Weird hydro system- Anyone ever seen this before?

[Mist]

I was messing around on Craigslist laughing at the people trying to sell their old grow equipment for outrageous prices (400watt HPS light for $800 etc..) and came across this hydroponic unit. I have never seen anything like it before. The guy says he got it from a friend who used to grow "great tomatos" in it. I can't figure out how the hell it works. He says that the pump works fine so I know that there is some movement off nutrients by a pump, but where does it go and how is the level kept constant. Can't really tell by the photos though. It looks like something from the 70's maybe.
He only wants $150 for it and I am tempted to get it for some outside veggy growing.

Any clues? A thousand heads are better than one, LOL!

 

[Lazyman]

Wow, that is goofy! Maybe it slowly sloshes nutes from one side to the other, like washing over hydroton or something? A float valve should be easy enough to hook up if it doesn't have one though.

 

[Power13]

It looks like the tray is at a slight angle, so that nutes can flow down it. Thats all i can figure from the picture.

 

[FreezerBoy]

It's a standard Ebb and Flow/Flood and Drain.

One end of the trough sits on the bucket. The other is supported by legs. Water is pumped into the trough and drains back into the res. Lather, rinse, repeat.

 

[Mist]

Oh yea, the ad said that he had several bags of "Gravel" that went with it so maybe you filled the long tray with hydroton?
And I think that is the pump with some hose attached sitting next to it.

 

[Mist]

It's a standard Ebb and Flow/Flood and Drain.

One end of the trough sits on the bucket. The other is supported by legs. Water is pumped into the trough and drains back into the res. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Hmmm, must be some parts not shown in the picture. I can see what you are saying now if one end of the tray was sitting on top of that resovior and the pump was filling it. Must be something that held up the other end.

 

[FreezerBoy]

Had the trough been much shorter, it could sit directly on top of the res. Long as it is it needs legs or saw-horse to hold the far end. Most likely at a height just taller than the res to allow gravity to aid the drain process.

 

[globel]

looks like a ebb and flow the try needs a stand and you should fill it with hydroton or something.