flow into the containers then drip. I actually wanted a steady flow of water so that I could complete the entire watering in about a minute. How would this effect your plans?

 

[TribalSeeds]

You get much better pressure if you make your feed line into a loop with the res. Have two lines coming out, but in a loop. Connect your feed lines to the loop. You will be shooting water out higher than your plants, so watch out cuz you can soak a cola in no time... I know from experience
Sorry, didnt notice you want to water in a minute... My bad, I thought this was for blumats
A slower water is better for your roots than a force fuck. I like the pulse watering idea

 

[Mister_D]

I think I pretty much understand what you're saying.

5 Gallon bucket
Drill hole in bottom of bucket
Install drain fitting in that hole
attach main line to the fitting
install ball valve onto main line

Then what? I attach drip lines into the main line, making sure each drip line is the same length? I was looking for more water flow into the containers then drip. I actually wanted a steady flow of water so that I could complete the entire watering in about a minute. How would this effect your plans?

Yes use 1/4" straight barbs to attach runs of 1/4" line to the 1/2" main line. Run equal lengths of 1/4" line to each plant, leave the lines open-ended (no drippers). Open 1/4" line will get you the flow you desire. I like to use 1/4" tees on the plant end of line to spread the flow of water more evenly throughout the pot. You can find pictures of the basic idea i'm presenting in the first couple pages of my redemption thread.

 

[MrAwder]

Just as Mister_D said. Check my current thread, I just completed a gravity fed system although slightly different than what you want. I am using 1/4" T-fittings to water instead of drippers but you can also just attach the 1/4" line directly to the pot if you need more flow.

Right now mine are set to water twice a day for 1 minute.

One thing the to note - depending on the volume of water you use for each watering, you may run into problems with pressure changing as the 5 gallon res gets depleted. I took my experience from blumats and decided to use 2 res', one large, and one smaller elevated res. The bottom large res continually tops off the upper res = constant pressure.

 

[growshopfrank]

if you want to do a timer based system here is a link for a solenoid that will work with gravity pressure in 12v dc for safety
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-2-Gravity...675?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43b2e2436b

 

[Team Microbe]

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?threadid=88022

 

[The_Core]

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?threadid=88022

Thanks brother! I am taking a look at it now...

 

[Team Microbe]

Thanks brother! I am taking a look at it now...

anytime man