Shurflow 5/16 or 3/16

[Gratefulmaple]

I have an run of trees on flat ground along one of my fields. I tapped them with buckets for now. I'm wondering if it would be worth putting a shurflow pump with some lines running from the trees. I would say it's about 50 taps or so and 300 feet in total. I was thinking of the ittong a barrel in the middle and running lines to it with a shurflow pump pulling vacuum. Would 3/16 be better for this or 5/16. Thanks in advance.

[BSD]

i'd say 3/16 with a diaphram pump is the way to go, even if you have to go by some of the trees with a second line, i've found up to 25-28 taps works well on 316 on natural gravity. i did have 37 on one run for a few days and i think it was too much for it. so i split it off

[psparr]

I could be mistaken, but I believe the 3/16 would cause restriction without slope therefore not work as well as the 5/16.

[eustis22]

elseforum Dr Tim recommended 5/16 for low slope lines w/o vacuum and I tried out back on my 2% incline and I am very pleased with the results. Go with the 5/16.

[Super Sapper]

If you put the pump in the middle and have approx. 25 each way into a Tee, I would go with the 3/16. From what I have seen, as long as you do not overload the 3/16 with a shurflo pump it is easier to use than 5/16.

[Cedar Eater]

I would experiment with breaking your 50 trees into 4 groups of trees and route 3/16" to each group. You could think of them as left far and near and right far and near. I would then bring the four lines together into a short 1/2" ID manifold at the pump. The pump only has so much suction to offer and this seems like the lowest volume way to get it out to the taps.