4000 watt air cooled DIY ebb & grow

[SANDS]

Hey Sands.......I ran DIY ebb and flow 5 gal buckets for over 5 yrs and never was there a need for a rez chiller nor airstones in the rootzones/leftover feed juice in the bottom containers.........

In fact , I`d go so far as to say that the airpump running 24/7 is pumping hot air into your rootzones/bottom buckets possibly giving reason for concern with the residual juice left in the containers between feed cycles.........

My buckets were designed and raised up just enough to leave lil bit of juice for the roots to suck on should a power/timer/or pump failure ever occur till getting back to the grow to check on things........

Grow all your new girls and keep mom plants so yas can start monocropping 1 strain at a time for maximum yields and minimum maintenance from different strains having different nutrient profile needs/requirements.........

Not saying the air to roots is a bad thing since I ran em with my krusty buckets for over 8 yrs but , that system HAD to have a rez chiller for 24/7 recirculating feed .......Ebb and flow buckets do not require air to roots , and root rot is not an issue as long as you don`t make it one.......

Don`t look at my post count and think I`m a novice since I was one of the first to ever register here back in `04 when this site began........I`ve deleted my account more times than I care to imagine and don`t post much lately but rather stay in touch with old friends via pm mostly........

Holler if I can help.......Doubt there`s many that`ve got more runs under their belt with this setup/system than me......Just keep it simple and don`t ramp up the ppm`s so high and you`ll do ok.....

Peace.......DHF.........

Hello and thanks for stopping by. Well I can raise the buckets but, the res gets slime. Should I take the air stones out of the buckets? Its 100 degrees here everyday and my res is outside my room and no ac out there. Maybe I could move my res inside the room. right now I am running a sterile res as to fight the algae. Does algae grow without light in warm water or does it have to have light?


As for the many strains like I said earlier I had a prob with my cloner and I had to get some new genetics. next harvest will def be two systems two strains.


When you say dont ramp up the ppms so high do you mean they are too high now?
1100

 

[SANDS]

I should say that I dont have any problems but, I dont want any either.....
Thanks for every1s help

 

[Natagonnaworrie]

Yo - Nice grow!

I am signing up because i need to learn how to build these buckets. (Anyone got a link? i think Blaze made a tutorial but although its a dope guide with no experience i'm sure i would have leaks. I might just buy the 12 pot ebb and grow with the 6 pot add on.)

Anyway, sorry to get off track. I will be watching and hopefully even more persuaded to switch to hydro..

Sorry if i missed it, i'm running out the door right now but do you have to run a chiller?

Rep +

 

[dtfsux]

Yo - Nice grow!

I am signing up because i need to learn how to build these buckets. (Anyone got a link? i think Blaze made a tutorial but although its a dope guide with no experience i'm sure i would have leaks. I might just buy the 12 pot ebb and grow with the 6 pot add on.)

Anyway, sorry to get off track. I will be watching and hopefully even more persuaded to switch to hydro..

Sorry if i missed it, i'm running out the door right now but do you have to run a chiller?

Rep +

you shouldnt need a chiller.

Building the buckets is simple, drill the appropriate hole and insert a grommet and elbow or tee. connect the buckets with hose and run to controller. There are a couple tutorials on how to build he controller bucket.

 

[*mistress*]

...lisen DHF...

 

[what the]

Controller bucket setup. great prices on the components.
http://www.aquahub.com/store/product39.html
I prefer digital timers, but everything else is solid here. I don't think any production controller buckets come with digital timers anyway.

 

[SANDS]

Yeah.....It`s me DFT.......And I gotta say that you`re the first person ever to document root rot with ebb and flow buckets in well over 15 yrs of internet weed forums that I can remember.....

Heath Robinson talked me into the bulletproof system when he said he only went to his setups once a week.........To say the least I was hooked.....until..........

Ol krusty bucket Bro of mine started a thread a few yrs back about 5 gal buckets of coco sittin in another bucket like krusty`s bein fed DTW once a day and pullin 1 lb plants left and right .....

Bout that time Heathie got an article published in Urban Garden(?) magazine with vertical racks and bare bulbs so I put both together and went from there till an untimely shutdown last yr from a close Bro gettin popped........

Hope all goes well Sands.......DHF...............

I guess my main ???s stem from how do i keep slime out of my res? Take air stones out? I only flood 2 times a day and stuff stays damp. physan 20 maybe but I really dont want to run a sterile res anymore, as I cannot use my preferred additives later. I think

 

[DHF]

Rez`s get slime from not being lightproof , being too hot and nutrient solutions separating , and/or not enough circulation ......

The biggest reason rez`s get outta whack is addin too much shit together tryin ta dial in a feed regimen when simple wins every time....

In over 15 yrs of growin inside , I never used anything but GH 3 part , lil silicablast for stem wall strength , and SM-90 for rootzone health and critter prevention.....well........hadta add cal/mag plus once goin coco but....Trust me....less is more......

