Dosatron help please

I want to set up a dosatron as well and although I don't have one I have worked with one the nursery I used to work at. All they use for their concentration vessel is a 50 gal plastic drum. I've seen other smaller setups with a 5 gal bucket. They're not the most attractive options but they work.

 

First, please disregard all of my algae and weeds. I don't really notice them when I'm in the gh but it sure looks bad in the photos.
I have attached a photo of my plumbing for the Dosatron as well as the 2.5 gallon drinking water container. I was originally going to use a larger concentrate container too and was using this small one as a temporary measure until I decided what to get. As it turns out, the 2.5 gallons is plenty for my needs. I have the Dosatron set to the 1:128 setting and the concentrate lasts several weeks.

 

Looks good!

 

Sorry I didn't respond when you posted but I've been really occupied. Did you figure out what you needed to or would you still like me to post images. I have 2 injectors that draw from 2 different 10 gallon containers. At one point I had trouble with incompatibility with ingredients and that solved the problem. I have one set to 128::1 for my fertilizer and wetting agent and the other is set to 40::1 for other ingredients. 40::1 sucks up the concentrate very quickly, but for pesticides I find it is easier to get a concentrate such as SlugFest dilute enough that it isn't full strength.

I've found it helpful to have a small (inexpensive) fountain pump in the bottom of the concentrate tank so that I don't get settling during use.

 

Definitely get one with a variable mixing rate. I don't have a prefilter, but I am using RO water.

 

I will have to go out and check on my model number. It is a variable mixing rate model but I have never changed it from the setting I initially set it up with @ 1:128. I have a replaceable cylinder filter installed upstream of mine. I couldn't tell you what the mesh equivalency is of it. It can be seen at the far left of the injector photo. I use city water with that cheap filter and have never had an issue with the Dosatron.

One thing you should know about these is that they are noisy. The "water motor" that meters the concentrate has a sound that is like a car gaining speed preparing to shift into second gear ... then it clicks and starts over. It isn't terribly loud but is very noticeable. rrrrrrrrRRRRRR click rrrrrrrrRRRRRR click ..........

 

I never had noise with either brand when working properly, just the clicking. If something gets in side the cylinder there will be noise.

 

OK, now you have me worried. It is working fine but I probably need to take it apart and clean it. At high flow the sound is minimal but if I am just letting it trickle to water an individual plant then the sound volume increases.

 

I don't want to make you more nervous, but how do you know it is working right? The Dosmatic that I have stopped using doesn't pull up the right amount of concentrate so my hose end concentration is too low. You can try running hot water through the injector and that will sometimes dissolve crystals that have formed inside.

 

Good question and it got me thinking. It is pulling the concentrate up but I haven't measured the ratio. After the above discussion I took mine out of the gh and brought it in the house for a cleaning and inspection. I took it completely apart and it was spotlessly clean. There was a very thin film of brown algae on the inside top of the canister but all moving parts were spotless. I haven't purchased new seals but I took out the seals, inspected them, cleaned and reseated them. I put it all back together and reinstalled in the gh. It makes the same noise .

I do not have a water pressure regulator or gauge on the gh plumbing so I will get one of those and see if I need to adjust the pressure. Another possibility ... perhaps it is just this model that growls. I have the D128R model. Regardless, it is a minor issue. I am used to it and really don't notice it any more. I am going to get some calibrated containers and do the ratio measurement mostly out of curiosity.

 

Naoki, yes the D128R has adjustable flow but not as easy to change as the model you purchased. On mine the stem has to be removed and a pin moved to one of 3 holes relating to one of the 3 available ratios. Then the stem replaced.

Thanks for the TDS method of checking the ratio accuracy. I had just read the volumetric method on the Dosatron site but since I have a TDS meter I like your method better.