Fertilizer Injectors?
- Thread starter TorontoJoe
- Start date
Gladstone1969
Well-known member
Anything less than 75GPH on mine and you need to use one of the restriction rings. These actually make the liquid flow FASTER through the fertilization tank. It will be obvious when you get the flow of fertilizer. A few bubbles moving through isn’t it. Add the restriction ring.OK..... as much as I was drooling over the Doseatron units I decided to go with the EZ-FLO 2.5 gal unit. I seemed it would get the job done for a more affordable price.... Some things however are confusing me.
EZ-FLO - 2.5 Gallon | EZ Flo Injection Systems
2.5 Gallon Hose Bib & Drip Connection - For On/Off Pressure Only (9.5 liter) Super quick to set up and super simple to use. EZ-FLO’s Hose and Drip systems connect directly to your outdoors water faucet. The fertilizer or any water soluble product goes through the tubes to join up with your water...ezfloinjection.com
I calculated the flow on one of my zones to be about 60GPH. It runs for 20 minutes, 3 times per day....
OK... I set the unit up on Friday when I got it. The first thing that seemed strange was that although I used coloured fert, it was very difficult to see in the clear tube. There were a few bubbles so I knew it was flowing. I figured it was because the tube us narrow and light travels through it more easily. The contents of the tank were approx 150ML (1/3 cup) of Jack's professional. 60ML (6 tbsp) of Alaska Fish and a splash of Cal-Mag. (Maybe not enough jacks?)
I set the unit to fast flow and did not use any of the flow restriction washers. I figured I'd dump all the fert out so I could move on to the next zone.
Today, opened up the unit to move zones... I figured 4 days later all the fert would have to have run out of the system. What I found was a lot of colour left in the tank. It was all bluish-brown from the Jack's and the Alaska.
Should the tank not have been all clear?
Now I'm kind of stuck not knowing how much fert the plants got. Am I missing something?
Gladstone1969
Well-known member
Also for 60 gallons fast you should add about 60 tablespoons of Jacks (3.75 cups). It will clear it after an hour of running.OK..... as much as I was drooling over the Doseatron units I decided to go with the EZ-FLO 2.5 gal unit. I seemed it would get the job done for a more affordable price.... Some things however are confusing me.
EZ-FLO - 2.5 Gallon | EZ Flo Injection Systems
2.5 Gallon Hose Bib & Drip Connection - For On/Off Pressure Only (9.5 liter) Super quick to set up and super simple to use. EZ-FLO’s Hose and Drip systems connect directly to your outdoors water faucet. The fertilizer or any water soluble product goes through the tubes to join up with your water...
I calculated the flow on one of my zones to be about 60GPH. It runs for 20 minutes, 3 times per day....
OK... I set the unit up on Friday when I got it. The first thing that seemed strange was that although I used coloured fert, it was very difficult to see in the clear tube. There were a few bubbles so I knew it was flowing. I figured it was because the tube us narrow and light travels through it more easily. The contents of the tank were approx 150ML (1/3 cup) of Jack's professional. 60ML (6 tbsp) of Alaska Fish and a splash of Cal-Mag. (Maybe not enough jacks?)
I set the unit to fast flow and did not use any of the flow restriction washers. I figured I'd dump all the fert out so I could move on to the next zone.
Today, opened up the unit to move zones... I figured 4 days later all the fert would have to have run out of the system. What I found was a lot of colour left in the tank. It was all bluish-brown from the Jack's and the Alaska.
Should the tank not have been all clear?
Now I'm kind of stuck not knowing how much fert the plants got. Am I missing something?
TorontoJoe
Administrator
Oh.... I thought it was the opposite! Less flow, less fert
I figured I was doing 1 tbsp per gal and distributing the gallon to 6 plants so more or less it was a good dose... That said...... Less fert for four days at an hour per day.... should the tank not have been totally clear? Even with no restrictor?
I'll add the ring tomorrow and see what that does. Which of the three do you think I should put in?
Gladstone1969
Well-known member
Start with the one with the biggest hole and work your way to smaller holes. If you don’t get obvious flow of fertilizer. Stop. Change ring and restart. You’ll know it is right when you get flow of fertilizer. The problem was you were getting way too little flow through the fertilizer. The restriction FORCES more flow through the fertilizer tank - it restricts the bypass.
TorontoJoe
Administrator
This is great info... not found in the instructions. I'll switch it up tomorrow.. Much appreciated.
superdave336
Well-known member
This is going to end up making me dig mine back out of storage.
TorontoJoe
Administrator
I tried the biggest restrictor. Didn’t notice any difference so moved to the medium. I put some red food colour in. Will take a look later to see if it’s still red
Gladstone1969
Well-known member
It should be immediately apparent. If not, stop and move to a smaller restrictor. Also some of them have an open shut valve in the tank itself on the filter tube. Make sure that is open and all the other valves on it too if you installed them before the intake or after the output.
TorontoJoe
Administrator
Came home today after it ran a couple times. The line was still slightly red.
What do you mean by “immediately apparent”? What would I be looking for?
