Super Simple Sbb and Flow hydroponic setup- DIY tutorial *lots o pics*

[Anima]

hiya ajc-

hey Anima, got a couple questions for ya, or anyone who can answer this haha.. ive been lurking for years on overgrow, since 14, i'm 18 now you'd expect a pro from reading but I've always read about soil grows.. but I'm a medi user now and I'm saving myself the mess from soil and starting off with hydro.. i really like this idea since I'm on a budget. I want to do a 5 or 6 bucket system like in the pics, did you build it yourself?

Yes. I built it myself. DIY all the way baby!
The 5 bucket system that I had pics of above used 1 gallon buckets and gets lit by a 150w HPS, with supplimental CFL. I have since reduced the system down to 4 bucket sites.
Check it out:

I'm hoping for 1.5-2 OZ from this setup.

have the list of materials if so for that system?

Umm I did make a list

Approx off the top of my head list of supplies/cost:
Hydroton Clay rocksbig bag)$30
PVC pipe/fittings:$15 famale grey connectors, male grey connectors
buckets (3.5 gallon x4 BLACK):$20 (highball estimate)
Reservoir:$13 from lowes "MacCourt Super tub"
Pump:$25 (Ecoplus 396)
circ pump:$15
digi timer for pump:$15
Air pump:$10
4" rockwool cubes: $3
Tube to hook up pump to system:$.50
TOTAL:$146.50

If you go and look at the list in my first post it has links that take you to retailers. I'm not going to sit here and try and design your whole system, the point of this tutorial is to get you to understand the concept so you can design it yourself.

also where can I find a digital timer for the pump? or rather what should i be searching for? lol i've looked online and havent found anything on any hydro site.

You can find the timers at home Depot, or some hardware stores, walmart...among other places, You'd probably pay double for one at a hydro store Ask for a "Digital Appliance Timer"...
Click here for a link to one at home depot

It looks like he uses 5 gallon buckets to do it and has some sort of pump

Dude... ... ... I know the pics are pretty but there is words that go along with them...
Those are THREE AND A HALF GALLON buckets. Actually each "bucket site" is a stack of TWO (2x) buckets. I also have a system made from ONE gallon bucket stacks.

Also, the pump I use is "Ecoplus" brand, and I use the 396 gallon per hour model.
Click here for a link

Just remember, that for 5, 5 gallon buckets, you're gonna want a pretty decent sized reservoir, probably around 30 gallons.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO THATS ALL WRONG! It'd take 25 gallons just to fill the buckets!!!

I GAVE THE EQUATION UP ABOVE!!!
here is a refresher:

The key points of this system are:
1.The reservoir must be below the buckets
2.All of the buckets have to be at the same level.
3.The height of the top of the overflow must be a bit lower than the rim of the bottom bucket.
4.Your reservoir should be at least 2x the volume of the buckets combined volume. i.e. 2 buckets x 3.5 gallons x 2 =14 gallons MINIMUM!

So..
5 buckets x 5 gallons x 2 =50 gallons MINIMUM!
You need a big res because it keeps pH stable, and keeps you from having to top off so frequently. My 2x 3.5 gal bucket system uses about 2 gallons of water a day when it gets going!

Good luck, and stay SAFE!
Check out the link in my sig to an automatic fire extinguisher (only $60!)

Peace and kindness

 

[SkunkyDemon]

Cool thread!

Cool thread!

Hey Amina,
Looks great! I was lookig at incorpreating the 11 soda ebb and flow.
I like how you use buckets instead of the 2liters. We're aloud six plants in flower and 18 mothers and clones. So the system looks awsome. In your thread do you have the materels needed for a six bucket sys. I was growing in my basement, I had the eight Water farm system and I was able to grow trees in them. Happy Hempy Hedge Hog was the one to show me all the mods for the Waterfarm. But the problem was it wasnt recurrculating system. Thats what really mad it for me. I just happen to have a home depo farley close. And also a Wal-mart so your system will work great. I HOPE that youll be able to have time to answer a few questions.
My only concern is that my ex had ALL my seeds take by the popo here, even after they found My MM certif. But they never returned any think. I had almost $1k worth of beans some non replaceable ie. Zepdude, some of BOGs that aren't avable. I just need some gennetics Owell I bought most of the two cabs fans and nutes. I was hoping that some one would give a hand p.s. just bought a new digi camera so I cant wait to get this thing running sune, JUSTneed some beans. i HAVE A PO BOX if anyone would like to help a man in need of Gods green meds. The closest CO-OP is in Seattle (4.5 hrs) on a good day. Any help would GREATLY be appreaced.
THANK YOU ALL I feel as if Iv lived here so long you all are like famly
Peace Famly

