New duel system question
 

I have been inspired to build a 4" PVC pipe ebb and flow system from ones I saw on this forum. This is pretty straight forward but I want to add a temporary top drip system while the roots are still small. Can anyone tell me how to attach a 1/4 drip line to a piece of 3/4 PVC. will I need to drill and tap the pvc or what? Never messed with drip components. Thank you, Andre

There wouldn't be any need to tap a hole for screws. If you do want to go that route, just drill a small hole (about 1/2 the diameter of the screw). PVC is a soft material and the hole will tap itself when you screw the screws in. If you want a less permanent option, you could just use zip ties. You'll probably need to attach 2 or 3 together to make it long enough to go around the tube, but their cheep. You can probably find a pack of a hundred for a buck or two at most hardware or automotive stores.

I guess that the 1/4 hose barb will have threads on one end. Is this correct? Thank you

The 1/4 inch barbed hose connectors don't have threads. They have 2 or 3 ridges (they call the barbs), these ridges/barbs are there to keep the hose and connectors from coming apart while in use. Their not for attaching them to the 4 inch pipe. You can make holes large enough in the 4 inch tubing for the barbed connectors and 1/4 inch tubing to go through, then connect the 1/4 inch tubing inside the 4 inch tubing. But that will just make everything much more difficult.

Really all you need to do is run your 1/4 inch water line along the 4 inch tubing. Attaching it securely with either small plastic clips (made for the 1/4 inch tubing), and screwing the clips into the 4 inch tubing. Or by snugging down the 1/4 inch tubing by wrapping some zip ties around it and the 4 inch tubing. Once you have the the 1/4 inch water line running the length of the 4 inch tubing. Cut the line in-between the plants and insert a barbed "T" connector. Then run a small piece of the 1/4 water line up to another "T" connector, then a short line going to each plant on both sides of that connector.

Or you could just use one "T" connector and one line running from the horizontal 1/4 inch water line going to each plant. Either way each plant has a line going to it. From there you can either use dippers (they might clog), leave the line open, and adjust water flow to low. Or cap the end and poke holes in the 1/4 inch line over the pots so water drips out, soaking the growing medium.

Another option is once you have your plants in place, run the 1/4 inch water line along the top of the 4 inch tube, and over the top of the baskets. Again attaching it to the 4 inch tubing by clips and screws, or zip ties. Then just poke holes in the line above the baskets, so water drips out soaking the growing medium. That way you eliminate all the "T" connectors.

There is no one way to do it, just what works best for you.

Thank You, you have been most helpful

to convert from 3/4 to flexible tube you can buy a threaded hub and use a thread to barb connector. then go to menards or somewhere like that and go to their lawn watering area and get the materials for you drip system and install according to there directions.

Thanks Crad, yours was one of the systems that inspired me. Andre

Now you can use 1, 2, 3, gallon per hour drippers it really depends on how long you run your pump, what your temps are and what your medium is.