New to ebb&flow, what should I expect?

[Mongobud]

What's up fellas?

I've beeb growing DWC style for about a year now, but it's time to switch methods. I've had way to many problems with PH in bucket's, and everyone has been telling me it's because of the small rez when using DWC.

So. I am the proud new owner of 2 4x4 tables, each with its own 55 gallon rez, pumps, etc..

I have a few questions.

The strains I will be working with: DNA L.A. Confidential on 1 table and DNA Lemon skunk on the other table...all from clone mothers.

I will be using the big Gro Dan blocks for each clone, no slab. Vegging for 1 week before switching to 12/12.

Nutrients:
GH Flora 3 part
Fox farm solubles bloom boosters
GH subculture-M
Hygrozyme
Aquashield
AN bud candy

Each table will have a 400w solarmax above it...will be switching to 600w possibly during the winter.

How many clones should I use per table?

Does my nutrient line-up have any flaws that I need to address?

When running the system, should I flush every 2 weeks or just when the plants tell me to?


Any other tips and pointers are very appreciated and I will spread the rep around. Thanks.

 

[researchkitty]

Your 400 watt light wont really be able to cover that entire 4x4 table too well, I mean it will, but its a lot of space. I'd probably go 9 plants under that light, just because it'll be a decent canopy. Your nutrients are fine, although you forgot H2O2 and a Calcium/Magnesium suppliment. If rockwool is new to you, then you'll notice you need to water a lot less than if you used something like hydroton before in your DWC, but that's about it.

I cant figure out why you went from DWC to a flood table and entirely switched setups instead of just getting a bigger reservoir. Big $$ difference?

 

[Anonymouse]

I change my res every 10 days or so. As the plants have gotten bigger, I have to add more and more water to it. My only challenge with the flood table were times/height, I had to play with several overflow pipes until I found the right height. I have found my ideal height to be the bottom 1/3 of my cube inside the pots, with a flood time of 15 minutes.

 

[Mongobud]

Hey research kitty thanks for the reply. I switched from DWC to tables because I also wanted to work with clones and only veg them a week. It also just seemed easier to deal with then several buckets...especially since I'm running Indica's and Sativa's, and possibly different light cycles.

As for the H202, I can't use it with the subculture. That's why I'll be using Hygrozyme. It has worked well for me in DWC, doe's anyone suggest not using beneficials in ebb and flow? I have cal-mag+ if needed...but also have epsom salt (mag sulfate) as well.

Anonymouse...is that 15 minutes every hour when the lights are on?...do you flood during lights out as well? I understand at different times in the plants life cycle it eats/drinks more or less, but a "standard" or "rule of thumb" would be appreciated.

 

[Anonymouse]

I keep my lights 24/0 in my veg garden, and I feed 4 times/day. In my flowering box, I feed 3 times in the 12 hours of daylight 3.5 weeks into flowering, might be more as they grow.

 

[Mongobud]

Cool. I'll start off with 3 floods during lights on, and 1 flood during lights off. Is it advised to build my table stands with a slight tilt, or will will the tables drain correctly if they're level? Keep in mind these are purchased, not built, tables.

Also, do I install the flood/overflow at the higher end, and the drain at the lower?

 

[researchkitty]

Re-read what Anonymouse wrote.... 3 times watering once he's almost to the 4th week of flowering. Your plants will use a ton less at first. Sometimes you might not even water them daily, especially at the clone stage when one watering every 3 days is plenty enough sometimes.

But, what works for others wont work for you exactly, it never works that easy =) Just learn to know when your rockwool is wet or dry, and water when its mostly dry.

And how long to flood the table for? Fill it to 1" below the rockwool, and once its full, you may immediately drain. No need to soak or wait, just drain away and your done.

Good luck mate!

 

[Mongobud]

Cool, I appreciate the help.

 

[TheGreenMidget]

you might consider filling in around the grow cubes with a very coarse medium like hydroton or coco chunks. you can use smaller cubes that way too, which saves money. I use the small rockwool cubes and then veg in a 3" net pot with some hydroton until roots are growing out of the net pots and then transfer the net pot into a ebb & flow table that is filled with hydroton. I've also had good success rooting clones in the small cubes and putting those right into the hydroton filled e&f table with no net pots. The pots just add stability a bit of stability and gives me a chance to veg a bit first.

