Just completed my DIY misting system!

[rsp220]

I got Trogdor about a month ago now and have not been able to be home as much as I'd like to mist him so I decided to take a trip to the hardware store and see what I could come up with for cheap (I'm a college student). Here are the results:

1 - Programmable lawn sprinkler controller - $5 on clearance! (Menards)
1 - Rain Bird in-line sprinkler valve - $14 (Menards)
1 - 1 Gal pump up garden sprayer - $7 (Menards)
1 - 20' roll of flexible 1/4" water line - $5 (Home Depot)

From www.dripirrigation.com:

2 x 3/4" Hose Adapter x 1/4", 3/4" Female Hose Thread (FHT) (A001) = $1.70
2 x Nipple 3/4" MHT x 3/4" MPT (A010) = $1.06
2 x 1/4" Barbed "Tee", single (SF003) = $0.28
1 x 1/4" Barbed 90 Degree Elbow, single (SF004) = $0.14
1 x 1/4" Barbed Connector, single (SF001) = $0.12
3 x Fogger-Mister, Barbed Connection, 3/4 GPH (MI001) = $2.96
Shipping : $2.07

Total Price: About $40

P.S. If you decide to build something similar DO NOT get the Orbit brand inline valve, it is a few dollars cheaper but I had to go through 2 of them, they both slowly dripped when they were supposed to be closed and I'd had enough, so I upgraded to the Rain Bird.

 

[rsp220]

and of course, here are pics of the setup and of Trogdor. I was going a bit too heavy on supplements a little while ago so he had crusty nostrils but I dialed it down and he's been getting better, can still see some of it in the pic. He's about 4 months old now

 

[GoFast]

Pardon the noob'ness but where is the source? Do you have to pump up that garden sprayer every so often?? I am seen a couple of DIY links that had a similar setup as this but don't quite get how it works.

 

[rsp220]

Yep, you fill up the white jug and pump to pressurize it, then when its time to mist the controller opens up the valve and the pressurized water goes to the misting nozzles. As the jug empties the pressure drops so you just pump it up again as needed.

 

[Cainschams]

Nice little set up! I agree, the orbit valves are total junk along with the rest of their irrigation products. The rainbird valves in the Lowes type places are ok, definitely better than the orbit but if it gives you problems down the road you could find an irrigation company to sell you 1 good valve. Suppliers usually make you get full boxes of them. You may end up needing to replace the micro tubing to black or solid white. The clear will end up getting algae forming in it.

 

[rsp220]

Hmm...never thought about algae even though I have 2 fish tanks lol. I'm running ro/di water so hopefully there won't be any nutrients for it to form *crosses fingers*

 

[thacarter]

I would love to try this, have you had experience in this or is it a pretty easy project?