Build a ph doser/controller - under $100 - tutorial

[Zandor]

Very nice job, thanks for the FAQ.

Now what about using step-down hoses and taking the drip hose down to 1/4" then you can put a variable drip valve and then regulate it to just that drip. You just need to turn the valve up or down depending on how fast you want the drips?

Just a thought

[mountainman]

I'm ordering the controller. I want to build one.

Did you order the SMS122 or SMS125?

[turtle420]

MountainMan,

You made the FAQs!!!

Congratulations dude!

[mountainman]

Now what about using step-down hoses and taking the drip hose down to 1/4" then you can put a variable drip valve and then regulate it to just that drip. You just need to turn the valve up or down depending on how fast you want the drips?

Where can you buy a drip valve? That'd be an interesting thing to try. Better than using a c-clamp Also, where would you suggest finding an adapter to choke down the hose? I have trouble finding any hose barbs in Home Depot and similar stores that sell fittings.

[Gen]

The adaptor is in pond supply or try ice maker parts in homedepot. I got the choke down adapter with my pump 130 gph beckett. But the pump takes 1/2 inch hose.

[mountainman]

Hmmm, I'll take a look at that. A choke down adapter did come with my pump too, but it only chokes it down so much :-/ Oh well. The most important thing is that we have something to activate the dosing now!

[mountainman]

Ok, I looked a little for drip valves online, and I was just being dumb! I guess it's a pretty common hydroponic item, eh? Next time I'm down at the hydro store, I'll be buying a couple drip valves.

[Gen]

MM
I'm getting the sms 122. Do you think the 1/2 inch hose would work or is that too big? I could use a barb and put a 1/8 inch hose in the 1/2 inch hose.

[mountainman]

Yeah, it should work, just choke it down (1/8th inch hose will probably work). As Zandor suggested, look at maybe using some drip adapters from a local hydro store. It'd be nice to use a smaller pump, but as long as you put the injection point near the ph probe, it should keep you from over-dosing. This is because the concentration of acid will initially be very high near the ph probe, then making it shut off fairly quickly (this causes the short bursts I spoke about, and is also why a drip adapter would be a good thing).

[Zandor]

Where can you buy a drip valve? That'd be an interesting thing to try. Better than using a c-clamp Also, where would you suggest finding an adapter to choke down the hose? I have trouble finding any hose barbs in Home Depot and similar stores that sell fittings.

At Home Depot you can get all the drip valves you want. As for the step down that's easy. At Home depot you can get a foot of each size of hose where one fits tight into the other thus each hose is a step down to the next OD/ID hose. It may take a few of them but you can make one with ease.