EZ-Flo Fertilizer Injector

[doubravsky]

I found some reference to this product- looks like what I've been looking for as something that will inject the fertilizer directly into the drip line system. I recently switched from sprinklers to a drip line using 2 gph emitters and have been looking for something to limit the fertilizer to the area that is being watered.

Anyone with experience?

EZ-Flo Website

[el-blanco]

Dave,  I am almost positive John Mendoza at Tropical Vibe uses this exact one.  Contact him!  I need something like this!

J

[Tad]

i use dosatron, a little more work to instal, but you can dial it in spot on very reliable. we have 3 units and a back up and have been very pleased with them!!

[eastern.nurseries]

How do you calibrate the nutrient being injected?

[doubravsky]

Thanks Jeff... sent him a PM. Palmo... thanks... saw that one around too..

eastern.. there is a dial on the lid of the container that you use to adjust the flow rate.

[eastern.nurseries]

Yeh, But how does that tell you the concentration of fertilizer in the water? Do you have to do the math?

[Tad]

yes some math is involved, but it comes with a cheat sheet so not to worry.

[freekypalmguy]

Or you can get an Agri – Meter, which measures the exact amount of fertilizer the plant is receiving.

from Kevin Weavers website, "1.75 on the Agri – Meter seems to be the ideal dose needed"

[doubravsky]

I took a look at the Dosatron... my problem with that one is that I have the garden separated by three zones for garden areas, and 4 zones for grass. There are two main water lines.. one to the front, and one to the back. So I think I'd haveto buy two complete Dosatron setups to make it work... too cost prohibitive.

Palmotrafficante... am I correct in that?

[Tad]

no, i think it would be just a matter of installing some simple bypass valves and you could run your whole system...whats your water source?

you might have to install at a  central location, to facilitate both water lines... sounds lots harder than it is.

dont forget backflow prevention

[freekypalmguy]

Is their some sort of compromise fert. that would be good for grass as well as palms and cycads?

[doubravsky]

My water source is city water... I'm in a regular old tract home on a cul-de-sac. I'll have to do some investigating. I know the original water line is on one side of the house, but the pool/landscape guys put in water that I think came from the other side of the house that feeds the backyard zones. Maybe I'll do some digging around the valves and see...

[doubravsky]

Matt.... I'd probably just subject the grass to whatever I was putting on the garden zones....

[freekypalmguy]

(doubravsky @ Sep. 02 2007,16:52)

QUOTE

Matt.... I'd probably just subject the grass to whatever I was putting on the garden zones....

That's a great idea. And if it kills the grass............I can sell my mower

[Mark Heath]

be sure to install scrubber valves.  They can take fertilizer much longer than your typical valve, which will falter quickly due to the fertilizer being run thru it.

They are a little more expensive, but they are designed for fertilizer injected systems.

[LJG]

I too have a Dosatron. I got it this summer. It has been in the box since. I had drawn up the system to tie into my main line that feeds my 45 sprinkler zones. It included filters, bypass valves, check values and a master shut off valve. I thought of everything, but the most important part. The spreading of the fert through pop ups and the consequences. So here are the issues. Some already addressed:

1) I have 45 zones. About 10 are for grass. So I need to find a fert that works well with both grass, tropicals and palms/cycads. I came to the conclusion to use a broad spectrum and then use a controlled release like Multicote Extra for the minors and more control on palms and cycads.

2) All pop ups need to replaced often as the fert will slowly backup. No big deal, just need to watch out.

3) I have a pool and Koi pond. Need to make sure all popups and release are away from this. So I need to move a bunch of sprinklers.

4) The last one is really the main reason I will wait till next year to get this all going. My son who is almost two loves the sprinklers. Every time he sees them on, he yells 'Water' and puts his mouth over them. Until I can break him of that habit, I need to wait.

[epicure3]

(LJG @ Sep. 04 2007,15:58)

QUOTE

I too have a Dosatron. I got it this summer. It has been in the box since. I had drawn up the system to tie into my main line that feeds my 45 sprinkler zones. It included filters, bypass valves, check values and a master shut off valve. I thought of everything, but the most important part. The spreading of the fert through pop ups and the consequences. So here are the issues. Some already addressed:

1) I have 45 zones. About 10 are for grass. So I need to find a fert that works well with both grass, tropicals and palms/cycads. I came to the conclusion to use a broad spectrum and then use a controlled release like Multicote Extra for the minors and more control on palms and cycads.