 

[Anima]

hiya Skunkydemon
I don't see how you used a waterfarm, and don't consider it recirculating...Correct me if I am wrong but a waterfarm consists of bucket stacks like mine, a controller bucket with switches and floats, and a large (usually 50 gallon barrel) res. Its just a big over complicated ebb and flow:

Water gets drained out of the barrel into the controller, and all the other buckets...a float switch in the controller activates and disables the flow from the barrel, after the flood a timer switches on your return pump to pump water back into the res, and then it gets shut off by a float switch....
I'm not sure if I got it all in there correctly since I have never used one... anyways my point is that the controller bucket is over-complicated, and a flooding disaster just waiting to happen.

compare the above with what goes on in the SS ebb and Flow:
Timer comes on every 4 hours for 15 mins- powering a pump...pump just pumps away till the buckets are filled, then the overflow begins --adding more dissolved oxygen to the res--Then the pump shuts off, and everything drains backwards through the pump back into the res.

Just look at the waterfarm's way: pump,with 3 or 4 float valves/switches, and timers, and a 50 gallon barrel which left to it's own devices will happily flood your room

And look at the simplicity of the SS Ebb and Flow: 1 pump, 1 timer, 1 res below the buckets...thats it...
if you put the res right under your buckets like I do then there is 0 risk of flooding because even if something should go horribly wrong the res is right there to catch it.

And I'm going to have to refer you to the terms of use of this website as to the whole bean begging deal....DONT DISCUSS IT IN OPEN FORUMS!!! AND DONT PM ME ABOUT IT!! My advice is to find a real legitimate seed retailer (check the add banner, and ask around...thats cool to do in the forums...there is even a whole section devoted to all the bean hawkers) purchase some beans at a reasonable price. Then you will have some plants to take pics of and then you will have a gallery so people will know you aren't full -o- crap.
And for the sake of all of us reading this-- use a spell check man!

Peace and Kindness all
-Anima

 

[Bozo]

Oh come on now his speeling aint that bad
Nice set up explained well with nice pictures .Might have to build a 2 bucket mobile unit to fill up any empty spaces I might have

 

[one Q]

Bozo and Anima, because of you, I have all these bucket prematurly for that one day Ill use these grow. One day...

 

[Graffiti]

Looks like a damn good DIY project to me. Right now i'm growing soil, but I'm slowly starting to open up to hydroponics and this is definitely a reasonable system. Mad props anima! I could see myself using one of these...

 

[SKAGITMAGIC]

thank you, I've been waiting for this thread!!!

 

[Hovz]

Nice 3.5 gallon setup, it looks really effiecent for only being two plants. As a medical user im only allowed 15 plants, so im looking for the highest yeilding most productive way of growing them. How many watts are on that 3.5 system??

 

[Anima]

The 3.5 gallon bucket system was under 400w Hovz

 

[dagwood]

I'm glad I stumbled on to this thread. I had designed something similar to this in my head, but was going to run a separate overflow for each bucket. Your design reduced my plumbing by half. I have one question though. I was going to use buckets with lids, cut holes in the lids, and put 6" netcups in the holes. This would reduce the amount of hydroton by about 80 to 90%. Would this work or do you see any potential problems? Thanks in advance

 

[weed science]

how would this unit perform in relation to a 12 site ebb gro bucket system ? the same i imagine ? this seems a lot simpler to build with less materials and lower cost to build.

 

[wucifer]

dagwood, your idea to cut down on the hydroton should work just fine. The beauty of the Ebb and Flow system is the amount of oxygen the roots will get. Honestly, if you could figure out some way to get the root structure well established enough (perhaps a larger rockwool cube) you may just need to suspend the plant so that the roots can get down. Just be careful of clogging the system.

Weedscience, I'm not sure what you mean by the 12 site ebb grow bucket system, but I would imagine that all the principles are there. What is Ebb and Flow is to have water flush the roots, and then give them time to breathe. In the process, the roots get oxygen from the water movement as well as the time away from the water. Just keep the cycles regular and watch for contaminant, root rot, and fungal growth. This build seems to be a really efficient use of materials. (you can use a home light timer to time the cycles!)

The reservoir! Actually, this is a question of mine that I'm throwing out there. How much of a reservoir do you really need? Say I use 11 x 3 Liter Bottles, can I get by with a reservoir 35 liters? (to take into account the piping) Or should I use 1.5 times that amount for say 50 liters to be safe?

 

[Anima]

Actually, this is a question of mine that I'm throwing out there. How much of a reservoir do you really need? Say I use 11 x 3 Liter Bottles, can I get by with a reservoir 35 liters? (to take into account the piping) Or should I use 1.5 times that amount for say 50 liters to be safe?

