Automatic Guerrilla Watering Tank: How-To and Pics!

[Orange Shovel CAGrower]

Lugging in 7 gallons of water by backpack every 3 days was a pain this rain-less summer in California. Its time that we plan ahead and water every 3 weeks. Here's my version of easy watering...



1. Obtain Essential Tank System Parts (Local Hardware Store):

- a 55 gallon tank
- a 3/4" spigot
- a powerdrill with 7/8" spade bit
- a bastard file
- an automatic water timer
- basic gravity feed drip (http://www.dripdepot.com/131.html)
- A few joints and an hour of time

2. Assembly Instructions:


Obtain 55 gal drum.

Drill a hole at the bottom.

File down the hole to fit the spigot.

Screw in the spigot.

Before adding the piping it should look like this:

Now its time for the automatic water timer:

Attach the gravity drip once at the site and make sure that it can flow with gravity down the hill to your plants.



Tips:
Check for free buckets and drums online at Craigslist, or ask at local hardware stores, car washes, stables, farms etc.
Check for leaks every visit to the plot
Bury the line in the ground.
Spray paint with camo colors or cover with camo netting.

 

[bterz]

Sweeeeet! +rep

now time to camoflauge that bright blue

 

[Willie North]

good stuff man
the pics make it that much better

 

[floridasucks]

that auto water timer doesnt need power? how does it work?

 

[cadillacjack81]

how do you fill it?

 

[Orange Shovel CAGrower]

answers to the questions...

1. How do you refill it?
You just open the top (there always is a lid on the top of it) and pour your lugged in water. If you live in a climate where it might rain you can set up a screen and collect rain water. This is not practical for me because it is very dry in California (no rain).

2. How does the auto-timer work?
It is a battery operated timer so you don't have to worry about it, just plop in some batteries and you're ready.

3. How do you add nutrients?
Mix them inside the drum, but pay attention to the length the nutrients are released. You can change the amount of water output to fit your needs/timing/liking.

 

[NEPA]

then u just run a hose to the plants?? if its just a dripper how does it have power to water like 10 plants? prob. a dumb question but iam intretested in the idea but not exactly sure how to go about it

 

[NewThumb]

I have tried to collect rain in my rain catchers and have not even gotten 1gallon from it.
This year has been very dry in cali. It is extremely foggy in some places though.

 

[Orange Shovel CAGrower]

This is not a water catching device. It is to store water in and water automatically, not to catch rain.

Im just setting out a basic outline of what you can do for a hillside grow where gravity is the source of power. The amount of water in the tank will create a force, from gravity, that flows downhill to the plants.

Here is a picture.

 

[JonnyBtreed]

sweet idea man...

 

[bterz]

I wont have mine built until about mid January but i'll post pics when I do.

 

[GreenKine]

yea thats real tight you should paint that barrel cammo

 

[cadillacjack81]

im lost you still have to lug the water so whats the point?

 

[bigbagdylan]

the point is that you go less often.

Could you setup up multiple hoses to it or would it be to much.

 

[GreenKine]

im lost you still have to lug the water so whats the point?

the point is that once its full you just have to maintain it full so the bulk of the work is at first, and if you live in a more saturated area than he does (CA) then you could set up a rain catcher to fill it

 

[Orange Shovel CAGrower]

the point is that you go less often.

Could you setup up multiple hoses to it or would it be to much.

Thank you for explaining. You can set up as many hoses as you want...I am setting up 10 hoses because 55/10= 5.5 and if i want to water every 4 days, that is 4 x 5.5= 22. Therefore I have to refill once every 3 weeks.
Essentially, the more hoses the quicker you have to refill.

the point is that once its full you just have to maintain it full so the bulk of the work is at first, and if you live in a more saturated area than he does (CA) then you could set up a rain catcher to fill it

Thank you for clearing it up. I am sure this question is going to be asked endless times.

 

[bigbagdylan]

thanks man rep up+, I,m prob going to get 3 of 4 hoses, but my next question is if I dont have a hill can I just put thee bucket on a big stump and would it work the same?

 

[Orange Shovel CAGrower]

yes, in order for it to work it has to be at least 2 feet above the plants...though a bucket on a stump isnt too stealthy

 

[NewThumb]

I wasn't saying that this was a rain catching device. I was just stating how dry it was here.

 

[bterz]

This really has me excited for my next outdoor grow.

Although I have 20 acres of land to grow on, its at my uncles house where he gave me permission to grow. The grow spot is about 15 minutes out of the way and I wont beable to visit my girls as often as I would like, so I am going to set up one of these to 6 monsters and see how they do.