I chose ebb and flow for the simple fact that the design is straight foreword and is easily adapted to available funds and space requirements. Being a lazy stoner, the ease of maintenance and everyday use was a major factor in my decision.
Please don't look at the mess, these pics were taken during a major construction project in their space. The AC in the pics is not there any more and a new mini-split cools both the veg room and the flowering chamber. Yippee!!! so far temp management issues are a thing of the past and the mini-split AC is the SCHIZZLE
This one is a really easy ebb and flow set up with a home made rubber lined wood tray built to my required dimensions, this one was built to fit the pots my mommies live in. The fittings are a $10 gro store set and the return plumbing and a small pond pump from Home Depot. Less than $75 if your scrap pile yielded nothing and you had to buy everything new. The reservoir is just a rubbermaid tub. The tray is screwed to shelf brackets and the wall (I really need to beef these up some as the standard stamped brackets are a bit flimsy with the tray at full flood).
Another easy ebb and flow system whose parts were purchased entirely at WalMart for less then $30. The tray is a shoebox sized plastic container and the one on the bottom is about three times bigger and holds three gallons of sweet soup for the mothers in waiting who live there. The pump is an aquarium pump out of the pet section and cost $19.99, that and a couple of plumbing fittings (these will add to the cost if you can't scrounge them as I did) and this design could be adapted to grow a single larger plant, rather than the two smaller ones pictured here.
Whichever way you go with your grow, good luck and may the force be with you.