Please refer yourself to point #4

The key points of this system are:
1.The reservoir must be below the buckets
2.All of the buckets have to be at the same level.
3.The height of the top of the overflow must be a bit lower than the rim of the bottom bucket.
4.Your reservoir should be at least 2x the volume of the buckets combined volume. i.e. 2 buckets x 3.5 gallons x 2 =14 gallons MINIMUM!

if your buckets hold 3 x 11 = 33 liters..it doesn't take a genius to figure out that you are going to need a res larger than 35 liters Unless you are fond of topping off with water and re ammending ph and nutes every flood

33 x 2 = 66 liters or 17.435 gallons MINIMUM! res size

geeze

 

[purpbythepound]

im interested in the original 11 plant site with the soda bottles...anima, i see that you said the roots getting clogged in the bottleneck would cause a problem....i wonder if someone has tryed this system or has thought of a fix to this problem??

 

[Anima]

I've made a "micro version" of this using stacks of 1 gallon buckets, and it works great...

The 11 bottle 2 liter version is unfeasible because the roots will clog in the bottom...the reason you never see anyone reporting a success using that method is because of just that...

Go ahead and try...

I'm soo tired of trying to answer questions about the 11 plant 2 litre setup...I"VE NEVER DONE IT PEOPLE...I have my doubts....

The only reason it's there is that's where my ole elusive buddy BONZO got his inspiration from...the whole passive hydro- 1 pump-1 timer concept...

Hook that up to the buckets and you are gold....

Otherwise run the 2 liter setup and be sure to post up your success/failure.

 

[purpbythepound]

I've made a "micro version" of this using stacks of 1 gallon buckets, and it works great...

The 11 bottle 2 liter version is unfeasible because the roots will clog in the bottom...the reason you never see anyone reporting a success using that method is because of just that...

Go ahead and try...

I'm soo tired of trying to answer questions about the 11 plant 2 litre setup...I"VE NEVER DONE IT PEOPLE...I have my doubts....

The only reason it's there is that's where my ole elusive buddy BONZO got his inspiration from...the whole passive hydro- 1 pump-1 timer concept...

Hook that up to the buckets and you are gold....

Otherwise run the 2 liter setup and be sure to post up your success/failure.

chill bro..seriously..never said you ran it i was just wondering if you or someone else had a fix to the problem..reason im asking is i cannot run the 1 gallon buckets in my cab because i grow sog and the plants would outgrow my height restriction with that much res to grow roots in..just was wondering if someone had done it smaller than 1 gallon

 

[Anima]

Sorry for the yellin bro...
How big is your cab?
I was able to get my 4x 1 gallon bucket setup in a 2.5' Wide x 2.5' Long x 4 foot high cab.

But yeah thats a major downfall of this system is that you do sacrifice some vertical space to the res, especially if you are limited there.

Peace and kindness
-Anima

 

[purpbythepound]

yea man my cab is only 33" W x 14" D x 30" H..and the carbon scrubber has to be mounted inside so that takes up some space as well..i wont be home numerous times for 2 to 3 days so i really want to go hydro but i still want to do sog..which means i need to find a hydro system preferably ebb and flow(dwc bubblers are too loud) that doesnt take up to much height and that has small enough res as to keep my roots small so i dont overgrow my height restriction...has to be a design that would fit my needs somewheres out there...guess ill keep havin to search

ps:not trying to threadjack my bro but you can check out my cab for better understanding if youd like..http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=120097

 

[ResinKing]

Excellent simple but fucking fantastic , im in shock

 

[Anima]

Hey Anima , Im building the eeb and flow system you have on ere and I was wondering did you ever have any problems with root rot in the bottom of the bucket plus Im gonna put my res to the side and 45 my overflow into it coz height would be a problem if I had to build my system over it..I cant see any poblem with this..ty

If you set up the system correctly you should not get root rot- but I have had my run-in's with it. I just use hydroguard and that seems to keep everything nice and happy. Hydroguard is beneficial bacteria that pretty much colonizes all surfaces and makes it much harder for the other "nasties" to grow.

I don't understand the next part of your run-on sentence here about "45 my overflow".
And its possibly a BIG problem.. If you want to raise the reservoir then that is a big NO-no You can move it around on the horizontal plane, but as far as raising the res...nope...

The way this system works when draining utilizes gravity...water just flows "downhill" out the bottom of the buckets, through the plumbing, and out of the (not running) pump. If you raise the res then it will no longer be "downhill" from the buckets and they will not drain.

But if you just wanted to move the res in a horizontal fashion that could be done...but then you'd have to put in more plumbing, and you'd lose the safety of the buckets being right over the res.