water Indoor irrigation system and water table

[OZZZ]

Hey everyone,

On my indoor garden plants and starts I have an irrigation system with a 25 gallon res, a 400 GPH pump, a repeat cycle timer and 1/2" main poly tubing lines with 1/4" micro lines coming off to the pots.

I notice when I fill my res all the way up the timer will kick on and water properly, but when it shuts off the water lines to the shorter pots continue to drip-drip-drip-drip due to syphon action.

Certainly a cure is to raise those pots higher then the water level in the res, but thats not exactly a clean fix and its a PITA to try and find raises of perfect height, etc, etc. Not only that but time is coming where I need a larger res.

Does anyone know if theres some kind of valve I could install in the micro lines to stop the continuous drip that happens on the shorter pots when the res is full?

EDITED: You know ... Ive been looking and looking and couldnt come up with anything. The minute I post this thread I come across the answer.

They do have anti siphon valves... for anyone interested. Now if I can just come across one that will work with poly tubing and is 1/2" to 1/2" on both ends. The search continues.

 

[Bigoledude]

Most check valves, whether it be a flapper-type or ball-type require some pressure on the supply side to slam them closed. In this case, having your reservoir higher would help.

Here is a valve that you can use to manually shut off 1/4-inch tubing.

http://www.dripworks...roduct/14VFV-20

Here are some check valves. The smallest pipe size is 3/4-inch and, they have one that uses hose fittings.

http://www.dripworks.../product/Q_VPCK

Buy whatever size check valve or siphon-breaker you must, then you can easily get PVC male and female adapters in threaded pipe or slip fittings at your local hardware store to accommodate your valve.

You would have to buy threaded-to-barb fittings or something similar to run them from this 3/4-inch valve to your 1/2-inch poly.

http://www.dripworks.com/product/Q_BFP


It seems that the large irrigation suppliers sell differing sizes of poly tubing. For instance, Dripworks 1/2-inch poly tubing is different from Ewings 1/2-inch poly tubing. Buy the fittings that will actually make-up to your poly from the same folks you bought your poly from. They all use the same 1/4-inch stuff so, no problems there.

If you need more specific help, PM me and, I will be glad to help.