ebb & flow table

[Guest]

Heya, I have some experience with DWC style hydro , but none at all with ebb and flow tables.

I was just wondering if anyone might have any links to very detailed writeups about how the valve system and pumps etc are hooked up on an E&F table.... or maybe someone would be willing to explain it for me .... with pics?

interested in trying a new method, but a bit nervous starting out since i'm not sure how it all works.

Thanks

THC

 

[I.M. Boggled]

Ebb and Flow [Basic Concept Description]

Ebb and Flow [Basic Concept Description]

Often these types of systems are called flood and drain.
The plants are usually grown in pots with their roots supported by a medium of usually of perlite, Rockwool or expanded clay pebbles (Hydroton.)
The pots sit in a plastic tray which in turn sits above a reservoir filled with nutrient solution.
The growing tray must be higher than the reservoir because the system relies on gravity to do the work.

A pump in the reservoir is connected to the bottom of the tray.
When the pump turns on, the tray fills with water.
When the water level reaches a pre-determined height, through the use of the overflow fitting, the water falls back into the reservoir.
When the pump turns off, the water runs back down through the pump into the reservoir. Poetry...

Most growers choose to control irrigation with a timer.
A typical schedule would involve several short water cycles per day, but the duration and frequencies of watering cycles varies from one system to another and is dependent on the crop, the plant size and environmental conditions.

Ebb and flow allows for high density planting while providing a well oxygenated root system.
The ebb & flow method supplies fresh oxygen to the root system of plants in two ways. First, as the tray is flooded with nutrient solution, carbon dioxide rich air is pushed out from around the root system. When the pump is turned off, the tray is drained and oxygen rich air is drawn down to the roots. This oxygen is then used by the plants until the next cycle begins.

Second, when the nutrient solution drains through the flow, it creates a splash upon impact, adding much additional aeration.
Click here to see how splashing water helps to aerate your reservoir. (note that the splashing has been artistically amplified - it doesn't really splash out of the reservoir in that manner.)

It is an Ebb and a Flow. A breathing in and a breathing out, the rhythm aerates your plants in diligent meditative cycles. Listen closely, through the babble of the water, you may hear your plants quietly saying "Om."

[from GCHydro website)

"Hydroware" brand plastic trays by American Agritech = Excellent Quality components

 

[Guest]

excellent info IMBOGGLED. just what i was looking for, was not familiar with the idea of a overflow fitting etc... makes a lot more sense now.


THC

 

[Guest]

Hey THC I just made my own ebb & flow table setup this weekend. I had a bunch of plants around so I took a shitload of bogs ladies and put them in the 6x6x6 coco blocks.

2 - Sour Bubble
2 - Sweet Cindy 99
2 - Grape Punch
2 - Bluemoon Rocks

Honest I'm not a groupie or anything bog, It just happened these were the majority of clones I had acess to.


Here are some shots, sorry for the shitty lighting the hps was on.....

It's a bit ghetto but it works!

Here is my Rubbermaid 10 Gal Res. I added this small fishtank heater since the tub sits directly on a cold concrete floor(I hope this works). I'll be adding supplimental air to the Res on monday.

And last but not least the Nutrients Locker

I hope this helps I found the ebb & flow to be really simple.

 

[Guest]

thanks for the pics and ideas SP!

that gives me a few ideas to go with, i like how it's so compact but can hold a decent amount of plants.... dunno how big they'll be able to get , i guess it would be limited by the size of the cube you use? or by the pots? do the roots just over run the cubes and hang out in the tray?



hmmm so many questions!

looks like you got the whole AN lineup there sharp , lol.

good stuff, i'm lovin my sensi grow and bloom.. only adds i've got though are dr hornsby's bigbud , and sensi cal. wanna pick up the rest though and see what i can really do in this cab i've got.


THC

 

[Guest]

Also, anyone have any info on what the difference is between australian ebb & flow fittings , and regular ones? is there any difference?



THC

 

[Guest]

da Bears

da Bears

Nice show Sharpie!

This is under a 400?

 

[Guest]

I'm using 6x6x6 CoCo Fiber cubes. I'm gonna veg 2 weeks then flip the switch. This is my first ever hydro grow so I'm excited.

I have them under a Son Agro 430w Lamp

I'll start a post when I'm feelin ready to go

 

[Guest]

Once your roots reach the bottom and grow out , you can decrease the level of the flood. I use only one spacer once the roots are established. It goes up like 1-1.5" up the pot(not high at all)

Tex

 

[Guest]

yeah.......dude at the hydro store told me to run it high for the 1st week. then drop it down once the roots have been established.

texas do you run Coco cubes? My 1st flood got polluted with fiber or some thing from the cubes, i had to clean it out and re-add new water. lucky i had not added nutes.

this should be fun

Tuesday I get my Pirannah & Tarantula and then I have the entire AN line ready for my 1st run.

 

[Harry Gypsna]

hi there, hey sharpie, those Coko-tek cubes, how they working out for ya? I am interested in drip systems but h8 rockwool and all the nasty things sed anout it, is this good stuff. mmmy local growshop has them, at £2.50 EACH thats like 8 times the price of the nasty rockwool. is it worth it in ur opinion?

 

[SuperToker]

Good grow you have going. How does everyone like the coco blocks? To keep your res from getting cold, insulate it from the ground with either a block of foam, or some cardboard. you can get foam blocks (thick) at hardware store. either will solve your res temp problem without using a fish tank heater.