I don’t have any valves installed
Gladstone1969
Well-known member
When you turn it on it’s almost binary after the container purges a little air and fills with water (after about 1 minute). You will either get robust flow of dye/fertilizer into the out line or not. If you do - you’re golden. I like to mix my fertilizer with hot/warm water in the tank in the kitchen add fertilizer then fill the container 3/4 with hot water. Shake. Fill the rest of the container with water to the very very top (this will mean less bubbles and waiting). Connect it and turn the system on. Robust dye = you’re set. No or limp bubbles barely flowing = put a more restrictive restrictor in. I like to pre-dissolve the fertilizer because it removes issues with solids taking a long time to distribute.
TorontoJoe
Administrator
I’ve been mixing the fert in a bucket with a paint mixer on a drill to make sure it’s well dissolved.
The instructions say to completely fill the tank before running so I haven’t seen many bubbles. Maybe a few at first but they weren’t racing through
I think I need to go to the tightest restrictor. I’m going to do that now before it gets to dark. I’ll report back
DCallahan
Well-known member
I just restocked my fertilizer system yesterday.
Mixed a 25lb bag with a drill mixer over 5 buckets of water, topped off the stock tank (55 gallon barrel) took about 10 minutes. Walked away, good for about two weeks.
Every time my irrigation is running the Dosatron makes an audible sound similar to horse halves clacking letting you know she's pumping a little of the good stuff into the stream.
Mixed a 25lb bag with a drill mixer over 5 buckets of water, topped off the stock tank (55 gallon barrel) took about 10 minutes. Walked away, good for about two weeks.
Every time my irrigation is running the Dosatron makes an audible sound similar to horse halves clacking letting you know she's pumping a little of the good stuff into the stream.
TorontoJoe
Administrator
OK.... This should provide a bit more info
I went back to the unit and as you can see there's wasn't much red to the clear tube.
Opening it up you can see the mixe of red dye and fert. I poured a little bit off so some bubbles would be visible
I also noticed here that this is in fact a valve on the inside on the agitator. It appears to be in the flow position.
Now the moment of truth. I put the smallest restrictor in the bib (red). It appears to be running faster than before.... Does this look normal?
If I have drip emitters for a flow rate of about 60 gph, running for a total of one hour per day
The part I'm really trying to wrap my head around. How long should it take for the contents of the tank to be completely delivered, leaving only clear water in the tank?
I went back to the unit and as you can see there's wasn't much red to the clear tube.
Opening it up you can see the mixe of red dye and fert. I poured a little bit off so some bubbles would be visible
I also noticed here that this is in fact a valve on the inside on the agitator. It appears to be in the flow position.
Now the moment of truth. I put the smallest restrictor in the bib (red). It appears to be running faster than before.... Does this look normal?
If I have drip emitters for a flow rate of about 60 gph, running for a total of one hour per day
The part I'm really trying to wrap my head around. How long should it take for the contents of the tank to be completely delivered, leaving only clear water in the tank?
JC Figgy
Well-known member
OK..... as much as I was drooling over the Doseatron units I decided to go with the EZ-FLO 2.5 gal unit. I seemed it would get the job done for a more affordable price.... Some things however are confusing me.
EZ-FLO - 2.5 Gallon | EZ Flo Injection Systems
2.5 Gallon Hose Bib & Drip Connection - For On/Off Pressure Only (9.5 liter) Super quick to set up and super simple to use. EZ-FLO’s Hose and Drip systems connect directly to your outdoors water faucet. The fertilizer or any water soluble product goes through the tubes to join up with your water...
I calculated the flow on one of my zones to be about It runs for 20 minutes, 3 times per day....
OK... I set the unit up on Friday when I got it. The first thing that seemed strange was that although I used coloured fert, it was very difficult to see in the clear tube. There were a few bubbles so I knew it was flowing. I figured it was because the tube us narrow and light travels through it more easily. The contents of the tank were approx 150ML (1/3 cup) of Jack's professional. 60ML (6 tbsp) of Alaska Fish and a splash of Cal-Mag. (Maybe not enough jacks?)
I set the unit to fast flow and did not use any of the flow restriction washers. I figured I'd dump all the fert out so I could move on to the next zone.
Today, opened up the unit to move zones... I figured 4 days later all the fert would have to have run out of the system. What I found was a lot of colour left in the tank. It was all bluish-brown from the Jack's
I keep my agitator off. Otherwise it takes longer to pump out the fertilizer, it just keeps agitating and diluting it. Is yours on or off?
TorontoJoe
Administrator
I think it's on. I'm assuming it follows the rule of valves and that the adjuster is same as flow direction.
I can turn it off if thats recommended but either way it should empty at some point....
Figgerlickinggood
Well-known member
Hey Joe you should check out the video I posted yesterday. It’s a fully automated greenhouse in Ontario about an hour away from you. It’s awesome. It’s in my post hey all you members in Ontario.
JC Figgy
Well-known member
I turn it off so that the water enters to top and the fertilizer is sucked up from bottom without constantly diluting it every time it runs.
It takes roughly a week for mine to empty. No restrictor and on fast.
TorontoJoe
Administrator
If this is the case I didn't really fertilize the last zone. I only left it on for a day. I assumed it was the case that this thing would empty fairly rapidly.