EZ Flow in multi zone irrigation

9ah-figlet

9ah-figlet

Well-known member
I’m so grateful to @"NYCfigs"#27 for posting about the DripDepot 20% off sale till the end of October. I missed it last year, and was kicking myself because I really wanted the EZ-Flo Mainline Dispensing System (https://www.dripdepot.com/main-line-dispensing-system) to make life easier. 

I was interested in the 2.5 gallon system because of the size of my fig collection. Right now, I have 150 varieties and 175-200 trees. My goal is to have 160 trees in 8-gallon pots (and the 6 or so already in 15 gallon pots). I have a 4-zone timer (currently using 3 zones with one more zone to be set up next year when the last crop of babies gets uppotted). Here’s a rough diagram of the zones (I omitted zone 1 that I use for my baby figs, tomatoes, garlic, etc).

Click for original
Image-7-8-24-at-5-24-PM.jpg

When I look at the EZ Flo, I worry that it needs to be positioned after the “backflow prevention device”. I have a backflow prevention device on each of the 4 zones rather than 1 of the before the timer. Here’s a photo of my set-up.

Click for original
IMG-3461.jpg


Does this mean that my initial plan of one EZ Flow between the timer and the spigot won’t work? Can I easily switch EZ flow zones (every week a different zone)? Our irrigation skill set grew tremendously this season, but hubby and I still consider ourselves beginners so on-going EZ Flow maintenance needs to be easy.

@"ktrain"#2 and @"bushdoctor82"#14 because they’ve been kind enough to try to help me with irrigation before. @"Tinyfish"#6  hoping you chime in because I think you have this mainline system already.
 
You can run a setup like this.
You would just install the ex flow where the Dosatron unit is here 
I know the Dosatron and Mixrite units are more expensive then EZ flow but they are way easier to operate and much more precise.  I got mine off eBay used for $100 shipped.  So deals are out there.  We do have a local company that will repair these units. 
Click for original
IMG-20240723-190327-HDR.jpg
 
Wow—that looks impressive (in both a good and scary way!). Thanks for chiming in Dan. I missed the fertigation demo at the last DMV meet up, and don’t know much about Dosatrons.

At first glance, that set up is too large to fit in my current area. Let me think about it.
 
This is my ( small ) patio setup. 
At least consider getting your setup mounted up on a board.  It will reduce Alot of the 90s and connections that can leak, break, fail. 
My Dosatron dispenses at a fixed rate of.  1 to 128.   They have a very easy to use calculator on their website.  But I'm mixing 1lb and 1oz of 20-20-20 water soluble fertilizer to 1 gallon in my stock tank. Which gives a 200ppm constant feeding. 
Click for original
IMG-20240823-180735-MP.jpg
 
Yes, your system looks neater and more sturdy than mine. 

What size Dosatron did you buy? A quick peek at their site made me think they’re designed for 3/4” line. I’ve got 1/2” now.
 
@"DCallahan"#71 how much of an area are you watering with this dosatron system? Also how many individual plants? We're still just filling up 55 gallon tanks with pumps over here in Berkeley. We want to keep reusing soil so we alternate between organic, and synthetic fertilizers

@"9ah-figlet"#12 . I am trying to picture your Easy Flow system, it looks like your watering a very large area with this. If you don't mind me asking just how big an area are you watering with this automatic system? With your garlic your home Orchard, and other garden areas it could be as much as an acre. Could you let us know?
 
It’s not that big. My lot is 3/4 of an acre, but I only grow in the backyard. The garlic and tomatoes abut the fig patch, and I put rough sizes of the fig patch in the drawing. I spaced my rows 4-ft apart, but that’s too tight once you put the 14x14” pots down. Next year, I plan to redo the fig patch so that the rows are 5-ft apart.
 
@"Figless"#18   The number of pots that you can water is only limited by the amount of water you can flow from your water source.    You can see I have 6 circuits, each is timed to be on at a different interval so I don't rob the available pressure by trying to run multiple circuits at a time. 
But an example of one circuit that goes to 25pots all 15 gallon pots I have set to come on twice a day at 7am and 7pm for 9mins. 

You should only need one back flow device and that should be the first thing off of the spigot.  The purpose of the back flow is so you don't contaminate your potable water supply. And you should only need one pressure reducer for the entire system.
I have a big cartridge filter that you would use for a whole house because I had it laying around, the cartridges are cheap and they work great.  You'll want to be careful to keep ends closed up and clean water to avoid blocking up emitters. 
One really big thing to keep in mind is to only use one type of emitter for a specific circuit.  You can mix up the type you use but make sure all the same are on that particular circuit.
 
Sorry for being late to the game Nina, lol
Out celebrating my daughters 15th bday at a Japanese steakhouse. mmm. :)
But there is good advice above, I do use a fertigation tank, hooked up after everything else though, I didn't want to chance it hurting the timer.
I narrowed me zones down to one...had to make it easy on me, you have quite the set up!
 
The Dosatron are great but the price tag makes my eye twitch.

Not as elaborate but I’ve seen these EZ FLO units used on 250+ trees. I never heard any complaints about it.

Any reason why this wouldn’t suffice?

www.irrigationdirect.ca

EZFLO-2020-HB 2 Gallon Hose Bib & Drip System Connection EZ-FLO Fertilizer Injector - For On/Off Pressure Only

EZ-FLO Hose and Drip systems can be installed in minutes by the average homeowner and are gre...
www.irrigationdirect.ca www.irrigationdirect.ca

I’ve never used one before but I’d like to get one for my drip system
 
I've seen some knockoff Dosatrons on Amazon for around $120 . I'm tempted to buy one to trial it.
I got a heck of a deal on a pair of used Dosatrons on eBay last year. And Dosatrons are serviceable
 
DCallahan said:
I've seen some knockoff Dosatrons on Amazon for around $120 . I'm tempted to buy one to trial it.
I got a heck of a deal on a pair of used Dosatrons on eBay last year. And Dosatrons are serviceable
Click to expand...

Servicable is important. I never considered used. I'd rather have a good used piece of equipment than a crappy new one.
 
My local greenhouse supply works on them, and sells the parts.
I bench tested my used units, they are fixed 128 to 1 units. So I ran 128 gallons of water through them and they consumed 1 gallon from the solution bottle. Good enough for government work!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top