hydro help

manaquin

Hi all! 

I need some advice on this self watering system;

 

http://www.verticalveg.org.uk/how-to-make-a-genuinely-self-watering-growing-system/

I understand how to build, my query is I am building a stepped planter box system. How can I get the water from my water butt to the first tier at the top to cascade down?

Here is a sketch of what I mean:

 

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y386/paul_cunningham2/Mobile%20Uploads/Screenshot_2014-02-09-18-48-48_zps327cb692.png

Any advice welcome!

Fairygirl

I think the idea is that gravity feeds  the water into the bottom of the containers and is taken up by the soil - not the other way round - ie  water going in the top and dripping/flowing down. I think you'd either need a pump to get the water into the top of your box system and feeding down through the others tiers, or else the water butt would have to be higher than the top tier.

manaquin

Yes that's exactly my point. I realise water can only go up through a pipe naturally as high as the water level in the water butt.

I need to know if anyone has a idea of using the water I have in the water butt, to get it into the top tier.

Dovefromabove

I'm wondering whether, rather than use a water butt, you couldn't utilise one of these systems to send water to several of your box systems

 http://www.rainwaterhub.co.uk/

manaquin

Yes I think you have cracked it! Thanks