ebb/flow 4min flood VS. 1hr flood

G

gWeesE

Well-Known Member
Hello all,

I need to know what would be best in your opinion on my flood time for a microgarden setup. I tested the flood time using the pump supplied with Botanicare, but it wouldve taken an hour or more to completey flood the tray...i gave up after 45min. I switched to a pump with a lil more push ...ok a lot more push ...cuz it only took like 4 min to completely flood. Which should i use? or does it matter? Eight tomato plants are ready for this system.

thanks
gWeeSe
 
U

Ultracombo

Active Member
I have an 3x3 ebb n flow system with a 25 gallon res. The pump only fills up only half of the tray. Im using rock wool cubes and they seem to be doing fine. The rockwool soaks water like no other, so i dont think it would be necessary for it to completely fill up the tray to the brim.
 
firsttimegrowerr

firsttimegrowerr

Well-Known Member
hey ultra combo, How often do you flood?

I use the mini rw cubes too but i have a trouble finding the right amount of flood.

Thanks
 
LoudBlunts

LoudBlunts

Well-Known Member
gWeesE said:
Hello all,

I need to know what would be best in your opinion on my flood time for a microgarden setup. I tested the flood time using the pump supplied with Botanicare, but it wouldve taken an hour or more to completey flood the tray...i gave up after 45min. I switched to a pump with a lil more push ...ok a lot more push ...cuz it only took like 4 min to completely flood. Which should i use? or does it matter? Eight tomato plants are ready for this system.

thanks
gWeeSe
Click to expand...

yes, you can solve with getting a bigger pump.


you only need to flood until floods 3/4 the medium...then you can drain
 
Al B. Fuct

Al B. Fuct

once had a dog named
Ultracombo said:
The rockwool soaks water like no other, so i dont think it would be necessary for it to completely fill up the tray to the brim.
Click to expand...
Too right. I ran pots of RW floc for a number of years. It is SO absorbent that you really only need to flood to about 50-75mm, then shut down the pump. The wicking action of RW will do the rest. You simply don't need to deeply flood RW to get it to wick up sufficient water. In fact, flooding RW to the max depth and holding the level there really invites overwatering problems (slow growth, yellowing/dropping lower leaves etc).

I run pots of Fytocell now, which tolerates deeper flooding for longer periods, but I still only flood for about 3-4 mins, which is as long as my pumps need to bring the flood depth to the overflow tube level at about 100mm.

I still use about 50mm of rockwool floc, very tightly packed, in the bottom of each pot, for 2 reasons- Fytocell has a tendency to float and also will escape through the pots' drain holes unless there's something there to block it. The small amount of RW floc sucks up enough water to weight down the pots so they don't float, as well.
 
bleezyg420

bleezyg420

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by laqouri
i got a couple clones saved up and i want to try to germinate them any suggestions?
Click to expand...
wtf? yea my suggestions are to go read more, a lot more....
 
Al B. Fuct

Al B. Fuct

once had a dog named
heh, you've replied to LB's signature.

You DO see some wacky ideas on pot forums- and it can be a bit wearing unless we're allowed to have a bit of fun with it.

LB has this habit of quoting the most batshit thing he's recently read in his sig. I spare the guilty and just parody them in How not to grow dope.
 
LoudBlunts

LoudBlunts

Well-Known Member
AL b, you aint heard? One dude got mad about it and started a thread about little ol me!!!!!!! turned out, it backfired. 375 replies
 
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