Micro-sprays, jets and bubblers: flow, adjustment, own zone

Short answer

Micro-sprays, jets and bubblers put out far more water than drippers, so give them their own zone or line. Before you buy, check whether a part is a bare head with a 10-32 thread or a complete assembly with a stake, riser and barb, and check the pressure range its maker lists.

Picks that fitAll picks and how to choose

Raindrip 173CPUB adjustable micro sprinkler, quarter-circle fan on 13 in stakeCheck price on Amazon
Raindrip R156CT adjustable flow bubbler, full circle 8‑stream on 5 in stake (5‑pack)Check price on Amazon
Rain Bird MBF4PKS full-circle micro-bubbler on 5 in stake (4‑pack)Check price on Amazon

Why they need their own zone

A micro-spray throws water over an area. A bubbler floods a small circle. Both use much more water than a dripper.

Colorado State University Extension advises putting micro-sprays on a separate zone from other drip devices for that reason.^[1] Raindrip is stricter: it says drippers should never be mixed with sprinklers on the same line, because their flow rates differ.^[2]

So the answer to "can I put micro-sprays on a drip line?" is: on their own line, yes; on the same line as drippers, no.

Flow the makers list

Device	Type	Flow the maker lists	Pressure	Adjustment
DIG adjustable jets	Jet	0-26.1 GPH at 25 PSI	15-30 PSI	Adjustable
Rain Bird Xeri-Spray 360	Spray	0-24.5 GPH at 30 psi	15-30 psi	Turn the outer cap
DIG adjustable mini-bubbler	Bubbler	Up to about 31.5-32 GPH at 30 PSI	15-30 PSI	Rotating cap, full flow to off
Rain Bird 1300A-F	Bubbler	1.0-2.3 GPM	10-60 psi	Stainless-steel screw

DIG lists its adjustable jets at 0 to 26.1 GPH at 25 PSI, operating at 15 to 30 PSI.^[3] Rain Bird's Xeri-Spray 360 adjusts from 0 to 24.5 GPH at 30 psi by turning its outer cap.^[4]

DIG's adjustable mini-bubbler turns from full flow to shut-off and works at 15 to 30 PSI.^[5] DIG's page gives its top flow as both 31.5 and 32 GPH at 30 PSI, so treat it as about that.^[5] Rain Bird's 1300A-F full-circle bubbler is listed at 1.0 to 2.3 GPM over 10 to 60 psi.^[4] That is gallons per minute: one GPM is 60 GPH.

Bubbler or dripper?

A dripper releases a small flow at one point; DIG's PC button drippers, for example, come in 0.5 to 4 GPH.^[6] A bubbler releases much more over a small circle. The 1300A-F's low setting, 1.0 GPM, equals 60 GPH.^[4] Use bubblers where you want to flood a basin, such as around a large shrub, and keep them off dripper lines.

Adjustable is not pressure-compensating

Turning a cap changes the flow you set. It does not hold that flow when pressure changes. DIG's page for its adjustable mini-bubbler does not call it pressure-compensating.^[5] Check the maker's page for each model before you assume either feature.

Bare head or complete assembly

DIG sells its adjustable jets two ways: as a bare head with a 10/32 thread (300B, 308B, 309B) or as a complete assembly with a 13 inch stake, 12 inch riser and 1/4 in barb (300-1B, 308-1B, 309-1B).^[3] A bare head needs a riser or adapter with a matching thread. See 10-32 threaded devices.

For a riser, Rain Bird's PFR-12 PolyFlex Riser works with 10-32 threaded emission devices and is rated 15 to 50 psi.^[7] In Mister Landscaper's system, its MLS-22 stake extension raises stake assemblies to more than 18 inches.^[8]

What pressure do micro-sprays need?

Use the range on the maker's page for your exact model. The table above already shows three different ranges.

Mister Landscaper gives figures for its own system. It says its 25 psi regulator is required when running drippers only or a mix of drippers and micro-sprays, and suggests its 50 psi regulator for micro-sprays.^[9] Those are instructions for the Mister Landscaper system, not a rule for other brands.

Spare parts

Raindrip states that it does not offer replacement caps for its fan and stream bubblers.^[2] If a cap breaks on one of those, you replace the whole device.

Sprays and bubblers that fit

Picks that fit5 products

Choose by pattern: Raindrip 172CPUB is a half-circle fan on a 13 in stake; Raindrip 173CPUB is the quarter-circle fan on the same stake; Raindrip R156CT is a full-circle 8-stream bubbler on a 5 in stake (5-pack); Rain Bird MBF4PKS is a full-circle micro-bubbler on a 5 in stake (4-pack); Rain Bird ILB4PKSX is a full-circle in-line bubbler on a 5 in stake (4-pack).

Micro-sprays, jets and bubblers: flow, adjustment and their own zone