Thanks. I used this method to keep my foggers running for my mushroom buckets. They kept running out of water, so I built a float valve with some foam and medicine bottles and put the reservoir, a yogurt cup, above the float valve. My fogger container never ran out of water too soon again.
The yogurt container could probably last one crop season if protected from light, and if it is not moved, and the solution level doesn't drop much from the original full position. The latter two issues can cause the float block to move slightly causing a poor seal - at least temporarily until a new seat develops. A problem with the float valve-siphon system is that the device needs to be moved to activate the system and the liquid level can drop temporarily. This is not a problem with a fresh new, neoprene foam seal, but can be a troublesome with 'used' seal that has a nozzle indentation. Therefore, if the siphon holds for a long time, and the device is never moved again after the original activation, then it should be ok. A reliable commercial float valve in a plastic container (sump) would be an improvement over what was presented here. No, I am not familiar with the water cooler bottle topoff system.
That was a great video, Jeb! The device is similar to a chicken waterer. It works great, until it runs out of water, so it would need to be refilled multiple times for a long-term crop such as tomatoes, but it is quite adequate for a short-term crop.
Would like to see more detail on how the float valve is assembled. I don't understand how it works yet. I've done autosiphons before but what pieces do I need to assemble one?
That is a great system. I was wondering how you got the 2 nutrients containers in the last video to empty at the same time. I have seen it used other ways but not this way. Thanks for sharing :)
I'm looking at this and wondering if you could daisy-chain buckets with float valves down the steps, one siphoning off of the other. Would height of original tank cause a problem if the last bucket on the bottom was too far below the initial source, or does the height rule only apply for the previous bucket in the system. (would the 11th step down cause a problem, or would it only be affected by the pressure from bucket on the 10th step). that would be fun to test out I think.
If the 11 buckets have float valves inside of the buckets, and each float valve maintains a 3" water level, and if the water from the previous bucket (higher) comes from the bottom of the bucket, and if the bucket height is less that the step height plus 3 inches, then the bottom bucket would have a 3 inch water level. Water would only need to be started in the top bucket to make this happen. If the buckets were taller (case 1) or if the float valves were outside of the buckets (case 2) , the lower 10 buckets wouldn't receive any water unless each upper bucket (in case 1) or each float valve (case 2) was raised to establish siphon action into the succeeding lower bucket which would also have a 3 inch water level.
Sorry but im confused, isnt the point of your method to have a container with enough water for the lifetime of the plant? If so why would it need topping up.
Yes, all of the water is added prior to planting for short-term crops like lettuce which only require 1-2 gallons of water for the entire lifetime. However, longer term crops such as tomatoes might require 40 gallons or more of water for their lifetime and it usually isn't practical to have such a large tank. Thus, we use smaller 'tanks' and maintain a constant level of nutrient solution throughout the crop (after the initial level has dropped several inches ). In both cases, crops are grown without mechanical aeration or pumps or electrical power.
![สาวเมืองเพชร - ธีเดช ทองอภิชาติ [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kEt7F9PvO3I/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks. I used this method to keep my foggers running for my mushroom buckets. They kept running out of water, so I built a float valve with some foam and medicine bottles and put the reservoir, a yogurt cup, above the float valve. My fogger container never ran out of water too soon again.
Thank you for doing all the hard work and thinking (and recording) so we can copy what you do.
I'm gonna try this out. Too much of a chore to top up my eggplants and okra. Thanks!
Very good idea sir
How has the durability of your yogurt container design been? Have you tried a water cooler bottle type top-off system? Thanks for sharing!
The yogurt container could probably last one crop season if protected from light, and if it is not moved, and the solution level doesn't drop much from the original full position. The latter two issues can cause the float block to move slightly causing a poor seal - at least temporarily until a new seat develops. A problem with the float valve-siphon system is that the device needs to be moved to activate the system and the liquid level can drop temporarily. This is not a problem with a fresh new, neoprene foam seal, but can be a troublesome with 'used' seal that has a nozzle indentation. Therefore, if the siphon holds for a long time, and the device is never moved again after the original activation, then it should be ok. A reliable commercial float valve in a plastic container (sump) would be an improvement over what was presented here. No, I am not familiar with the water cooler bottle topoff system.
I did a water cooler type thing in grow 3 of my latest video th-cam.com/video/-VFwKDZQxAg/w-d-xo.html I'm sure there's a technical term for it.
That was a great video, Jeb! The device is similar to a chicken waterer. It works great, until it runs out of water, so it would need to be refilled multiple times for a long-term crop such as tomatoes, but it is quite adequate for a short-term crop.
Would like to see more detail on how the float valve is assembled. I don't understand how it works yet. I've done autosiphons before but what pieces do I need to assemble one?
Check out my TH-cam on "A yogurt container float valve".
That is a great system. I was wondering how you got the 2 nutrients containers in the last video to empty at the same time. I have seen it used other ways but not this way. Thanks for sharing :)
That's a great idea!
🙏
I'm looking at this and wondering if you could daisy-chain buckets with float valves down the steps, one siphoning off of the other. Would height of original tank cause a problem if the last bucket on the bottom was too far below the initial source, or does the height rule only apply for the previous bucket in the system. (would the 11th step down cause a problem, or would it only be affected by the pressure from bucket on the 10th step). that would be fun to test out I think.
If the 11 buckets have float valves inside of the buckets, and each float valve maintains a 3" water level, and if the water from the previous bucket (higher) comes from the bottom of the bucket, and if the bucket height is less that the step height plus 3 inches, then the bottom bucket would have a 3 inch water level. Water would only need to be started in the top bucket to make this happen.
If the buckets were taller (case 1) or if the float valves were outside of the buckets (case 2) , the lower 10 buckets wouldn't receive any water unless each upper bucket (in case 1) or each float valve (case 2) was raised to establish siphon action into the succeeding lower bucket which would also have a 3 inch water level.
@@growkratky5558 thanks for that explanation!
A single valve-siphon is limited to just one bucket/container, or that same single valve can also works with multiple buckets/containers?
Multiple is fine, as long as they are all at the same level.
Sorry but im confused, isnt the point of your method to have a container with enough water for the lifetime of the plant? If so why would it need topping up.
Yes, all of the water is added prior to planting for short-term crops like lettuce which only require 1-2 gallons of water for the entire lifetime. However, longer term crops such as tomatoes might require 40 gallons or more of water for their lifetime and it usually isn't practical to have such a large tank. Thus, we use smaller 'tanks' and maintain a constant level of nutrient solution throughout the crop (after the initial level has dropped several inches ). In both cases, crops are grown without mechanical aeration or pumps or electrical power.
Thanks for the clarification.