I run just under 800 gal a day through 1/4" poly ice maker tubing that runs around my fishroom ceiling. I use modified saddle valves off my copper water lines/main to power the lines and 2 main runs/lines of the 1/4" poly tube. (modified as in i remove the regulator it comes with, cap it off and recieve alot more pressure that way) One of my lines supplies 8 tanks... and the other supplies 3. I use push connect fittings for T's, elbows, unions to each tank and i've found the drip emitters that have screw on caps to fail/leak over time. look for an emitter that is completly sealed. I usually buy bags of 50 ct to have extras on hand in case of failure/replacement/add ons.. there all very cheap but ive had em last yrs no prob. I ordered my last emitters from "dripworks.com" and am very pleased with them. I use the 1 & 2gph and add on multiples per tank to make different gph. I also recommend installing a guage to monitor ur water pressure in the lines. Most drip emitters are only rated to 60psi and will pop/fail/leak under higher pressure. I made my own guage using a reg pvc ball valve before a T that holds the pressure guage. Amazing how much ur water mains pressure fluctuates when u actually put a guage on it. If i flush a toilet i see it drop and return to pressure....I keep the pressure in my lines at 40psi... before the guage i ran into alot of problems blowing emitters, after the guage i realised my water main is ridiculous supplying 80-100psi half open lol... You could run 1/4" icemaker tube, 3/8 sink tubing or even 1/2" pvc... Just keep in mind the size of drip emitters are 1/4" so ud have 2 step down to that size to ur tanks from ur "main" drip line. Kinda unnecessary to supply the main line with large pipe unless u plan 2 also use it for heavy water changes into each tank also.. but it certainly wont hurt. Honestly 1/4" fittings are the same price as fittings for 1/2" so no difference there. I enjoy the ease of "plug and play" with my 1/4" poly but thats just personal preference. If i move a tank i can easily add a union where i had a T off to a tank and all is well. Any kind of copper T/connection will be fine to tie into ur main then into pvc, garden hose sounds easy as u could use a brass threaded end to supply ur pvc drip line sealed with teflon. Most important part imo is the regulator... u really dont want anything higer than 40psi for irrigation emitters. I got away without one for 1 yr then started blowing emitters every day outta nowhere... save urself the headache and wet floors lol...
I have a friend who runs 3/8" poly sink lines and reg threaded sink nozzles/handles to control the drip but i think the drip emitters make for a true reading/gph. like u i have 2 many tanks 2 test my drips with a bucket and stop watch lol... LMK if ud like some pics of my hommade regulator or drip lines for an idea. And goodluck! autodrips changed my life!!! lol... if i only had a 10gal...id still drip it. quality of life has improved greatly for me. I kick myself for struggling with water quality/changes for many yrs before hand.
