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#1
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Advice on fertilizer injectors
I humbly ask for advice. I just got a new paper catalog from Charley's
Greenhouses. In it they list two fertilizer injectors (if you don't count the non-adjustable educter). Does anyone use these? One costs about $70 and the other about $350. Is one really 5 times as good as the other? What do you use? Thanks Dave |
#2
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Advice on fertilizer injectors
Dave,
I went through this last fall. Several folks recommended the $300+ injector models. They are precise (or better than the siphon type). I haven't put out the money for one of these yet. I really want something that can be put on the end of a hose and not perminantly plumbed. I believe one of them offer this feature. I have a Dramm SiphonJect type of fertilzer injector. The problem with it is that the water break tends to slow the water and reduces the pressure to the point were the mix is not sucked into the hose. For the winter I have resorted to a 32 gallon trash can where I can fill it with warm water. I drop a sump pump into the trash can and pump the mix to the plants. I already had the sump pump so the cost was just $12 trash can. Here in the DC area the cold water is really cold. I did not choose to have hot water plumbed into the greenhouse so I have to fill the can with water from the sink (10 feet away). The water from the sink does not generate enough pressure to make the SiphonJect pull the fertilizer into the hose. Good Growing, Gene |
#3
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Advice on fertilizer injectors
On Fri, 28 Feb 2003 02:01:40 GMT, "Dave Lockwood"
wrote: I humbly ask for advice. I just got a new paper catalog from Charley's Greenhouses. In it they list two fertilizer injectors (if you don't count the non-adjustable educter). Does anyone use these? One costs about $70 and the other about $350. Is one really 5 times as good as the other? What do you use? Thanks Dave Yes!! We ordered the lower cost one because it said it had some of the features. You might as well stick to the syphon jet junk. We called and read the catalog description and the packaging description and said we are sending this back. It does not match the advertisement and we want the 350 one. John put a hose clamp around it to stick it to the end of the bench at a convenient level. We have quick disconnects on the intake and water. We water with "grow" fertilizer 3 weeks and "bloom" the 4th. Put the concentration in a gallon milk jug or juice bottle and you only have to mix it every once in a while (how big is your collection). Quick disconnects and we have the same hose on the water tap for hand washing. Definitely worth the cost. Every penny. SuE http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php |
#4
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Advice on fertilizer injectors
On Fri, 28 Feb 2003 02:01:40 GMT, "Dave Lockwood"
wrote: I humbly ask for advice. I just got a new paper catalog from Charley's Greenhouses. In it they list two fertilizer injectors (if you don't count the non-adjustable educter). Does anyone use these? One costs about $70 and the other about $350. Is one really 5 times as good as the other? What do you use? If by the $70 one you mean the E-Z Gro Automatic Fertilization System, it is definitely not suitable for greenhouse watering. The fertilizer concentration varies greatly when the water is stopped / started and water is continually added to the concentrated fertilizer in the tank. They claim the added water floats on top of the fertilizer solution so it doesn't really change the output fertilizer concentration. Yeah, right. Also, it is damn near impossible to determine how much fertilizer to add to the tank to get a particular output concentration. If after reading the above you really want one, then send me email and we can work something out on the one I have. deg |
#5
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Advice on fertilizer injectors
Wow! The jury is definitely in. Seems you do get what you pay for. Thanks
to all who gave the benefit of their experience. I guess I'll just save up for a good one. - Dave |
#6
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Advice on fertilizer injectors
I'll be the lone dissenter - I bought a hozon syphoner and am quite happy
with it. Has a fixed 16:1 ratio and 1 gallon of concentrate is perfect for my greenhouse / collection. It was definitely cheaper than both of these - maybe $20? The $70 one from Charley's does appear to be a bit on the junky side... For my light table in the basement, I do the sump pump thing as Gene mentioned - works quiet well as well and is again much less than $350 even if u have to buy the pump, trash can, hose and attachments. Oh and I did plumb both hot and cold water out to my greenhouse and put a laundry tub type faucet at the end. All that said, I do have 100+ psi straight out of the tap, not sure how well the syphoners work with lower pressure. Had to get a regulator and drop it down to 40 psi or so for my fogger otherwise the float valve stayed stuck shut. I'd only do the $350 thing if I had a large greenhouse or had extra $$ but with extra $$, why not buy more plants? Jerry "Dave Lockwood" wrote in message news:8qz7a.263692$tq4.6339@sccrnsc01... I humbly ask for advice. I just got a new paper catalog from Charley's Greenhouses. In it they list two fertilizer injectors (if you don't count the non-adjustable educter). Does anyone use these? One costs about $70 and the other about $350. Is one really 5 times as good as the other? What do you use? Thanks Dave |
#7
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Advice on fertilizer injectors
I used the Siphonex injector for years and was quite happy with it. As long
