Worlds Simplest Ebb and Flow

MisterMicro

MisterMicro

Well-Known Member

The World’s Simplest Ebb/Flow Unit

A 2-liter soda bottle and air pump… Principle of Operation
The air pump pushes the nutrient up through the black tubing into the upper part. When the pump stops,the air slowly exits out the air pump, letting the nutrient flow back down
into the bottom.
An ebb / flow operation.


Parts List:



  1. A 2-liter bottle cut in two. Measure 5.5-inchs from the bottle cap for the top half of the unit.
  2. The bottle cap with a 1/4-inch hole drilled in the center of it.
  3. A piece of 1/4-inch black tubing.
  4. Tape.
  5. One 1/4-inch connector (Raindrip R312C) or 1/4-inch elbow (Raindrip R314C) not shown
  6. A piece of aquarium air tubing.
  7. One cheap air pump (Wally-world $7.00)

Assembly:
1.
Assemble the bottle parts driving the top into the bottom evenly until the top is only out of the bottom 1-inch. (I find pushing on the bottle cap gives me the best control.)
2.
Now tape around the junction making sure you have an air-tight seal. 3.
Drill a 3/16-inch hole high up on the side of the bottom piece and insert the connector.
I had to use tape and build up the area around the hole until I got a air-tight fit with the connector inserted.
4.
Insert the black tubing through the hole in the cap and reaching the bottom.
(Actually it is easier to put the tubing in before you assemble the top & bottom pieces.) Attach the air tubing to the pump and connector.
Add you nutrient, media, and plant.
I run the pump off a 15-minute on / 15-minute off timer.
 
LonghornFan

LonghornFan

Well-Known Member
This is really really cool. I am going to try this under a 150watt CFL grow and see what happens. I have this old modeling spray paint booth that I havent used in years. I am going to repaint the inside, fix it up and try this grow...how cool..+rep!!
 
MisterMicro

MisterMicro

Well-Known Member
Ya i want to try this with my my clones, i guess thats all it would be suitable for other than seeds. But yeah man i got that off strainguide.org, theres some cool facts and amazing vertical grows setups there.
 
MisterMicro

MisterMicro

Well-Known Member
LonghornFan said:
This is really really cool. I am going to try this under a 150watt CFL grow and see what happens. I have this old modeling spray paint booth that I havent used in years. I am going to repaint the inside, fix it up and try this grow...how cool..+rep!!
Click to expand...
Cool man, cant wait to see it tried. :clap:

Mr.Freemann said:
nice idea,cheap easy an simplee to make.might have to try this myself.but using 3liter bottles for it
Click to expand...

Thats a good idea, you might actually be able to flower successfully with a 3 liter:clap:
 
Joe Camel

Joe Camel

Well-Known Member
Very Cool man. This may give me the courage to try Hydro. Seeing I wont have to invest so much to get desirable results. And broaden my skills outside of soil. Thanks for this. +++ to you.
~~Joe~~
 
MisterMicro

MisterMicro

Well-Known Member
Joe Camel said:
Very Cool man. This may give me the courage to try Hydro. Seeing I wont have to invest so much to get desirable results. And broaden my skills outside of soil. Thanks for this. +++ to you.
~~Joe~~
Click to expand...
Yup im on the same page, this setup is perfect for us soil locked ganja farmers. Also good for someone who is broke and has 20 bucks in his pocket. ITs also super simple. All around awesome deal for sure.:clap:
 
C

cruzer101

Well-Known Member
Hey,

This is cool. So the outside of the upper part of the bottle and the inside of the lower part make an air tight seal.

As far as maintenance, I guess you change out the water often instead of adjusting Ph and nutes during the week? Or maybe pour all of them together and do it all at once and refill the lower parts...

Still very cool, thanks for sharing.

​
.
 
tom__420

tom__420

Well-Known Member
I have just been topping off with no problems. I will be doing a rez change once a week probably.
My purple seedling in there is more of an experiment than anything
 
MisterMicro

MisterMicro

Well-Known Member
cruzer101 said:
Hey,

This is cool. So the outside of the upper part of the bottle and the inside of the lower part make an air tight seal.

As far as maintenance, I guess you change out the water often instead of adjusting Ph and nutes during the week? Or maybe pour all of them together and do it all at once and refill the lower parts...

Still very cool, thanks for sharing.

​
.
Click to expand...
I havnt tried it yet but itd seem the plant would use all the water fairly quickly so you wouldnt really have to change it, just add more through the top... I think Tomass is trying it, i saw a picture of this setup in the 400w club under toms post.
 
420hydro

420hydro

Well-Known Member
MisterMicro,

I'm glad you like the World's Simplest Ebb/Flow Unit. I created the little tutorial several years ago when I was really getting into hydroponics. I got the original idea from someone else, but refined it a bit. Someone pulled the web pages off my website and made it into a pdf (which I appreciate.)

Here is the pdf:

http://www.alternatethoughts.com/alternatethoughts-com-diy.pdf

Now you can see my pictures with the description.

It just goes to show you that hydroponic principles are very basic. :bigjoint:

:leaf: OverGrow :leaf:
 
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