just finished my homemade drip system

[Butchdawg14]

Thanks to all the people that gave me input...while thinking about this whole thing...

I like to do things the cost effective way...lol

I started the drip around 2 o clock this afternoon and watching the level of the water.....it is doing pretty good right now....i marked it where the level started and right now at almost 9 mt it is JUST underneath the mark....i think it is working for now....i will see what it looks like in the morning...

right now it is dripping at like 7 seconds per drip.

here are the pics of it

 

[smcdonn]

I like it. I have been thinking about doing something similar for my calcium and alk.

 

[Misled]

Pretty much like mine. Our evaporation rates must be similar. I go for a drip every 6 or 7 seconds. Congrats!

 

[Butchdawg14]

thanks alot......how big is your tank???

 

[clevername]

Is anyone going to tell him that as the water gets lower in the "reserve tank" the lower the pressure will be and here fore lower the drip rate.

Make sure the reserve tank is full and then set it to 7 second, that way worst case: it drips slower and does not delude your tank.

 

[clowninaround74]

just wondering if there is any way around that....im thinking about doing that for my tank. i guess i dont understand why that would be because you have a closed valve at the top of the water source.

This is how i understand it. If the valve stays completely under the water, the same amount of water is going to be going through the valve, correct? I guess i could understand the dripping rate changing if the valve was completely open but it isnt therefore countering any pressure being pushed by the amount of water inside of the reserve tank. so as long as the water in the reserve tank completely submerges the valve that feeds the main tank then the same amount of water will pass through correct??

Just wondering and i definitly could be wrong but thats how i understand it.

Randall

 

[Pbrown3701]

wrong - The water is being forced through the valve by water pressure. This water pressure is equal to the height of the water above the valve. Thus, what clevername said is correct. As the water level drops, the water pressure pushing water through the valve decreases which will reduce your flow.

 

[BeanAnimal]

not to mention that trying to match a drip rate to evaporation is futile even if you could keep a constant drip rate. Evaporation varies by temp, relative humidity, air movement, etc.

 

[Butchdawg14]

well first off the main reason i have this thing is because I will be gone for spring break and some of the weekends....I would rather have it drip in there in whatever rate it wants to espeacially if it is slower then what the evap rate is......

i know it is hard to regulate the evap with the drip rate.....but i am getting it.....

also the level of the water that is in the container is not going down that fast so i will keep my container full and i will have no problems with the water pressure.....

also the pressure wont change that much when the water drops down in the container..... in a 1.5 gallon container the amount of water pressure with a half filled container is not much different then the water pressure of the container 1/4 full

 

[BeanAnimal]

A simple float valve clamped over the side of the tank would be much more reliable

 

[Butchdawg14]

i looked at that how do you regulate the float value.....do you need a pump to get on to put water in??

 

[BeanAnimal]

Nope gravity would feed the float valve from your tank on the shelf. As water evaporates the float will drop and let water into the tank. You do have to be aware that snails can cause problems

 

[BeanAnimal]

What you have setup WILL work, you just have to keep an eye on it and understand what can (and will) go wrong.

 

[Butchdawg14]

oh ok thanks ill keep going with this and see how it works and if its a pain ill get a float valve

 

[Misled]

There are a few ways around those problems. As for evaporation rate, In a closed room that the humidity is controled in it does not change much. To make your drip consistant, I use a siphon to draw mine to a medical dripper from a IV system. I don't have to touch mine except to refill every 5 days.

 

[complexbooger]

.

 

[complexbooger]

I was thinking of starting a set-up the same. If you keep the Bucket air tight and the end of the tube underwater, will it work like a Drip IV?

they make dog auto water dishes like that... but this is fish lol dont know

just wondering

=JonBlazes

 

[Butchdawg14]

i dont have my drip thing under water.......should i??

 

[ReefObsessor805]

Great idea. I totally need this for my 46 gallon...my evap rate in my sump is insane and I top off all the time; it is sometimes a nuisance....

Where did you get the container from?
What size is it?

Thanks
~Alan

 

[Butchdawg14]

my container is 1.5 gallons it is like 12 l x 7 w x 6 h (inches obviously)

i just had it here at home but im sure walmart or target or hobby lobby would have something