as your water pressure is stable, the amount of back-pressure (resistance to flow) downstream is low and constant, you will get quite reliable metering - it is a law of physics. However if, as I do for mounted plants, you ever water with a misting head, forget it. The pressure drop across the venturi in the injector will be insufficient and the ration with change drastically - possibly all the way to zero. I don't know the $70 Charlies type (I pitch those catalogs when they come in - they're too expensive and the stuff can usually be obtained easily elsewhere), but anything that injects water into your concentrate tank is bound to vary in concentration (that's a lot of the problem with the Miracle Grow-type hose end devices). Considering the investment in the plants themselves, and the fact that this is a long-term obsession, spending several hundred dollars for a reliable, accurate injector seems worthwhile. I have two - a Dosmatic and a Dosatron - and they continue to work perfectly since being installed about 3-4 years ago. -- Ray Barkalow First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! "Jerry Hoffmeister" wrote in message news:4PC7a.262024$2H6.4752@sccrnsc04... I'll be the lone dissenter - I bought a hozon syphoner and am quite happy with it. Has a fixed 16:1 ratio and 1 gallon of concentrate is perfect for my greenhouse / collection. It was definitely cheaper than both of these - maybe $20? The $70 one from Charley's does appear to be a bit on the junky side... For my light table in the basement, I do the sump pump thing as Gene mentioned - works quiet well as well and is again much less than $350 even if u have to buy the pump, trash can, hose and attachments. Oh and I did plumb both hot and cold water out to my greenhouse and put a laundry tub type faucet at the end. All that said, I do have 100+ psi straight out of the tap, not sure how well the syphoners work with lower pressure. Had to get a regulator and drop it down to 40 psi or so for my fogger otherwise the float valve stayed stuck shut. I'd only do the $350 thing if I had a large greenhouse or had extra $$ but with extra $$, why not buy more plants? Jerry "Dave Lockwood" wrote in message news:8qz7a.263692$tq4.6339@sccrnsc01... I humbly ask for advice. I just got a new paper catalog from Charley's Greenhouses. In it they list two fertilizer injectors (if you don't count the non-adjustable educter). Does anyone use these? One costs about $70 and the other about $350. Is one really 5 times as good as the other? What do you use? Thanks Dave |
#8
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Advice on fertilizer injectors
Dave, can't help you decide on the "Dos" $$$ type injectors but I have
used an under pressure tank type deal (has a leak & don't have the brand name?) I use the $11 brass syphon type for the garden. (The fert delivery changes depending on pressure flow) To me the barrel & sump pump is the most reliable:- 1.... What you pump is what your plants get. 2.....The barrel is in my g/h so the water is warmer. 3......I was told that the chlorine dissipates from the water if stored for 24 hours? My hubby did the electrical switch for the pump etc. I use a stick to push the switch on & off! (safety) I set up ½" pvc for incoming water to the barrel & the ½" black drip type pipe, from the pump up & out to the hose connection. Also have a ¼" back flow drip pipe so if I lessen the flow to a small plant then there is no strain on the pump. (I have had the same pump since '95) The cost was under $100 but this was back then. Cheers Wendy "Dave Lockwood" wrote in message news:8qz7a.263692$tq4.6339@sccrnsc01... I humbly ask for advice. I just got a new paper catalog from Charley's Greenhouses. In it they list two fertilizer injectors (if you don't count the non-adjustable educter). Does anyone use these? One costs about $70 and the other about $350. Is one really 5 times as good as the other? What do you use? Thanks Dave |
#9
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Advice on fertilizer injectors
yup, if you don't keep the flow up, it doesn't work. I don't use it w/ my
mister for the hanging stuff - they just get fertilized when the potted plants get it - straight water otherwise. I also tried one of those squeeze on / off valves for my wand with it - no good, too much restriction. Also tried a coil hose, same problem so there are some issues but in my situation ,works great! "Ray @ First Rays Orchids" wrote in message ... I used the Siphonex injector for years and was quite happy with it. As long as your water pressure is stable, the amount of back-pressure (resistance to flow) downstream is low and constant, you will get quite reliable metering - it is a law of physics. However if, as I do for mounted plants, you ever water with a misting head, forget it. The pressure drop across the venturi in the injector will be insufficient and the ration with change drastically - possibly all the way to zero. I don't know the $70 Charlies type (I pitch those catalogs when they come in - they're too expensive and the stuff can usually be obtained easily elsewhere), but anything that injects water into your concentrate tank is bound to vary in concentration (that's a lot of the problem with the Miracle Grow-type hose end devices). Considering the investment in the plants themselves, and the fact that this is a long-term obsession, spending several hundred dollars for a reliable, accurate injector seems worthwhile. I have two - a Dosmatic and a Dosatron - and they continue to work perfectly since being installed about 3-4 years ago. -- Ray Barkalow First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! "Jerry Hoffmeister" wrote in message news:4PC7a.262024$2H6.4752@sccrnsc04... I'll be the lone dissenter - I bought a hozon syphoner and am quite happy with it. Has a fixed 16:1 ratio and 1 gallon of concentrate is perfect for my greenhouse / collection. It was definitely cheaper than both of these - maybe $20? The $70 one from Charley's does appear to be a bit on the junky side... For my light table in the basement, I do the sump pump thing as Gene mentioned - works quiet well as well and is again much less than $350 even if u have to buy the pump, trash can, hose and attachments. Oh and I did plumb both hot and cold water out to my greenhouse and put a laundry tub type faucet at the end. All that said, I do have 100+ psi straight out of the tap, not sure how well the syphoners work with lower pressure. Had to get a regulator and drop it down to 40 psi or so for my fogger otherwise the float valve stayed stuck shut. I'd only do the $350 thing if I had a large greenhouse or had extra $$ but with extra $$, why not buy more plants? Jerry "Dave Lockwood" wrote in message news:8qz7a.263692$tq4.6339@sccrnsc01... I humbly ask for advice. I just got a new paper catalog from Charley's Greenhouses. In it they list two fertilizer injectors (if you don't count the non-adjustable educter). Does anyone use these? One costs about $70 and the other about $350. Is one really 5 times as good as the other? What do you use? Thanks Dave |
#10
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Advice on fertilizer injectors
For years we used a device called a Merit Commander Fertilizer Injector. I'm
not sure where it was purchased from but it had a plastic cylinder with a piston inside. It would draw up the fertilizer solution, very concentrated, and inject it into the flow of water. It operated at very low water pressure and could be used with our overhead misting system. |
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