Ebb & Flow: Cover or no?

Dryxi

Dryxi

Well-Known Member
So I have never grown in a hydroponic system and recently built a little 2x2 ebb and flow. I have seen (& heard in my greenhouse management class) conflicting advice on whether I should cover the table with some black poly. I understand the whole "bigger roots, bigger fruits", and I know that if I do cover it, it will allow the roots to create a mat in the table. Are there more issues that can occur if I cover the table vs not?

I do plan on using beneficial bacteria that you put in your res if that makes any difference. Any advice anyone has on running ebb&flow is appreciated as well since this is going to be my first time using salts in general, typically a TLO soil grower.
 
klx

klx

Well-Known Member
Depends how big your pots are. My advice would be to pack as many plants as you can fit in the space, in small pots and cover the tray. Covering the tray keeps it dark and moist, perfect for roots but also perfect for all life. Keep your res sterile and pathogen free and you would max out the area. But thats just me, do your own research.
 
HydroRed

HydroRed

Well-Known Member
Dryxi said:
So I have never grown in a hydroponic system and recently built a little 2x2 ebb and flow. I have seen (& heard in my greenhouse management class) conflicting advice on whether I should cover the table with some black poly. I understand the whole "bigger roots, bigger fruits", and I know that if I do cover it, it will allow the roots to create a mat in the table. Are there more issues that can occur if I cover the table vs not?

I do plan on using beneficial bacteria that you put in your res if that makes any difference. Any advice anyone has on running ebb&flow is appreciated as well since this is going to be my first time using salts in general, typically a TLO soil grower.
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Your biggest issue will likely be a little algae if you dont block the flood area from light. Do like @klx suggests and once plant canopy gets to blocking light from the flood area, that will go away. I run a sterile res so I hit it with some H2o2 every 3 days and it keeps everything clean and in check, but different strokes for different folks. Best of luck on your first E&F grow!
 
Renfro

Renfro

Well-Known Member
I ran flood and drain for many years on a pretty good scale. Used 6 inch square pots with expanded clay pellets. What @HydroRed said about the situation is exactly true. I never bothered with a cover on my trays. I had 48 plants per 4x4 area (96 in a 4x8) in a 7x7 grind minus one for the tray fittings. I didn't use any H2O2 or pool shock, just the GH base nutrients. I ran the reservoir for the whole flowering cycle.

You can just use a cover, net pots and no medium and toss a coco root mat in the bottom of the tray. Here is my 2x4 tray with cover and 2" net pots in my little seed testing tent.

Tray Cover.jpg
 
sandman83

sandman83

Well-Known Member
if you use rockwool, then yeah block the light to prevent algae. I prefer clay rocks, no issue just rinse em once every few weeks with plain water to release the salt build up.
 
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