Hydro style change from ebb / flow to top feed?

Hello everyone,

I currently have been growing in rockwool cubes and have been told my ebb and flow setup isn't the best method. I was hopoing to pick some of your brain. I want to build a system that I can easily add more ladies in the future as in slowly scale up. I was considering a top feed type system that recirculates the feed back into my exsisting res. I'm hoping this will help with the roots being too wet as in the past I coudn't get the 4x4 trays to feed / drain fast enough and plus a top feed reduces salt buildup in the rockwool.

Here's the rub. I use humic acid, kelp powder, etc etc along plus my teas and it always seems to clog my lines. Is there a solution for this like a system that doenst have those restrictive litle adaptors? Any thoughts would be greatly apprecaited.

Sounds like you're trying to do hydro with nutrients that work better in soil or soilless growing.

You say you don't have a lot of time to tend your plants so that limits your choices.

Go full hydro and top feed in RW. Maybe drain to waste would work for you.

Grow in large pots so they can go a week without watering.

DWC is about the simplest but still won't play nice with teas and other stuff you are using.

Feed lines and organic type nutes just don't seem to get along very well.

Good luck!

Akira90 said:

Hello everyone,

I currently have been growing in rockwool cubes and have been told my ebb and flow setup isn't the best method. I was hopoing to pick some of your brain. I want to build a system that I can easily add more ladies in the future as in slowly scale up. I was considering a top feed type system that recirculates the feed back into my exsisting res. I'm hoping this will help with the roots being too wet as in the past I coudn't get the 4x4 trays to feed / drain fast enough and plus a top feed reduces salt buildup in the rockwool.

Here's the rub. I use humic acid, kelp powder, etc etc along plus my teas and it always seems to clog my lines. Is there a solution for this like a system that doenst have those restrictive litle adaptors? Any thoughts would be greatly apprecaited.

Click to expand...

Im personally a fan of the simplicity and effectiveness of my F&D tables. What kind of setup are you running with your F&D that someone thinks its not set up the best? We may be able to help you get set up proper if it isn't already.

I settled on f/d tables as my very best. couldnt figure out how to keep it organic though without the bubbling organic res issues, then settled on promix/dry ferts, octopots in the summer(5 days at a time away if desired) and 3 gallon pots hand watered over winter months

Thanks guys! Ill give top feed a try along with adjusting my ebb flow and see which one i can get working best but I think eveyones right that trying to do organic with drippers might just be a lost cause

Just my 2 cents

Ive run low pressure aero/nft tubes bubble buckets and totes. And im on my trial run of my rdwc system .

All that said even though i love to hear water falls

Im going to build one more (yea ive said that before) system to test.

It will be a combo flood and drain/nft ish lol

Look up the youtube channel "grow your own: flood and drain the easy way"
VERY SIMPLE ,VERY IMPRESSIVE

My new system will be based on his but smaller and with a few tweaks .

But as long as i have done hydro ive never tried a flood and drain . And i just built my 3rd rdwc system ha ha

So after the run im working on now im going to have half my room rdwc and half flood and drain and i will see for myself which is easier /more productive.

Hope thus helps

Edit @Akira90 whatch that vid before you build a system just my thoughts of course

As others have mentioned, hydro is more suited to sterile res than organics. Leave the organics for outdoors. Get a good 2 part nutrient and H2O2 every few days to keep the res free of pathogens.

I am not a huge fan of rockwool but others have great results with it. I prefer a medium that can be fed a lot. This has the added benefit of keeping your res oxygenated as well.

So rather than change your whole style of growing, I would first switch your medium and nutrients and give that a go. I think a lot of your problems will disappear.

Good luck!