Automatic Watering Systems

I am currently trialing an automatic watering system for my rabbits using Micro irrigation poly - 13mm feeder and 4 mm supply tubes - connected to typical rodent ball bearing waterers.

The supply is a 25 litre water bottle.

The ball bearing waterers are unfortunately constantly dripping (streaming). I can't find any leaks which would indicate an air/suction problem and i have trialed various head heights with the feeder bottle.

Does anyone have any experience with these systems, any ideas what i am doing wrong... or not doing right as the case more likely is...

 

Re: Automatic Watering Systems

I don't have any experience with these systems in fact i've never seen them but a little voice in my head wonders if they are designed for mains pressure and need it to seal?

 

Re: Automatic Watering Systems

The drikers themselves are off the rodent bottles... you've probably seen them in the pet shop. I've pulled them out of the lids and connected tubing to them and sealed them.

My further research says i probably should have bought the spring loaded drinkers as the gravity ones can fail, even when attached to the bottles.

Mains pressure would be too strong i reckon, especially considering our mains pressure is a pump on the tank.

Thanks for your thoughts.

I'm considering looking at the small piglet drinkers, they are spring loaded... would mean a redesign of the system though...

 

Re: Automatic Watering Systems

Spring loaded ones work better for guinea pigs but the animals took a time to get used to them. I have tried several and they all leak a bit esp in summer as the air expands in the bottle with the heat pushing out the water - cooling at night time and sucking in some air - our pets ended up as a sore point with the neighbours cats so we sold them to the local vet rather than poison the neighbours cats.
The sides on a 25l tank may also flex slightly causing more drips. Try to keep the container hight as close to that of the dripper as possible to reduce pressure i guess and put a lot of paper under the dripper (news paper liner makes a great layer in the veggie patch after a week or so).
Good luck!

 

Re: Automatic Watering Systems

Thanks, thats a few things i haven't tried.

I'll have another crack at it next weekend.

 

Re: Automatic Watering Systems

Not quiet the way i would have liked but i have a temporary auto watering system in.

I have used irrigation drippers connected to 13mm poly (on 4mm feeder lines). Its dripping a little faster than i would have liked... might upgrade to adjustable drippers.

These drippers are mounted high with stainless steel collection bowls.

Should ok for now.