ebb and flow design questions for a newbie

lukey boii · Apr 10, 2011

Hey guys, Im just starting to put together my third grow and ive decided to give hydro a try this time. I wana try the ebb and flow system which im going to make at home. Ive been down to my local hardware store and cant find any trays big enough for the 16 plants i wana grow. So what i was thinking of doing was cutting holes in some big pvc pipes and placing net pots into the holes, than put caps on the ends of the pvc piping and connecting a line from the pump to the pipe, would this work? Well, i no it will work but will it work very well?? The biggest problem i can see with it is the space, from wat ive heard root restrictions arnt really a problem for hydro like they are with soil is this true?

Also what size pump should i get? I wana have 4 lengths of pvc pipe at approx 1m long each, so ill need a big enough pump to pump through 4 water lines at the same time evenly.

And would introducing an air stone to the reservoir benefit the plants at all with delivering oxygen??

Thanx to all who can help + rep for those who do, peace

lukey boii · Apr 10, 2011

So this is my set up idea, in the picture the pvc pipes are on different levels but in reality they will all be stacked closely next to one another on the same level. The plants will also be powered by a 400w HPS from clone to finish (no veg time).

I need to know wat size pump to use so let me no wat u guys think, peace

Brimi · Apr 10, 2011

You don't need a too big pump. You need to read how high it can lift the water - it's on the pump lable.

Yes - add bubbles to your reservoir to keep it full oxygene. This will keep water from rottening.

For trays you'd might check out your local bread factory. You know those big 1000kg. containers that in this case hold glucose. Perfect for a homemade ebb & flow.
Link to homemade ebb & flow

Brimi · Apr 10, 2011

Remember to keep water rez temp. at about 20 C. - too cold the plants will hate - too warm and bacterias will thrive too well in the rez.

sirtom68 · Apr 10, 2011

Lukey boii, have you ever seen the Super Tubs at lowes home improvement? They are 2' x 3' and about 9 inches deep. They are made for mixing mortar, concrete in small batches. They are tough as hell and will last a lifetime. Only cost about $14 each. I use em and build and sell small systems made from them. Google lowes and type super tub in. Thats a pic of the units I build. You will also need a seperate nute reservoir for the last 2 weeks so you can flush at least one week with pure water, two weeks is even better. PEACE

drgreentm · Apr 10, 2011

you could use just plywood and 2x4's to make a table of any size then just line it with pond liner (or something waterproof of that nature) put some holes in it for your fill and overflow and silicone it. for 16 zero veg plants you dont need a incredibly huge table. i like to veg for 2 weeks so i can pull at least 2 oz's from each plant and give them one square foot each for larger growth, i do 16 at a time to and use 2 2x4 flood tables (4 total perpetual 4 weeks) and they fit comfortably like that.

lukey boii · Apr 10, 2011

Brimi said:
You don't need a too big pump. You need to read how high it can lift the water - it's on the pump lable.

Yes - add bubbles to your reservoir to keep it full oxygene. This will keep water from rottening.

For trays you'd might check out your local bread factory. You know those big 1000kg. containers that in this case hold glucose.
Perfect for a homemade ebb & flow.
Link to homemade ebb & flow

Man wh didn't I think of that? I only just seen two of those big ass tubs sitting out bush about a week ago they'll be perfect! +rep man cheers

lukey boii · Apr 10, 2011

sirtom68 said:
Lukey boii, have you ever seen the Super Tubs at lowes home improvement? They are 2' x 3' and about 9 inches deep. They are made for mixing mortar, concrete in small batches. They are tough as hell and will last a lifetime. Only cost about $14 each. I use em and build and sell small systems made from them. Google lowes and type super tub in. Thats a pic of the units I build. You will also need a seperate nute reservoir for the last 2 weeks so you can flush at least one week with pure water, two weeks is even better. PEACEView attachment 1543084

Tub looks good mate but I'm pretty sure we don't have a lowes in Australia but thanx for the advice.

lukey boii · Apr 10, 2011

drgreentm said:
you could use just plywood and 2x4's to make a table of any size then just line it with pond liner (or something waterproof of that nature) put some holes in it for your fill and overflow and silicone it. for 16 zero veg plants you dont need a incredibly huge table. i like to veg for 2 weeks so i can pull at least 2 oz's from each plant and give them one square foot each for larger growth, i do 16 at a time to and use 2 2x4 flood tables (4 total perpetual 4 weeks) and they fit comfortably like that.

I did think of that idea of using 2x4's an lining it buy inwas to worried about leaks, wat has been the best method for u in overcoming them? Cus the idea of having a leak half way through a grow just makes me deteer far from this idea

Beagle · Apr 10, 2011

Those concrete mixing tubs work great for 4 plants. They run about $13 at home depot. You can definitely use some "T" fittings to chain 4 tubs to 1 reservoir, but different stages of growth require different amounts of nutrient/gal. So it might be better to have 4 separate reservoirs.

Zcomfort · Apr 10, 2011

Why dont use those cement mixing trays like he said above. You could do sog w/ 16 plants if not by 2 or 4 of them. Easier to work with and cheaper.

lukey boii · Apr 10, 2011

Beagle said:
Those concrete mixing tubs work great for 4 plants. They run about $13 at home depot. You can definitely use some "T" fittings to chain 4 tubs to 1 reservoir, but different stages of growth require different amounts of nutrient/gal. So it might be better to have 4 separate reservoirs.

Im sure they are great but i live in Australia and we dont have a home depot, ive already searched my local hardware store and they dont stock them either, might have a look online or something cus they do look good

Zcomfort · Apr 11, 2011

You live out in the boonies of Aus?

drgreentm · Apr 11, 2011

lukey boii said:
I did think of that idea of using 2x4's an lining it buy inwas to worried about leaks, wat has been the best method for u in overcoming them? Cus the idea of having a leak half way through a grow just makes me deteer far from this idea

i have actually never done it this way but have seen it done on this site i will have a look and see if i can get you a link to someone who has done this. i just get the botanicare flood tables and they work great use to build my own from those mixing trays but i had the money and said screw it and bought them they work great.

drgreentm · Apr 11, 2011

here is a old thread about it the guy goes all out and it gets pretty expensive but it will give you a idea of how its done https://www.rollitup.org/do-yourself/22115-diy-flood-drain-table.html
sure you could build one cheaper if you could get your hands on some wood and materials cheap.

lukey boii · Apr 11, 2011

All good I just found an awesome full kit online for only $350, thanx for the help guys but I think buying the kit is the easiest way and won't leave much room for fuck ups seeing though it will be my first hydro grow, peace

ebb and flow design questions for a newbie

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