HOZON siphon mixer - Orchid Board

peeweelovesbooks · #1 03-30-2011, 05:39 PM

Does anyone use this?

I'm looking for members' experience with this product.

I want to try and fertilize at every watering, but want to make it a little easier on myself. So, I've been looking through products to enable me to do so.

What are the pros and cons?

Fertilizer Injectors, Siphon Mixers and Hose End Sprayers at Home Harvest Garden Supply

camille1585 · #2 03-31-2011, 04:10 AM

I've never heard of those, and I'd be curious about how well they work too. The industry favorite is the Dosatron, pretty much all greenhouses function on those. The downside of them is that the price is much steeper (I think they start at around $200-300), but it's much better quality.

peeweelovesbooks · #3 03-31-2011, 07:11 AM

Yes, I looked at the dosatron and couldn't make heads or tails of it. It seems it can only use one type of fertilizer at one time.

The price isn't that bad for what it does, but like I said, it was like reading Chinese.

Ha.

camille1585 · #4 03-31-2011, 08:05 AM

Why would you want to you several different types of fertilizers at a time? Or do you mean that it's not quickly adjustable depending on the NKP ratio you are using? In that case you adjust your stock solution so that you can use the same injection speed for all, instead of adjusting the Dosatron each time.

Ray · #5 03-31-2011, 09:04 AM

The Hozon is "doable", but has some drawbacks:

It is supposedly a fixed proportioner at 16:1, but as it uses a venturi to draw the solution into the water stream, any variation in flow and pressure drop will affect that.
As a hose or watering head can be a source of pressure loss, you need to put the Hozon at the delivery end of the hose, not at the spigot. That means you pretty much have to carry around your bucket of concentrate. If you have a misting head, it won't work at all.
There is a ball check-valve to keep water from reversing into the concentrate. it can get caked-up with dried fertilizer and get stuck, so you should probably clean it after every use.

I use and sell Dosmatic injectors. What about them do you not understand?

I, too, and interested to understand your comment about not being able to use different fertilizers....

peeweelovesbooks · #6 03-31-2011, 09:14 AM

Well, I went back to the Dosatron webpage and it indicates that you need to use different machines if you want to use different fertilizers.

I use a combination of fertilizers to get the required 125ppm of nitrogen.

camille1585 · #7 03-31-2011, 09:29 AM

I don't think you do. You can just combine your ferts into one stock solution. Professional growers combine ferts as well to obtain the 'ideal' fertilizer and they generally only have 2 tanks. One with the stock solution and the other I think serves to adjust the pH. I've never seen a professional grower using several dosatrons like you describe. Do you have the link to the webpage you are referring to?

peeweelovesbooks · #8 03-31-2011, 10:46 AM

It's the official dosatron website.

Ray · #9 04-01-2011, 09:59 AM

You don't need different devices at all.

Let's say you want 125 ppm N and your metering pump is set to one ounce per gallon 1:128.

Example 1: the Greencare MSU RO fertilizer. According to the label, you need 3.55g per gallon for that dosage, so you would mix up 3.55 x 128 = 454.4 or 1 pound of powder per gallon of concentrate.

Example 2: The MSU WW formula, which requires 2.5 g/gal for 125 ppm N. 2.5 x 128 = 320 grams, or 0.7 pounds per gallon of concentrate.

Some metering pumps have adjustable ratios, but I find it's better to set it, and do the rest of the adjustment via the concentration of the stock solution you feed into the water.

You DO need to consider water flow and pressure, taking into account your supply as well as accessories you may use when watering. The Dosmatic pump I sell (Minidos 2.5%) meters accurately from 6-140 psi and 0.03-12 gallons per minute, so can handle my "fire-hose" watering technique or my ultrafine misting.

Another thing to consider is selecting the ratio so the concentrate won't precipitate. My 17-year-old Dosmatic can be set for as high 1:256 (1/2 oz/gal), but that is on the ragged edge of solubility of the MSU RO fertilizer (2#/gal), so I avoid that, going with the 1:128. (The Minidos is good for 1:200 to 1:40)

DavidCampen · #10 05-08-2011, 12:02 PM

I am using the Dosmatic MiniDos 1%:
Dosmatic

I have it plumbed with a 3-way ball valve and check valves so that I can switch the feed to my spray wand between RO water and RO water dosed with nutrients. It is really great having fertilizer solution "on tap".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray

You don't need different devices at all.

Let's say you want 125 ppm N and your metering pump is set to one ounce per gallon 1:128.

Example 1: the Greencare MSU RO fertilizer. According to the label, you need 3.55g per gallon for that dosage, so you would mix up 3.55 x 128 = 454.4 or 1 pound of powder per gallon of concentrate.

Example 2: The MSU WW formula, which requires 2.5 g/gal for 125 ppm N. 2.5 x 128 = 320 grams, or 0.7 pounds per gallon of concentrate.

Some metering pumps have adjustable ratios, but I find it's better to set it, and do the rest of the adjustment via the concentration of the stock solution you feed into the water.

You DO need to consider water flow and pressure, taking into account your supply as well as accessories you may use when watering. The Dosmatic pump I sell (Minidos 2.5%) meters accurately from 6-140 psi and 0.03-12 gallons per minute, so can handle my "fire-hose" watering technique or my ultrafine misting.

Another thing to consider is selecting the ratio so the concentrate won't precipitate. My 17-year-old Dosmatic can be set for as high 1:256 (1/2 oz/gal), but that is on the ragged edge of solubility of the MSU RO fertilizer (2#/gal), so I avoid that, going with the 1:128. (The Minidos is good for 1:200 to 1:40)