Really cheap easy 24/7 drip system

[brianhellno]

Clean and simple.I like that.
Is your water supply unchlorinated or does the fridge filter take care of this ?
Is your inlet water pressure stable ? If it varies so will your exchange rate.
They make a simple inline screen filter to prevent drip emmitters from clogging.

Thanks. My water supply has chlorine which is why I threw in a fridge filter. So far the drip seems to be a steady so I don't think I'm going to play around with drip emitters just yet.

You will find that you don't have to worry about the overflow losing prime. The key word is worry. It will gradually collect gasses from bacteria off gassing. It will take a while before it even happens, but when it does, you will be scratching your head thinking "this is what everyone is paranoid about?".

Your overflow is clear and you can see the gasses build up. You will have plenty of time/warning to bleed it. You can't see inside the DIY overflows so the gas build up remains a mystery until it stops or you bleed it. Also, since you can't see through them, they never get cleaned out. By the time your overflow builds up enough bacteria to off gas in significant quantities, you will have already cleaned the overflow.

Thanks for the reassurance. I wasn't sure if the gases could build up overnight causing a sudden problem or if I could monitor it and take care of it when it starts to get out of hand. I feel better about how its put together now.

now this one i can do thank u

Thank you and your welcome. I was hoping to make it easy enough not only for myself but to maybe help others who are thinking about doing this so they could see that it doesn't have to be complicated. I'm not saying complicated systems aren't good I'm just saying some of the drip systems left me in the dust as far as trying to do them on my own. I like to think this is about as easy as you can get without just running a hose in through a window from a faucet.

 

[xdragonxb0i]

do you have a drain valve? what if its dripping in more water, then the tank is losing

 

[CHOMPERS]

A requirement of drip systems is to have a drain. It pretty much goes without saying, right? And the drain shouldn't have a valve.

 

[Fishermoe14]

any chance you can do a chlorine measurement coming off the fridge filter?

 

[Spazdad]

seriously would not recommend splicing into your main line like that... That saddle fitting will not last that long especially in outdoor conditions.. Regardless of materials.. Anyone else thinking about this should just run of a line in the basement.. Much cheaper to replace copper than a main gal. pipe..

On the other hand great idea with the filter..

 

[jcardona1]

nice design. i recommend you go with drip emitters. get them from irrigationdirect.com they sell ones with removable cap for cleaning

 

[Austin]

do you have a drain valve? what if its dripping in more water, then the tank is losing

kinda what i was thinking...

nice design. i recommend you go with drip emitters. get them from irrigationdirect.com they sell ones with removable cap for cleaning

i would also throw a cheap pressure regulator on there as well. i know lowes sells them meant for drips in gardening for $20ish, or go to grainger for a brass one that's adjustable with a gauge.

 

[jcardona1]

do you have a drain valve? what if its dripping in more water, then the tank is losing

i dont see how its possible to drain more water than is being introduced to the tank because of the overflow, the water level is constant. and the only amount of water that will drain is the same amount of water going in. it cant be different

 

[jschall]

You will find that you don't have to worry about the overflow losing prime. The key word is worry. It will gradually collect gasses from bacteria off gassing. It will take a while before it even happens, but when it does, you will be scratching your head thinking "this is what everyone is paranoid about?".

Your overflow is clear and you can see the gasses build up. You will have plenty of time/warning to bleed it. You can't see inside the DIY overflows so the gas build up remains a mystery until it stops or you bleed it. Also, since you can't see through them, they never get cleaned out. By the time your overflow builds up enough bacteria to off gas in significant quantities, you will have already cleaned the overflow.

What if a big bichir or pleco surfaces to gulp some air and then blows bubbles into it? =P

 

[Austin]

kinda what i was thinking...



i would also throw a cheap pressure regulator on there as well. i know lowes sells them meant for drips in gardening for $20ish, or go to grainger for a brass one that's adjustable with a gauge.

wrong quote. was going for this to agree with chompers...

A requirement of drip systems is to have a drain. It pretty much goes without saying, right? And the drain shouldn't have a valve.