I’ve just purchased a dosatron to reduce the ph of my water from the 8.0-8.3 range. I’m wanting to install multiple rachio hose timers AFTER the unit so that I can have corrected water go to multiple zones. I plan on using “ph down” which is a diluted form of phosphoric acid. It will again be diluted by the dosatron.
My question is this: will the acid be diluted sufficiently so that it will not destroy my rachio hose valve timers? If I put the timer before the dosatron I’ll end up with only one watering zone.
I’m hoping to find someone here who has tried this already.
If you put the timers after the Dosatron you will be working with water at a pH in the 6.5 range and any reasonable timer should work. It you put it before the Dosatron you ware working with the mother liquid which probably has a pH in the 3-4 range depending upon that concentration you are injecting and that may be low enough to damage the timers.
Thanx Marty - you’re looking at it differently than I did. I was thinking about the strength of the acid versus the seals in the hose timer. I think you are saying that if the acid only lowers the ph from say 8.3 to 6.5, then by definition it won’t be strong enough to damage the seals. In other words the ph would have to get MUCH lower to damage the seals?
I got my system installed and calibrated. Im using the pre-diluted “ph down” product which is phosphoric acid. I then played with it until I got my ph right.
I am now using 1 part ph down to 5 parts water. This got me into the adjustment range of the unit, which I adjusted until it was where I wanted it. The resulting water coming from the dosatron is consistently at a ph of 6.5. My tap water is about 8.3
Looks and sounds good. phosphoric tends to tie up iron so I add 1 Tablespoon of iron sulfate to the 5-gallon pail when I reload with the phosphoric acid solution and fertilizer.
For my bonsai I am using 2 cups of Fox Farm Grow Big per 5-gallon bucket when I add the acid and iron sulfate. For my developmental trees (mostly seedlings, but some in the ground) I use 6 heaping tablespoons of Miricle Grow. I find that the organic grow big seems to give healthier trees and much better moss growth so I decided it was worth the extra cost. I supplement with BioGold or other organic solids. I add the acid, iron, and fertilizer to the bucket and then fill it from the watering wand to make sure I get it all mixed in. I am using a 1% feed rate from my generic Dosatron type unit.
If using a municipal water source remember that they change their buffering strategy throughout the year. So you have it dialed in NOW. Once they make a change it will affect your output PH. So test often if onna municipal water source.
Peace
Thanx for pointing that out. We do have city water, but have added a multi stage whole home filtration system with carbon. Not sure how that will affect things, but I’ll keep an eye on the ph .
I check ph fairly regularly as we also have a Koi pond. The tap water has stayed between 7.8 and 8.3 consistently. So if I’m at 6.5 from 8.3 I’d think that it shouldn’t drop below 6 if things stay in the same range.
Great reminder - I’ll check often when re-mixing for the 5 gallon bucket.
