changing from e/f trays to e/f channels

Hi all , its been awhile since ive been on the forums but am back growing some agent orange i got from a mate, its just started week 5 of flower in my ebb and flow tray.
but here is where i need help am changing my trays for channels in the form of deep flow guttering, now should i use hydroton to fill the channels or suspend the the net pots instead. i use hydroton in my trays but the trays are to big me to fit more then one in my cab as i wanting to start a pep grow with some c99 which is rooting at the moment.
pros and cons wanted of the following please peeps
channels with hydroton and with out
trays vs channels

any help or info would be great.

heres a couple pic of my setup with the tray in the flower cab and channels in veg side, 400w hps in flower and 250w cfl in veg using AN nutes

I used to run a tray, and I've been thinking about switching to channels, same as yourself.
And then whether to fill the the channels with hydroton or leave when filled with air...

On another thread there is someone who did the channels with no hydroton.
He reported that it worked well and it was a breeze to clear the roots out and didnt have to clean hydroton.
The downside it that, in case of pump failure, the roots wont last more than a day or so without dying.

Hydroton gives you more buffer capacity as far as time goes if a pump fails.

Whatever you do, please report on it and post pics!

What size channels/netpots are you using???

Do not fill the channels, your roots still need oxygen and the water needs to flow freely. I've been watching a lot of Youtube regarding those Vinyl channels with 3" cups...

Clown Baby said:

I used to run a tray, and I've been thinking about switching to channels, same as yourself.
And then whether to fill the the channels with hydroton or leave when filled with air...

On another thread there is someone who did the channels with no hydroton.
He reported that it worked well and it was a breeze to clear the roots out and didnt have to clean hydroton.
The downside it that, in case of pump failure, the roots wont last more than a day or so without dying.

Hydroton gives you more buffer capacity as far as time goes if a pump fails.

Whatever you do, please report on it and post pics!

What size channels/netpots are you using???

Click to expand...

Thanks clown baby, i will start a journal of some sort when i get the time.
The net pots i will be using are 2" and the ebb/flow channels are 5"x4"x16", with 3 30ltr res`s ,2 channels per a res, hopefully harvest 4 plants every 4 weeks.

i will start journal of some sort when i have the time.

Serapis said:

Do not fill the channels, your roots still need oxygen and the water needs to flow freely. I've been watching a lot of Youtube regarding those Vinyl channels with 3" cups...

Click to expand...

thanks serapis, i do remember seing something on youtube awhile back.

I was planning on leaving out the hydroton just means am going to have to flood once every couple of hours to keep the roots nice and moist. even more during flowering.

At the moment i flood my tray 6 times in 24hrs for 15min a time while there in flower.