Timer Setup ebb/flow

I'm using a single 5g bucket flood/drain system for my aquaponics experiment and i don't know the first thing about hydro. I'm using clay pellets as my medium and the bucket/plant will be in a greenroom at about 80-90F under direct sunlight around 5 hours a day.

I don't want to spend 80$ on high res timer and i already have a 28 event per day digital timer so i'd like to use it. Is this possible with 14 on/off sets each 24hr period? How long does it take for roots to dry out in an ebb and flow set up if im using clay pellets?

3-4 hours, depending on humidity. Usually you flood 3-5 times a day during daylight hours, and try to keep your flood times to less than 30 minutes duration.
Also, make sure you have an airstone in the res - with that small a reservoir, you'll deplete your oxygen fast !

torontoone said:

3-4 hours, depending on humidity. Usually you flood 3-5 times a day during daylight hours, and try to keep your flood times to less than 30 minutes duration.
Also, make sure you have an airstone in the res - with that small a reservoir, you'll deplete your oxygen fast !

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thanks, that's the info i was looking for. im using aquaponics though and my medium is IN the bucket. my res is the fish pond

Ok another question. If i only need to use it during the light hours and its mainly for flowering then that's around 12 hrs of light per day give or take. with 28 events on my timer that makes 14 sets of on/off.

I was thinking about having it run for 1m every hour starting at 6am and finishing at 7pm. Would this be too much flooding? Remember that its in hydroton and only 1 5g bucket so it drains quickly and its in a heated greenroom. thanks

Twistedfunk said:

Ok another question. If i only need to use it during the light hours and its mainly for flowering then that's around 12 hrs of light per day give or take. with 28 events on my timer that makes 14 sets of on/off.

I was thinking about having it run for 1m every hour starting at 6am and finishing at 7pm. Would this be too much flooding? Remember that its in hydroton and only 1 5g bucket so it drains quickly and its in a heated greenroom. thanks

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I have 5 gallon buckets with a 55 gallon res that I have flood 3 times a day for 15 min a time. I have 12 buckets but use 5 this minute. I have rockwool coverd in hydroton. Dont forget you dont want your roots stop growing from comfort. They need to want to go out searching for water and food. Plants take up minimal water at night so run your floods 7 am,11 am, and before lights out.