Ebb and Flow Flood Depth / Plants per square meter questions

36"x36"x7" flood tray with the grow room walls pretty much lining the tray exactly. How deep do I flood the water? How many plants (NLxBB) can I fit in this space? (36"x36"x68") Also how fast should the tray flood? Also looking for a good pot size and brand to use.
I've taken the time to do some math based on flooding the tray 4 inches deep. My water pump is only 185 gph so 3.1 gpm. If 4 inches is deep enough to flood the tray then. 36x36x4 (length x width x depth of water) which in this case = 5184 take this and multiply by .0031 = 16.0704 gallons to fill it 4 inches. So flooding the tray should take in the range of 4.5 - 5 minutes with the plants and medium in there. Is that too long to flood or is that fine? Any help is appreciated.

Anyone able to help me with any of this? Especially how many plants I can fit in this space and how deep I should flood the water. Thanks.

how big are the plants going to be a few big ones or lots of small ones ? flood depth well depends on were your rockwool is and all that are you even using rock wool what grow medium?

I'm honestly not sure on the grow medium i'll be using either. guess i could use some pointers there too. so far i've only recieved the seeds. (3 world of seeds fem northern lights x big bud, 1 greenhouse fem 'the church', and 1 dna fem 'l.a. woman'. but i want more plants if possible in this space). The 3x3 grow tray, a 400w lumatek / yield master, 186 gph water pump, flood and drain fittings, digital timer, and mylar are all on their way here now. Gonna set up the room and buy the rest of what i'll need once I have everything set up.

ledgrowing said:

how big are the plants going to be a few big ones or lots of small ones ? flood depth well depends on were your rockwool is and all that are you even using rock wool what grow medium?

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I'd like to keep my plants more short and stocky with a good 45-55 days of flowering. I was thinking expanded clay for the medium but i do want some feedback there. Is 7 plants in a staggered 2 - 3 - 2 formation too many?

no as long as you have good air movemennt should be fine i pack mine in to lol sog or scrog style i would flood about half way up the pots or to where ever your roots begin in the pot and i would flood 2 times a day till you see roots then 3 times a day once an hour after lights come on once ac hour before lights go out and somwere in between there as well i use only hydrotron i never use rock wool it just holds to much water for me anyways

ledgrowing said:

no as long as you have good air movemennt should be fine i pack mine in to lol sog or scrog style i would flood about half way up the pots or to where ever your roots begin in the pot and i would flood 2 times a day till you see roots then 3 times a day once an hour after lights come on once ac hour before lights go out and somwere in between there as well i use only hydrotron i never use rock wool it just holds to much water for me anyways

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Sweet man thanks. + rep. Oh and just to check the whole flood and drain thing is controlled by a timer, water pump and the flood and drain kit right? not really anything else needed to make that work?

do sog 4 per square foot, read the al b fuct get a harvest every 2 weeks thread.

nope just put your pumpm on a timer u dont have to but it is way better than having to go and flood your table and the right intervals all i use for a over flo is 1/2inch irragation hose with some nylon stockings the gf had being held on by an elastic band to ensure no hydrotron get in the hole a plugs it

ledgrowing said:

nope just put your pumpm on a timer u dont have to but it is way better than having to go and flood your table and the right intervals all i use for a over flo is 1/2inch irragation hose with some nylon stockings the gf had being held on by an elastic band to ensure no hydrotron get in the hole a plugs it

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Sweet. was hoping thats all there was to it. Already got the botanicare flood and drain kit(only like 9 bucks man). And while I'm still on the subject of flooding the tray, is like 4 to 5 minutes to flood too long? got a like $16 186 gph pump so it's not much, just wanted to make sure it's enough.