The klx Way!
- Thread starter klx
- Start date
Where does it say it takes that long?
but if it does it isn’t really an issue
edit oh yeah I see it now 5-10 seconds but that shouldn’t reallly be an issue I think.
klx
Well-Known Member
Not for flood and drain. Would be for 100ml top fed injections though if anyone going that route.
For flood and drain the valve won’t be controlling the water as such - the water pump will be. The valve just decides which table the pump will fill.
so in the automation code just set the valve to open to the specific table 10 seconds before your pump turns on.
the drain pump the same thing - shut valve 10 seconds after drain pump shuts off
maybe your thinking of using valves differently to me
klx
Well-Known Member
No, I get you. I was referring to people who top feed and they only inject 100ml of water so it only takes literally seconds to do the feed. Having a valve that takes 10 seconds to open would not work.
For flood and drain we all good and I am still not quite decided exactly how to do the feeding yet in terms of valves and pumps. I want as simple and reliable as possible. I think I am almost decided on two 4x8 trays but I just need some time in the new space to see what layout will work best.
All this stuff is cool as fuck.
I want to design everything so I can empty and refill my Reservoirs from even outside the country.
these cool water sensors would be ideal to ensure that tanks and tables never accidentally overflow
Non-contact_Liquid_Level_Sensor_XKC-Y25-T12V_SKU__SEN0204-DFRobot
wiki:This is a non-contact water level sensor for Arduino. It utilizes advanced signal processing technology with high-speed operation capacity to achieve non-contact liquid level detection.
wiki.dfrobot.com
Not sure exactly how they work yet - trying to figure out if they will work through a solid piece of 2 x 4 timber as my tables will be timber lined with epdm
wietefras
Well-Known Member
Yeah those sensors work great. I have them on the outside of a plastic container though. Not sure if they will make it through 2" of wood.
Also work well in detecting that water is actually flowing through the distribution line (to see if the pump is actually working when it's supposed to be "on")
Also work well in detecting that water is actually flowing through the distribution line (to see if the pump is actually working when it's supposed to be "on")
klx
Well-Known Member
Cheers for the info mate
They are cheap enough I’ll buy one after I’ve built my tables and check they work before I buy a few of them. Won’t be starting the built until probably Christmas time though. Lots of planning to do in mean time
klx
Well-Known Member
You only need enough room for a small net pot and then the roots under the lid so I reckon 100mm of depth below the lid would be enough for small plants. Bigger plants I'd want a bit more.
klx
Well-Known Member
Yes but remember the roots are spread across the floor of the tray like a mat, you dont need to flood very high at all. 50mm is plenty as long as the base of the stem is close to the top of the flood level.
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klx
Well-Known Member
The roots just go where ever the feed is but there is no way the roots of a zero veg clone is going to fill a tote, there is not enough time.
klx
Well-Known Member
Yep they will all be best friends and just intertwine. You are growing tiny plants remember they don't have a big root ball
klx
Well-Known Member
The risers in my flood and drain fittings raise the flood level 35mm. I have used 1 and 2 and did not notice any difference in yields. If you lift the lid and watch during a flood what you will see is the roots all floating around in the nutrient, especially during the first few weeks of flower. Then when it drains they all just follow the laws of gravity. And thats why proper flood trays are good because they have the grooves and hold some water between floods.