Mike Fisher
Established Member
I'm a big fan of automation and technology to make chameleon husbandry easier and better.
Here's my take on a chad (cheap and dirty) dual staged watering system™. I call it cheap and dirty because you don't have to buy a bunch of different emitters and lines and hook it all up, you can use what you are already using for misting.
It utilizes two pumps but it not a true dual circuit setup. It can mist and drip from the same lines and emitters and follow two completely different schedules.
The bottom pump is a pond pump and acts as the drip system pump and the upper pump is a high pressure diaphragm model that runs the mist.
When the drip system pump is activated, it pressurizes the lines enough to drip from the misting heads at a slow rate. The flow is not impeded by the diaphragm pump in any way.
When the mist system pump is activated, high pressure pump draws water through the inactive impeller section of the pond pump. The pump basically is just acting as an extension of the draw tube.
At no time are the pumps running at the same time, but even if they were, there would be no noticeable performance difference except for maybe a slightly faster prime on the diaphragm pump.
I'll share the timer setup I'm working on when I'm done building it. It will be able to control lights and misting cycles from one unit.
Here's my take on a chad (cheap and dirty) dual staged watering system™. I call it cheap and dirty because you don't have to buy a bunch of different emitters and lines and hook it all up, you can use what you are already using for misting.
It utilizes two pumps but it not a true dual circuit setup. It can mist and drip from the same lines and emitters and follow two completely different schedules.
The bottom pump is a pond pump and acts as the drip system pump and the upper pump is a high pressure diaphragm model that runs the mist.
When the drip system pump is activated, it pressurizes the lines enough to drip from the misting heads at a slow rate. The flow is not impeded by the diaphragm pump in any way.
When the mist system pump is activated, high pressure pump draws water through the inactive impeller section of the pond pump. The pump basically is just acting as an extension of the draw tube.
At no time are the pumps running at the same time, but even if they were, there would be no noticeable performance difference except for maybe a slightly faster prime on the diaphragm pump.
I'll share the timer setup I'm working on when I'm done building it. It will be able to control lights and misting cycles from one unit.
A commercial breeder might have a rough time with that though.
