3x3 Ebb & Flow System ( a few general questions )

waterdawg said:

Newb here but I would start the nutes in the low side, 1000 ppm's would IMO be a tad high. 5.7-5.8 ph for veg and 5.8-6.1 for flower is the norm I believe. Let the plant tell you if it needs a higher ppm. Dont force feed it is my moto lol.

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Fair point. I admit erring on side of caution is a good idea. Luckily the strain hasn't shown any ill effects. Saying that ch33b I'd definitely stay on the low side.

I like your set up. Clean and efficient. I used to run tables set up similarly. I would fill the entire tray rather than using pots. This will increase root space as well as cut down on flood and drain time. With this system i flooded four times daily, for 15 minutes. The water would all drain in another 10 minutes. Keeping the root zone submerged for under 30 minutes and not damaging them. I never flooded at night. too much chance of root problems. Flooded: at lights on, 2 hours before lights off and twice evenly spaced in between.

Im gonna to fill my tray this evening. I totally agree with the root mass theory and my pots are shockingly under filled. I cant believe the growth rate compared to soil.

District when you say on the low side is 1000ppm on the lower end? I like the "not force feeding your plant comment" Waterdog... I want to be successful with this system and never look back to soil... At the same time I just want to keep it simple !

There's plenty of info on whats classed as a cautious ppm. I think its between 500-800 but I would suggest double checking. I totally understand you wanting to get it right first time. Just keep PH between 5.5 to 6 and start low on nutes.

I never go much above 750 and have never had issues. I do know that is low but again never had an issue.

GH Hydro ponics suggests a higher PPM using their product... so it think it varies

ch33b said:

GH Hydro ponics suggests a higher PPM using their product... so it think it varies

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Yup but they are also in the buisness of selling you more as well lol.

Okay guys, heres an update I tested my pump with about 16 gallons of water in the rez, I set my timer for 15 mins it quickly fills up to about the 2" (inch) mark on the inside of the 3x3 tray. After the Timer turns off in sync with my pump ( 296GPH) the table slowly starts to drain through my pump and takes about 6 mins and 31 secs according to my stopwatch and I monitoring the length of time. Here's an image of it. Thoughts and Suggestions? Oh The pots will be filled with Hydroton to which I got a killer deal from the hydro guy I go to (Ripped bag) So it was cheap and I can see if I like it..

Just a couple if things. Are you covering the tray? I put an overflow tube an 1" from the top of my tray running back to res, it has saved some major flooding but my pump runs cont when plants are flowering.

I modified mine yesterday and filled it with hydroton. I changed my rez too. Im entering my third week of veg and my ppm is 1400.

Waterdawg. How would one put an overflow tube in his system? I cant afford to have any major flooding...

AND YES now I'm having to figure out a lid situation because nobody informed me of this until now.. I went to the hydrostore and the guy didn't tell me I needed a lid with my system knowing I'm doing Ebb and Flow.... I was thinking of buying a 4x4' piece of wood and using that as a top as opposed to buying a 100$ Botanicare lid... this way I can cut the amount of holes I will be using however I'm open to suggestions

I have the same issue I just use light poly it works fine. Its £2 a metre and all u need is tape to stick it in place.

I use totes but have seen people use panda film (google) and cut holes for the pot/stalk. The over flow is just a thru-hull 3/4 fitting at the top of the tray with a hose to the res. if drain backs up it just runs out over flow. This also lets you know you have issues as it slowly starts to drain from top when the bottom drain is partially plugged. I have modified my setup to use sprayers and now have a 2" drain. I like to putter around lol, on my 4th setup lol. Good luck and keep us posted! When u starting it up? I just germed some Afghani 5 days ago with the new rig.

Be careful with wood, perhaps if painted with a rubberized coating. Lids are a bitch to find, I was thinking of using the board that is used behind bathroom tile that is kind of like really dense foam, its mould resistant, and light proof. Not sure about leaching though. Seriously thinking about rails aswell, i just ordered some stuff to see if it'll work as a rail.

I made a lid only to find the water level wont rise to the pots before the reservoir runs dry -$20 ... Do I really need a lid on my system? Can I just fit pots with hydroton and let the table fill 1-3" inches of water and then slowly drain? MY BRAIN IS FRIED PLEASE HELP... below are some pictures of the lid... Is there another way around not using a lid and putting pots directly on the white table. and ditch the wood

Not sure if you said your going to surround those netpots with hydroton. If you are then theres no need for a lid a wood imagine. One things for sure wood and water are not good bedfellows.

District said:

I have the same issue I just use light poly it works fine. Its £2 a metre and all u need is tape to stick it in place.

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Sorry I thought u meant lid for your rez.

So ditch the wood... fill pots with hydroton and let them sit in the tray basically?

Yep. Hydroton will block the light and give the roots plenty of oxygen. Its what I did to allow the roots in my system to grow out from the pots they're in. Make sure to rinse thoroughly.