Hydroton is reusable and the big grow cubes are expensive, especially if you go SOG where you need a bunch of them.

 

[Mongobud]

Got a 20% discount. Hugo blocks were pricey though, got a case of 48...but from the research I've done they will be soooo much easier. Thanks Man.

 

[Anonymouse]

So, I'm guessing it's ok/good to flood just below the cube because the roots are there? I ask because I changed out my flowering tray from a botanicare to bigfoot and the bigfoot isn't as deep, so my depth isn't quite up to the level it was before which was about the lower 1/4 of the cube.

Re-read what Anonymouse wrote.... 3 times watering once he's almost to the 4th week of flowering. Your plants will use a ton less at first. Sometimes you might not even water them daily, especially at the clone stage when one watering every 3 days is plenty enough sometimes.

But, what works for others wont work for you exactly, it never works that easy =) Just learn to know when your rockwool is wet or dry, and water when its mostly dry.

And how long to flood the table for? Fill it to 1" below the rockwool, and once its full, you may immediately drain. No need to soak or wait, just drain away and your done.

Good luck mate!

 

[Mongobud]

....went with a 1000watt on a light mover....Ready to take clones, but tables arent finished yet.

 

[researchkitty]

Take the clones now. By the time they root and grow a little bit you tables and light movers should be ready. Remember, keep the 1000w lamps at least 36" above a clone. Otherwise its too much light and they'll end up brown and dry.

 

[frenetic420]

you made the right choice on the set up in my opinion. very easy maintenance, adjust the ph once a day and water once a day. doesnt get eaiser....
a good rule of thumb for watering is to touch the top of the cube. If the top of the cube is soaking wet then don't water, i only water when its lightly damp or dry.
I used the cubes and had great results 6 plants, 1lb yield in 1 3X3 tray. But now i use 9X9 square pots in 2 3x3 tray allowing me to put exactly 16 plants in each tray. I fill the pots with rockwool floc (sugar cube size pieces of rockwool) and the pots have holes on the side and bottom. I fill my res every 12 days and water once a day for about 5 min. i have some ridiculous pump so when i turn it on the whole tray is filled with water in about 45 seconds lol.

I like the pots better because when you use cubes the roots come out the bottom and can be easily damaged when you rotate the cube. I rotate my plants every 2-3 days.
Another advantage of using pots with loose rockwool is the large amount of oxygen that gets to the roots. the large grow cubes are quite dense.

I would definitely recommend use pots next time, more space, more oxygen to the roots, and easier maintenance.

oooo. one more thing make sure you have the square mylar sheets for the top of the rockwool cubes or you will get algae forming on top. and the cube will dry faster from direct light.

 

[horribleherk]

dont flood those blocks too much rockwool holds moisture a long time i use slabs &flood 1 time a week put plants in room jun.16 18-20'' tall now 45''+ & have to top them

 

[horribleherk]

oh yeah plant in front left of pic is dna-lemon skunk now 47'' tall using 600w.hps & flooding 3x3 tub 4x4 blocks &3'' grodan classic slab gh-flora series nutes

 

[Mongobud]

Are you still vegging those things?? ..My Lemon Skunk shot way up in Flower...but it looks like you have a more Indica Dominant pheno..mine looks mostly sativa..taking forever to finish too. ..I appreciate the advice bro..I'm gonna flood them accordingly as they need them..I'll keep a close eye on them.

Still havent got my tables up in running...a little more electric work then I'm ready...God knows the mothers are ready.

 

[Mongobud]

Oh and Thanks Franetic ..I'll keep those pots in mind for the next grow. ...I have those gro dan block covers for the Hugo blocks.


Research Kitty, thanks again....I'm using an aerocloner and I get roots in 4 days..still gotta finish before I take em...maybe I should have made them soil Mothers...they grow so fast in hydro.

 

[horribleherk]

hey mongobud are you up & running yet?? youre right about the lemon skunk 2/3's of my growth came after turning light 12/12 which i did june 27 buds are just now starting to show i have a feeling this is gonna be my best yet

 

[horribleherk]

hey mongobud just saw pics of your lemon skunk gotta say out of pineapple chunk,rocklock & lemon skunk the l/s is lookin the best the p/c is slower to bud but overall larger