Bubbleponic Vs. EBB/Flow

Malevolence said:

I don't understand how ebb n flo is cheaper and simpler than a 5g bucket and air pump.

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I agree. Don't you think power outages would still affect ebb and flow tables? I mean if there's no power the pump won't cycle leading to roots drying out quicker. At least in dwc with a power failure the roots are still submerged in water.

Dwc pros
Cheap
Simple to set up
No media besides water
Faster growth than flood n drain
Run multiple strains easier
Root issues confined to one plant
Easy access to roots
Faster response to water/nute changes
Lower ppm

Cons
Have to take preventative measures against root rot
More work due to individual buckets... can require daily attention
Ph and nute balance not as stable due to res only being 5 gallons
Issues escalate faster.

I think any active hydro is fucked if the power goes out. Some setups prob just last a couple more hours than others.

If an air pump fails in a dwc units, there is usually enough dissolved oxygen to keep the plant alive and uptake nutes for a few days.

love this discussion i was reading about a guy that used alkasltzer in cups under the fan leaves to do small boosts of co2 dispercemet as well as a spidermite killer

I use Bubbleponics with 35 lpm air pump + 2 large stones per bucket. This works pretty well, but I am not crazy about roots soaking in the nutes 24/7. Massive air bubbles keep potential root problems away (see very healthy root porn pics), BUT, have been developing a super system using Air Pots + Lava Rock + ornamental gravel (as a top cap) + Net Pot Lids + Hydro Halo Drip Rings + 320 gph pump inside 5+g rez that is oxygenated with air stones

Harvesting 2/2 tonite then pulling APs apart to examine root structure. Pics tomorrow in my thread

PattyWagon said:

I agree. Don't you think power outages would still affect ebb and flow tables? I mean if there's no power the pump won't cycle leading to roots drying out quicker. At least in dwc with a power failure the roots are still submerged in water.

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an ebb & flow, per my design of course can sit with no power for a day if really necessary with no harmfull effects except reduce growth because of the lack of flow.

Where as a standing bucket of water will be oxygen deprived.

Malevolence said:

I don't understand how ebb n flo is cheaper and simpler than a 5g bucket and air pump.

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An ebb&flow is as simple as a cheap water pump (instead of an air pump) and a tray (instead of one bucket) plus a reservoir (so two buckets) and a couple of fittings. When the power goes off in DWC the roots become oxygen derpived and hence the constant ROOT ROT problems that people have. Ebb & Flow uses gravity to its advantage. DWC relies on constant aeration\flow.

Malevolence said:

I think any active hydro is fucked if the power goes out. Some setups prob just last a couple more hours than others.

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Well I can go a couple of days without power in ebb&flow since the roots NEVER sit in standing water

I have grown in both.I like the bucket system but when time to change water and the roots are long its hard to do.and don't even think about a trillis with buckets. With that said I love my ebb& flo .roots can grow and I can use a trillis