Dual Watering System

[Mike Fisher]

Wondering if anyone here has set up a dual misting/dripper system with two different cycle schedules and pumps. Basically two complete systems working independently and on different schedules.

I'm considering it. I think my chameleons would like drippers better than misters, but I do know that the mist is helpful during shedding.

That way I don't have to blast them with the cold mist every time it cycles. And I could run it for prolonged times with the low flow drippers without flooding the enclosures.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Not separately but I've done a combined system where I run tubing from the MistKing through the dripper (which in my case is chocolate milk bottles) with a hole in the tubing so it fills the dripper with each cycle. So I'm sure you could do them separately, which would probably be ideal. I disconnected it because it was overfilling my drippers to achieve a good misting cycle - I have chams who need both. So I'm back to filling the dripper manually, but I'm brainstorming on a way to make it work. A duel system like you describe might be the way to go.

 

[Mike Fisher]

A duel system like you describe might be the way to go.

Thanks for the input. I'm surprised that this is not a common way to set these up. Makes total sense to me. If I were a manufacture of misting systems I'd be all over it.

When I get some discretionary spending money I'll order some parts to put it together.

 

[DanSB]

Not separately but I've done a combined system where I run tubing from the MistKing through the dripper (which in my case is chocolate milk bottles) with a hole in the tubing so it fills the dripper with each cycle. So I'm sure you could do them separately, which would probably be ideal. I disconnected it because it was overfilling my drippers to achieve a good misting cycle - I have chams who need both. So I'm back to filling the dripper manually, but I'm brainstorming on a way to make it work. A duel system like you describe might be the way to go.

This is a brilliant solution. The overflow could easily be handled by installing a bulkhead valve 3/4 of the way up (just steal one from a little dripper), and run some aquarium air line tubing from it to a 5 gallon bucket.

That would pretty much eliminate manual filling. Or because the water is still perfectly clean you could always drain it back to the misting reservoir.

I just used a little dripper and manually filled it but I'm doing this on my next set up.

 

[CLP]

This is a brilliant solution. The overflow could easily be handled by installing a bulkhead valve 3/4 of the way up (just steal one from a little dripper), and run some aquarium air line tubing from it to a 5 gallon bucket.

That would pretty much eliminate manual filling. Or because the water is still perfectly clean you could always drain it back to the misting reservoir.

I just used a little dripper and manually filled it but I'm doing this on my next set up.

Absolutely brilliant idea. I would run the overflow back to the misting reservoir since it is still clean water. As soon as I have my misting system I will be looking to set something like this up for my veileds.

I was also looking at doing a true dual system when I get my mellers (some day down the road, but the planning is already starting ) so they could have a mister come on at certain times, and a raindome at other times since they need the fluctuating humidity, but also seem to enjoy the showers. There must be a way to do this with only one pump???

 

[little leaf]

I run both also- but I fill one big bucket on a shelf, and it gravity feeds 4 cages as a drip system, and then I also have a mist king that also does all 4 cages - the big guys have just one drip line per cage, and then it drip into a cap. upstarirs I only run a 12 hr drip system for the babies/small chams - the drip system for the younger ones is a coil that I zip tied to the top, and it has holes so it "rains" in there - and and then put a shut off, so I can take the jugs ( 1 gal each) and fill them without them dripping all over, and also controle how much "rain " they get - I have mostly Jax, and they do love their water but I LOVE your idea about the mister filling the dippers- and putting in an overflow line at the top for the up stairs - less hauling water up

 

[Saldarya]

Hey there Mike, I do exactly what you describe in the OP. I use this on Montane type species. In general, my mist system goes off for 10 minutes 2 x a day. The drippers, controlled by a separate pump and read our kick on at the end of the mist and then drip for 1.5 hours.

The PVC bottoms of the screen cages has been cut out and screen installed so drainage is very easy and all dries out well.

Let me know if you have any specific questions I can answer.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

This is a brilliant solution. The overflow could easily be handled by installing a bulkhead valve 3/4 of the way up (just steal one from a little dripper), and run some aquarium air line tubing from it to a 5 gallon bucket.

Great idea! I might have to do just that!

 

[melble68]

This is a brilliant solution. The overflow could easily be handled by installing a bulkhead valve 3/4 of the way up (just steal one from a little dripper), and run some aquarium air line tubing from it to a 5 gallon bucket.

That would pretty much eliminate manual filling. Or because the water is still perfectly clean you could always drain it back to the misting reservoir.

I just used a little dripper and manually filled it but I'm doing this on my next set up.

Oh this is a great idea. I'm going to figure out a combo that works for my outdoor enclosure that I'm working on.

Great thread for some fun brain storming.

 

[Mike Fisher]

Hey there Mike, I do exactly what you describe in the OP. I use this on Montane type species. In general, my mist system goes off for 10 minutes 2 x a day. The drippers, controlled by a separate pump and read our kick on at the end of the mist and then drip for 1.5 hours.

The PVC bottoms of the screen cages has been cut out and screen installed so drainage is very easy and all dries out well.

Let me know if you have any specific questions I can answer.

Good to hear from you. I knew there had to someone out there doing this already.

That's exactly how I envisioned setting mine up. My biggest concern is the pump noise for that long. I'm assuming the pump is quieter for the dripping cycle since the flow rate is lower, let me know if that is your experience.

I wish there were published noise ratings for diaphragm pumps.

Does anyone out there have both a Mistking and Aquazamp that they'd like to share an opinion of which pump is quieter? Or any other pump for that matter.

My Hong Kong pump is very noisy. I can tolerate it for short misting cycles, but it would drive me crazy for long dripping cycles.

 

[Saldarya]

To deal with the noise issue I moved away from a diaphragm pump and used a pressure rated submersible water pump from the aquarium world. Since I have been doing tanks for so long I had xtra pumps laying around, but can provide so e examples.

I use an Ehiem 1260 which is more power than needed. That being said it can handle the head pressure to all of my drippers.

You could use a mag drive pump, size depends on head pressure and how many drippers you will use.

On the output side of pump, put a pressure adjuste (get at lowes for $10) that wil take the pressure down to 50psi so you don't blow your nozzles off the tubing!!

Any of these pumps will run silent, Ehiem being the best. And run forever.

Again, lemme know if you have questions.

 

[Mike Fisher]

To deal with the noise issue I moved away from a diaphragm pump and used a pressure rated submersible water pump

Good idea, thanks. I have some spare Little Giant pumps that I will give a try.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Problem solved! With one just pump too. My drippers were overfilling from my misting cycles, so I just installed some nozzles on the end that each have their own switch to adjust the flow. Now whenever the mister runs it fills up the dripper at a rate I set so I can control how full it gets and thus how long it drips without worrying about overflow. Super easy fix and even more automation means less for me to worry about! Especially because I'll be out of the country for a few weeks in a few months and want to have as much automated for my petsitter as possible.

Here are the accessories, each comes in a pack of many for a few dollars at Home Depot - T line connector and misting valve with adjustable flow rate:

Hook it up to your dripper (in my case chocolate milk bottles with holes poked in the bottom) and voila!

I'll probably hot glue a fake leaf to the rubber band to make it more aesthetically appealing. The rubberband is just to keep the tube shape going to the dripper so it doesn't knock it over if it straightens out over time.

Super easy!

 

[Mike Fisher]

That's cool.