Auto watering and nutrients?

[iwanttoknow]

We are planning a one week vacation in May, I want to set up an auto watering system. Current grow is 4 Auto Flower Scarlet Sunset in FF soil, grow area is an unused bath tub, no issues with collecting runoff, it just goes down the drain. I have already purchased the watering timer/pump - can I add the nutrients to the reservoir?, with a re-circulating aquarium pump in the reservoir? The nutrients are the Fox Farm trio. Ph usually is in range after adding the nutrients to our tap water, so that is not an issue. Want to keep plants watered because time wise, harvest should be the week after we return :wink:
Any advise is appreciated.

 

[dirtymike]

Looks like you are on top of things. Ive used blu-mat system a short time now and am pleased. Seems they do better at watering/nute than me. I tend to over do it. Have to remember I'm the one thirsty. LOL

 

[Bluey]

The main thing here is to test your system and monitor it whilst your still home. Monitor usage rates, pH and EC if pH is moving...I haven't had any issues here until I added a cal/mag supp for the first time...pH will go from 6 to 7 in a week so I'm cutting the supplement now..
Edit. Watch your sprinkler heads don't water your bathroom floor and ensure your top of tank water is lower than top of pot/water outlet to stop a syphon...issues I have had

 

[golfnrl]

I grow with the autopot system. I use a 12 gallon reservoir and add the nutes to it. In early veg and late flower I can be gone not quite a week. 2-4 days is pretty easy. I don't use the FF trio but don't see where using them in a rez would be an issue. I wound up with autopots because I needed an auto watering system for about a week. Did what you're doing. Don't forget about your light. Being gone a week, will your plants get to close to it? That's the one thing I have not been able to engineer some kind of way to hoist the light remotely with a winch, believe me I have tried.

 

[Bluey]

You're an ideas man golfnrl and I like that. Mine have dimmers if I could control that remotely I coukd set the height high and if my nute tank didn't syphon maybe a month in veg and 2 weeks in later flower...that would be good..and a remote camera to monitor..but privacy is a concern

 

[90Gizmo]

I have two 150 watt GrowPlanner lights with app control. I can set on and off times as well as intensity from anywhere that has cell or Wi-Fi coverage. For now I don't let video outside the house but that's would be done using a video conference app.

 

[golfnrl]

I'm open to suggestions on the remote monitor. I've been thinking about it. You're right Bluey, when away from my plants, I've raised the light a little higher than I would have it normally and let the plants grow to it. Of course, sometimes they get a little closer than I'd like but it's workable. And this isn't every grow, only the times where making a living conflicts with pharming. 90Gizmo, I haven't considered a vid conference app. That's an idea. I wonder if they can be encrypted for privacy. I'd hate to broadcast my grow to the world.

 

[Mollisol]

Anyone think about setting up a PLC to run their grow? I bet you could pick up an old used Allen Bradley on ebay cheap. Set up all the appropriate inputs and outputs. I suppose if you went all out you could have it mix nutrients for you. It could take ph and ppm readings and make necessary adjustments. Set it to water on a schedule or use a soil moisture input. It would be a hell of a fun project.

 

[iwanttoknow]

dirtymike, Bluey, golfnrl, Mollisol - Thank you to all for the input, ideas and suggestions, ultimately what has worked for me is an aquarium/fountain pump that puts out 150 gallons per hour. I first had a small pump that only did 50 gallons per hour and found it not strong enough to put out to 4 plants from 1/4" tubing. With the stronger pump I did have to add the little drip nozzles on the end of the small tubes to each plant. I have the pump plugged in to a 24 hour timer, that will come on only for 1 - 30 minute cycle each day, with the water/nutrient mix at a slow trickle/drip. I will be watching it closely for the next 2 weeks - before leaving for vacation. Who knows, I may leave this set up all the time! :wink:

 

[HeavyMetal1]

Aren't you going to want to run straight water while you are gone to do a preharvest flush since your crop will be so close to chop time?

 

[90Gizmo]

Scanning by I thought, did someone just write "PLC" in a post? How industrial! But Allen-Bradley? You must be a real PLC mainliner. As a retired systems engineer I really love your suggestion. Though personally, I use much lower tech methodology.

 

[Bluey]

You will likely find drippers are too small and will clog with salt build up and on shut down may suck back a bit of your medium...I moved away from drippers because of that and used sprayers mounted above the medium.