Multi-flow/Ebb&Grow Users: TIPS&TRICKS

[JackCough]

Its pretty easy to use a BIG mechanical float valve for a controller bucket. mines never failed yetand you can adjust the fill level if you need. $30 at the valveshop dotcom.
Thought i would mention in case anyone is worried about building electro mechanical brain buckets.

 

[drymouth]

jackcough which part is it? and how would one set this bucket up?

 

[ttripperr]

Hi everybody, I started this system with the 12 bucket kit ordered a second control bucket and res. and split the system for a veg and flower setup. I added more buckets to the system as I went, when I got to 12 buckets i noticed as soon as the buckets filled the timer reversed and drained the system. I was forced to increase the time to 30 minutes because it takes 15 minutes to fill 12 buckets. I would say probably have to increase time every 12 buckets added to the system. Right now I have two 12 bucket systems running 30 minute soaks every three hours. Only feeding when the lights on. I have my third cycle in the flower room and my fourth cycle is now in the veg room and haven't had any problems other then some nute burn. Fixed the nute burn by raising the buckets about one inch. Running organic nutes, 10x10 room, 1k light, co2 and waiting, and waiting, and waiting.....my ladies get to three or four feet, getting quarter pound or so per bucket.

 

[drymouth]

If u upgrade your brain bucket to 3/4 and all t's to 3/4 do u have to up the fill and drain pump to a higher gph? or can I use the pumps the multi flow came with?

I actually kept the original 1/2" holes all i did was change the t's to 3/4"-3/4" to 1/2" t's and on the controller I used 1/2" to 3/4" strait barbed's any body doing this?

 

[drymouth]

So nobody's doing this?

 

[xceptional]

I love this thread! i'm a E&G user as well and i love this system! My plants in these pics are like 15 -20 days into flowering and are 40-42"

a video of my setup...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KouqTohquTQ&feature=player_embedded

 

[JackCough]

3/4 kerrick float valve with .5 orifice.
1/4" brass toilet float rod cut in half from hardware store and small white float for evaporative coolers bored out to fit larger rod. silicone to keep it watertight. simple.

 

[GorillaGrower]

hey guys.. I understand everyone's desire to bling the garden to achieve the best you can.. hey everybody does.

what i dont get is why everyone thinks this system needs 3/4" drains and ways to get the little bit left in the bottom out. The system runs homemade or store bought awesome.


first if you go to 3/4" drains.. everything in the setup needs to be 3/4".. that means that your tubing, grommets, barb fittings, tees, etc.. all are going to cost more! for what? I've never seen anyone proving once in all of the internets that having a faster drain actually makes more ganja. 1/2" drains work perfect all you need to do is just make it so your not chaining a ot of buckets in one line.. then less volume needs to go through each line given the time frame of 15 min.

second.. the little bit of water in the bottom was just refreshed in the last refill cycle.. so it has fresh oxygen fromt he rez and the roots dont get root rot in the bottom.. they get white from being happy. In fact the little bit in the bottom is more insurance if your refil cycle doesnt come on for a day.. if that inch of standing water at the bottom wasnt there you have fried tomatoes..

just a thought guys when you are all trying to over engineer things till they dont work better..

 

[Cheeb]

bump

stopped following this thread long ago, but have a few ebb and grow units that need put back to work.

Anyone experiment with the Sure to Grow inserts for this system. I'm suprised I havnt seen more grows around here with these things.

 

[pimpjuice]

what i dont get is why everyone thinks this system needs 3/4" drains and ways to get the little bit left in the bottom out. The system runs homemade or store bought awesome.

I'm liking the 3/4inch fittings because you can have a lot of pots chained together, although I agree it really jacks the price of the system almost double for the fittings. 3/4 inch id hose is almost 4 times the price of 1/2 inch id. The hose will end up being the most expensive component in my bucket setup, I totally get why cap & greentrees use 1/2 line.

I'm trying to get as much solution to drain out in my case because we aren't using double buckets, just putting a 5 gallon smartpot into the 3.5gal bucket and filling with coco, one flood/drain cycle a day.

 

[Apollo11]

Wow this thread has gone further than I ever thought it would.

Maybe some of you would like to add to the survey that I started at the beginning to help get an overall average for the community.

Example:
System: 6 site Multi-flow from Greentrees
Space: 4.5Lx3.5W ft
Light: 600w on a mover
Height flowered: 14in
Height finished: 3ft
Buckets: 6 3gal bucket in bucket
Medium: Hydroton
Watering: Every 4hrs even when lights are off
Avg yield: 89g/bucket or 19oz/532g total
Rez size: 25gal
Rez change: 2 weeks, 1 flush flood before nutes
Rez temp: 66-68F/18-20C
Rez aerated: Y
Style: Bushes with trellis
Strain: Apollo Mist and Double Strawberry Diesel
A/C: N
Dehumi: N
CO2: N

Fill your spec's here
Specs:
System:
Space:
Light:
Height flowered:
Height finished:
Buckets:
Medium:
Watering:
Avg yield:
Rez size:
Rez change:
Rez temp:
Rez aerated:
Style:
Strain:
A/C:
Dehumi:
CO2:

There is a summary of the 5 ppl that participated when this thread first started on the first page of the thread.

 

[<~Hades~>]

\\

 

[dachieftan]

water pump question

water pump question

I was concerned about water temps. in this bucket system. Wouldn't a pump submerged in water heat up the water by the motor/electricity? If so, are there any water pumps that anybody knows of that can operate without being submerged under water? Could you plz provide a link.

 

[Apollo11]

bump

stopped following this thread long ago, but have a few ebb and grow units that need put back to work.

Anyone experiment with the Sure to Grow inserts for this system. I'm suprised I havnt seen more grows around here with these things.

The general consensus for Sure To Grow inserts are that they are useless in this system. They retain to much water and cause rot and other issues.

Try using Coco coir if you dont like hydroton, ive made the switch and wont look back.

 

[jescowhite]

got to agree on the coco. Using coco & 5 gal smart pots as liners works great.

 

[THINKING GREEN]

got to agree on the coco. Using coco & 5 gal smart pots as liners works great.

hey jescow what does coco have over hydroton? I'm a hydroton user and I'm looking for anything to switch me from hydroton. And what's the point of putting the rochwhool on top of the hydroton instead of burying it... and do you lift the inner bucket so that the roots have more room to grow? somebody said if you do this the plant gets much bigger therefor bigger yeilds..

 

[Apollo11]

hey jescow what does coco have over hydroton? I'm a hydroton user and I'm looking for anything to switch me from hydroton. And what's the point of putting the rochwhool on top of the hydroton instead of burying it... and do you lift the inner bucket so that the roots have more room to grow? somebody said if you do this the plant gets much bigger therefor bigger yeilds..

Hydroton is a great medium if you dont mind cleaning it. Most people would agree cleaning the hydroton is a pain in the arse.

Coco is light weight and reusable provided you take the right steps in conditioning the coco before reuse.

The placement of rockwool in your pot is personal preference. Some people prefer to bury it and others advise against it because larger rockwool cubes tend to stay wet too long, it all really depends on your specific setup.

The pre-made buckets have plenty of room for root growth and I have never personally observed a need for a bigger bucket (I grow 3 foot trees). Again, I would have to say this depends on your grow situation and preference. What works for you will not always work for another grower in their specific grow situation, do what works for you.

 

[Merfolk]

Any tips on how to get the remaining water out of the buckets at the start of the cleaning?

dont like getting my floor all wet when pulling them apart.

 

[recirculator]

how 'bout a shopvac?

 

[superultramega]

gravity