Build your Own! - Ebb and Flow $100

olosto

New Member
I tried fooling around with those same sterilite containers before because I liked the dimensions but I eventually found the material they're made of too brittle and prone to cracking, breaking, leaking especially after being drilled through or otherwise modified. I'd keep an eye on that shit.

You need to be careful and use slow settings. A glue gun to either side of the crack fixes it. Also heat the area up with a lighter to make it soft and NEVER press hard...
 

NoDrama

Well-Known Member
Personally I have had better luck with silicone sealant than hot glue, the glue goes on real nice, but once its in the cold water it tends to peel right off and then you got a big mess of leaks. If yours doesn't do that what kind of hot glue sticks do you use?

The rockwool acts like a sponge so you don't want to flood the table very often, it might work better to use very small 1" cubes and more hydroton so that you can feed more often without rotting the roots. The RockWool holds a bunch of water for quite a while and roots end up just sitting in water all day. The tops of the rockwool WILL get algae growth if you don't put something light blocking over the exposed parts. Other than that everything looks TITS!
 

doniawon

Well-Known Member
i made these systems for over 8 years with great success.. i used 4" cubes and buried them in the hydroton.. about 2" ... 3 weeks veg usually gave me 2 oz plants.. grew mostly skunk variety 11 weeks total.. nft 4 x at 15 min flood cycles..

hopefully this info helps in someway.. good luck with your grow.. everyone:weed:............................and cover the tops of the rockwool cubes like the dude above said..
 

olosto

New Member
Yea, I didn't at first and got algae on the top of a cube! I cut my own from that black and white plastic..

great info on the floods, thx!
 

YaK

just some guy
If you want to save money on media... put each plant in a pot.

It doesnt have to be a big pot. you can take a 4" rockwool cube, put it in a pot surrounded by hydroton, and flood accordingly (maybe once per day, more if it's a smaller rockwool cube and there is more hydroton pebbles)

pots also help in moving plants around for better lighting circumstances. ie: bigger plants on one side, smaller on the other, so you can lower one side of your light.

cheapo plastic pots are about a dollar each, made of plastic, and you can reuse them many many many times. they have holes in the bottom and the water enters the pot through those holes.

Just a suggestion. :peace:

oh, and airstones are not necessary, I run ebb and flow and I dont use airstones. The process of the plants drying out over time provides them with oxygen. To me, airstones are just another thing to clean, and an airpump is just another thing to plug in. simplifyyyyyyyyyy is my motto!

Oh, one more thing with the pots, if you choose to use them, it doesnt matter if your tray is clear. I also use one of those 'under the bed' storage containers that I got from Target, I dont bother with painting it or anything, because the roots stay in the pots and are never exposed to light. Easy Peasy.
:mrgreen:
 

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Sub Zero

Well-Known Member
This is what is looks like all set up! I just need to get the blocks positioned correctly (First time doing ebb), and I should be set!
I was checking out the post, very good and interesting. I use soil so I'm no help with ebb & flow. I do see a problem in picture ebbnflo36.jpg (3 of 4) Those 90 degree bends in your exhaust ducting is cutting airflow by 60% or 70%. Sweeping bends or no bends is the best... Just helping out a fellow grower...:bigjoint:
 

mrduke

Well-Known Member
when you guys use pots do you remove the wraping from the cubes? do you compleatly cover the cubes with hydroton top and all?
 

olosto

New Member
I was checking out the post, very good and interesting. I use soil so I'm no help with ebb & flow. I do see a problem in picture ebbnflo36.jpg (3 of 4) Those 90 degree bends in your exhaust ducting is cutting airflow by 60% or 70%. Sweeping bends or no bends is the best... Just helping out a fellow grower...:bigjoint:
Fixed!! I struggled with this because i was not using my fan at full power and still getting the cooling i needed. I kept thinking about what about what you said, and fixed it last night. The 90 degree bends are adjustable so now they are set at about 30 degrees to make a smoothe curve. Thx + rep
 

Sub Zero

Well-Known Member
Fixed!! I struggled with this because i was not using my fan at full power and still getting the cooling i needed. I kept thinking about what about what you said, and fixed it last night. The 90 degree bends are adjustable so now they are set at about 30 degrees to make a smoothe curve. Thx + rep
You are very welcome thanks for the + rep
 
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