Ebb Flow table cover Idea.?

[issack]

I was thinking on my next grow, stretching a layer of panda film black side down over my flow table. taping it off and cutting holes to insert my pots in. I was looking at my roots shooting out the pots and some algae growing on the table, and wondering why this wouldn't be a bad idea.? Less humidity i would think, more roots would come out the bottom of pots, less algae and less humidity.?

This is just an idea. I'm on my first hydro run right now coming from soil. So I'm just wanting some opinions from poeple. Does anyone do this or is there some bad affect from doing it.

 

[Rob Deck]

It's a good idea. I've seen custom built 64 netpot flood table covers for ebb&flow. I've also seen manufacturer built tops for their tables. You can use panda, but it might be tedious if you have a lot of plants.

I say go for it though, it's what I plan to do. It keeps humidity down, it keeps the evaporation from decimating the reservoir, and it keeps algae from forming.

 

[issack]

Nice.! Yeah that's what I was thinking. Less Humidity, algae and all that.

Scratch the Panda film idea..I'm going to make a 1/2in sheet of ply and cut squares for my pots, and epoxy coat the ply white with a marine epoxy. I can reuse it and wash it.

I never had to run a dehumidifier until i got the flood table going. This should help big time.

 

[dtfsux]

I dont like it because you are not going to be able to move plants. If you make one from plywood, you are pretty much stuck with with that layout

 

[BIGGS]

i use the mylar that i had left over from making my room. works a treat.

 

[mule420]

I use the 1/4" Rigid Foam Insulation from any home improvement store. Cuts easy, $4-6 bucks, get the pink or blue they are waterproof, the white has layer of plastic to make it waterproof... Peace and puffs

 

[what the]

seems like a solution in search of a problem.

 

[Mr. Greengenes]

Like dtfsux says, "I dont like it because you are not going to be able to move plants." And, not moving the plants closer together so that light was blocked from hitting the table below, is the reason you had algae in the first place.

 

[issack]

Dont think i have a need to move my plants really. why would i need to move them if my bed is packed. I line them up even spacing on the flow table. Run a scrog screen and done. They stay where they are pretty much.

Dont think it's a solution in search of a problem at all. it will be more efficient.

 

[what the]

it will be more efficient.

how?

 

[issack]

how?

Huh.? Less humidity. roots would reach out the holes more. Just seems better.

why dont you tell me "how" it's not efficient. Since you seem to know why this whole idea is a problem. other than not being able to move pots. no need to move pots anyway.

 

[dtfsux]

Huh.? Less humidity. roots would reach out the holes more. Just seems better.

why dont you tell me "how" it's not efficient. Since you seem to know why this whole idea is a problem. other than not being able to move pots. no need to move pots anyway.

I have grown A LOT in E&F, and I am willing to bet I have grown more weed in tables than 95% on this board. That does not make me anymore right or wrong but just that I have a lot of experience.

In a large SOG op, sometimes you do not have enough clones so if your table is setup for a full SOG, you would need to remove the cover. Also in a full SOG the table is covered anyway with pots.

But you are Scrogging. I have never done that but I cant believe you wouldnt want to move your plants around. When my tables were short, I might have 40-50 plants on a table versus 132, so I moved them around to get the best light, if one were shorter it got moved to the middle, etc. next run I may have 70 plants in that table.

I also grew some big plants in 5.5x5.5 square pots. No need for the roots to grow outside the pot. If I was short plants and I knew I was not going to lollipop them, I put them in 10" net pots.

No need for the roots to grow outside the pot, and I adjusted the plants as they flowered based on how they branched out and I was able to train them.



Humidity? I wonder how much humidity really comes from the water in the table? I doubt very much since the water only sits in the table for a total of maybe 3 hours a day. Meanwhile you have the res exposed 24/7. But I am willing to bet the majority of your humidity comes from the plants themselves.



IME, I wouldn't bother and trust me, I have thought of it before.


But give it a shot, its not expensive to try or hard to install. If you decide later its a PITA, it will take 5 minutes to remove and you shouldn't have more than $10 and 30 minutes invested

 

[what the]

Huh.? Less humidity. roots would reach out the holes more. Just seems better.

why dont you tell me "how" it's not efficient. Since you seem to know why this whole idea is a problem. other than not being able to move pots. no need to move pots anyway.

I'm with DTF in that there really isn't much water coming from the top of the beds. Typically you flood below the top layer of medium. There just isn't much moisture coming from the top layer of media when compared to the transpiration of the plants. While it may do something, I doubt you could even notice.
And again, you can't easily move plants around. If you don't think that is important you likely just don't have enough experience.

Listen dude, you asked. If you come on a message board with an old idea you think is new and ask about it, don't get all pissy when people poke holes in it. Did you just want everyone to agree with you? Why bother posting at all?

 

[what the]

I'm on my first hydro run right now coming from soil. So I'm just wanting some opinions from poeple.

Maybe listen to some people who can't even count which hydro run they're on?

 

[dtfsux]

Maybe listen to some people who can't even count which hydro run they're on?

LOL that is good, I think you deserve some rep for that....

 

[issack]

Maybe listen to some people who can't even count which hydro run they're on?

did you see your 2 posts before these.? not much info in them right..? thats why i was a little pissy. because you set forth no info as to what your opinion is. now you just did and thank you.! that's what I'm looking for. info.. not posts like "HOW?"

 

[what the]

I gave you my thoughts. There is no problem it is solving.

I then asked how you thought it would be more efficient.

I then explained why it might not be as great an idea as you think it is.

what more do you want from me? This is what you came here for, no?

 

[issack]

I have grown A LOT in E&F, and I am willing to bet I have grown more weed in tables than 95% on this board. That does not make me anymore right or wrong but just that I have a lot of experience.

In a large SOG op, sometimes you do not have enough clones so if your table is setup for a full SOG, you would need to remove the cover. Also in a full SOG the table is covered anyway with pots.

But you are Scrogging. I have never done that but I cant believe you wouldnt want to move your plants around. When my tables were short, I might have 40-50 plants on a table versus 132, so I moved them around to get the best light, if one were shorter it got moved to the middle, etc. next run I may have 70 plants in that table.

I also grew some big plants in 5.5x5.5 square pots. No need for the roots to grow outside the pot. If I was short plants and I knew I was not going to lollipop them, I put them in 10" net pots.

No need for the roots to grow outside the pot, and I adjusted the plants as they flowered based on how they branched out and I was able to train them.



Humidity? I wonder how much humidity really comes from the water in the table? I doubt very much since the water only sits in the table for a total of maybe 3 hours a day. Meanwhile you have the res exposed 24/7. But I am willing to bet the majority of your humidity comes from the plants themselves.



IME, I wouldn't bother and trust me, I have thought of it before.


But give it a shot, its not expensive to try or hard to install. If you decide later its a PITA, it will take 5 minutes to remove and you shouldn't have more than $10 and 30 minutes invested

makes since. ! thank you for the info. I'm still hashing it out. it might just be more trouble than its worth now really like What The said.

Ive been doing indoor soil for years and years. i tend to over think any new thing i am doing. This new Hydro thing has got me thinking but now i thing im overthinking again..

Thanks for all the info fellas.!

 

[issack]

seems like a solution in search of a problem.

Well say what you think the problem is.

how?

once again. spit it out. tell me your opinion

I gave you my thoughts. There is no problem it is solving.

I then asked how you thought it would be more efficient.

I then explained why it might not be as great an idea as you think it is.

what more do you want from me? This is what you came here for, no?

yes you did explain your thoughts after a while. I was just saying spill it out in the beginning makes for a better discussion.

Thanks for your info.