2) All pop ups need to replaced often as the fert will slowly backup. No big deal, just need to watch out.

3) I have a pool and Koi pond. Need to make sure all popups and release are away from this. So I need to move a bunch of sprinklers.

4) The last one is really the main reason I will wait till next year to get this all going. My son who is almost two loves the sprinklers. Every time he sees them on, he yells 'Water' and puts his mouth over them. Until I can break him of that habit, I need to wait.

Good idea. Don't want him doing that.

45 acres? Does he ever get lost??

[LJG]

45 acres? I wish. 45 spinkler zones.

[freekypalmguy]

Did not know it destroys pop-ups. Do they need new heads, just a cleaning, or complete new units.

Wow Len,  45 zones, that's a lot. I'm only at 21. How much turf does that cover?

[LJG]

From what I have been told by others that use injectors is that it just basically clogs them from build up. And to watch for that. If you have one pop-up that is water an important part of your yard and it clogs, could spell trouble.

45 zones covers 1 acre. I could use another 10 zones to do it right.

[eastern.nurseries]

A good injection system is only as good as the controller driving it. Some units have a pre-wash and flush feature that will prevent buildup of salts.

[doubravsky]

Hmm... I don't really want to mess with my grass sprinkler heads.. maybe I should go back to the post-valve injector/ tank option....

[Bilbo]

I wont comment on irrigation as I am High Nitrate; works every time.

Andrea ; thanks for putting up with an old - has been like me.-

I cant dance for sure but neither you nor Jeff where at all bothered at the time; Ha. You have lvoerly smoooootrh shoulders for sure

Apologias for the ramble but I am awaiting crossfire and incoming.

Whateveve I suggest is a) Mad  or very mad.

I  intend to plant the center line at Chapel |Road Worthing.

Who cares?I

I will plant Queens.

Juan

[gsn]

(Bilbo @ Sep. 12 2007,11:10)

QUOTE

I wont comment on irrigation as I am High Nitrate; works every time.

Andrea ; thanks for putting up with an old - has been like me.-

I cant dance for sure but neither you nor Jeff where at all bothered at the time; Ha. You have lvoerly smoooootrh shoulders for sure

Apologias for the ramble but I am awaiting crossfire and incoming.

Whateveve I suggest is a) Mad  or very mad.

I  intend to plant the center line at Chapel |Road Worthing.

Who cares?I

I will plant Queens.

Juan

Bilbo,

I am just curious do you sell, or have major stock positions in companies that sell nitrate fertilizer?  :laugh:

[Cycadcenter]

Back to the Ez Flo situation.  

I priced a commercial 10 gallon unit and was floored by $900.00 price tag........and that was on sale.  PPR $1,200.00

I'm actually looking into a metering unit call the Chemilizer.

They have a straight 1:100 injection unit for flow rates of 1-720 GPH or a commercial unit with adjustable ratios and flow rates on 10 gpm to 700 gpm.  

The thing I like about these is that they are water motor driving a Diaphram pump and not the piston type dosmatic.

have a look at their website

www.chemilizer.com

They are available on sale at www.teksupply.com for $225.00 and $409.00 for the two units.

Regards

Bruce

[Tad]

i paid a little over six for this one, i had a chemillizer, and i didnt like it, somtimes depending on what I am running thru the system I liket to have the option to adjust the ratio. dosatron is a reliable unit.

for what its worth I never see any build up in my impact heads, or the wobblers, and we run what i consider to be a pretty stout mixture. I think probobly more than what your average homeowner would run.

[eastern.nurseries]

I've been using an Amiad water driven piston injector for twenty years no problems. I fertigate in every cycle at about 1.6-1.8 ec my water is about .1 d/s . I post wash after injection.

[Phil]

Group,

I've used a Dosatron for over 10 years.  It's been fairly reliable but occasionally I have to replace an O Ring on the piston.  The support team at Dosatron is quite good and will walk you through repairs.  I think this is important.  Also, remember that you must have a backflow device on the City side of your injector.  You must gaurantee that no fertilizer can be injected in reverse back into municipal water.  Also, I totally agree with getting a Myron L. TDS meter.  This is the only way you can make sure you're not giving too much salt to the plants.

Phil