I used thru-hull bait aerators , but my `ol Bro Heathie just used an extra powerhead/circulating pump to keep juice stirred up constantly.......

There needs ta be a drying out period between feed cycles for explosive root growth in ebb and flow buckets Sands , but you might wanna increase your cycles to every 4 hrs lights on instead of 6 and see if they respond with more vigor......The learning`s in the doin......only 1 wayta find out........

And again.......Ebb and flow buckets don`t require air to roots , and although not sure from never tryin it , could possibly cause more harm than good from hot air being pumped into the bottom containers/rootzones.......just somethin ta think about........

The juice leftover in the bottom containers is not required and can be completely done away with by raisin the buckets, but .......

I always left a small amount for a failsafe device in case of power outages so the roots would be able ta at least have some juice to survive on till the power came back on........

Take care and good luck.......DHF.......

 

[SANDS]

Ok cool thanks I have an extra pump from 1 of my cloners. I will put black trash bags over and under my drum. my controller bucket is a gray lowes bucket so I will put a bag on this also. I am going to remove my air stones today and drain and flush my system. we will see in a few days huh.

My food is cutting edge cheaper than gh flora and less N But basically the same. I have used it with good results I had been using H&G roots exelurator with great results but, with running a sterile res and all I have cut it out. my girls are 10 days in veg and 3-4 inch roots sticking thru the bottom of my 2 gallon buckets so I was thinking of letting that 1 go. vigor is not really a problem I have a bunch of Kush bushes.

A hundred thanks ......DHF.....

 

[SANDS]

Rez`s get slime from not being lightproof , being too hot and nutrient solutions separating , and/or not enough circulation ......

The biggest reason rez`s get outta whack is addin too much shit together tryin ta dial in a feed regimen when simple wins every time....

In over 15 yrs of growin inside , I never used anything but GH 3 part , lil silicablast for stem wall strength , and SM-90 for rootzone health and critter prevention.....well........hadta add cal/mag plus once goin coco but....Trust me....less is more......

I used thru-hull bait aerators , but my `ol Bro Heathie just used an extra powerhead/circulating pump to keep juice stirred up constantly.......

There needs ta be a drying out period between feed cycles for explosive root growth in ebb and flow buckets Sands , but you might wanna increase your cycles to every 4 hrs lights on instead of 6 and see if they respond with more vigor......The learning`s in the doin......only 1 wayta find out........

And again.......Ebb and flow buckets don`t require air to roots , and although not sure from never tryin it , could possibly cause more harm than good from hot air being pumped into the bottom containers/rootzones.......just somethin ta think about........

The juice leftover in the bottom containers is not required and can be completely done away with by raisin the buckets, but .......

I always left a small amount for a failsafe device in case of power outages so the roots would be able ta at least have some juice to survive on till the power came back on........

Take care and good luck.......DHF.......

........................................................................................

Ok cool thanks I have an extra pump from 1 of my cloners. I will put black trash bags over and under my drum. my controller bucket is a gray lowes bucket so I will put a bag on this also. I am going to remove my air stones today and drain and flush my system. we will see in a few days huh.

My food is cutting edge cheaper than gh flora and less N But basically the same. I have used it with good results I had been using H&G roots exelurator with great results but, with running a sterile res and all I have cut it out. my girls are 10 days in veg and 3-4 inch roots sticking thru the bottom of my 2 gallon buckets so I was thinking of letting that 1 go. vigor is not really a problem I have a bunch of Kush bushes.

A hundred thanks ......DHF.....

 

[SANDS]

New Pics

New Pics

I have been working on putting up a strut for my light mover and tandem carriers for my flower room.


I hope to put four lights on this setup.

 

[SANDS]

Bushy Bush pics

Bushy Bush pics

Ok so here I took pictures of the res and controller bucket after I covered them.


Here is the good stuff this is my Hong Kong catching up.


This is a pic of the clones that I was being lazy and waited to transplant they are a little yellow but they have 12 inch roots!!!!. As I write this I should of took some root pic porn.


Pineapple Express tied down


Biggest BUKU


The biggest plant in the garden Jack Flash


The rest

 

[SANDS]

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

I have done a little bit of research about this strain Hong Kong that I am running. Some say old school Colorado some say catarac kush. Idk what it is but I have smoked this plant from another garden and from Broadway Wellness and it was always Fire. Let me know

 

[DHF]

Hey Sands......Gladta see yas hard at work......Take this shit seriously with a passion and the rewards will follow exponentially.......

As you finish each run , upgrade your equipment for environment , then next run put some cash aside for makin flip rooms where yas can stagger your plants by a month or so in age and be harveyin every 4-5 weeks once things are set in motion.....

Perpetual is the way for yearly yields , and it only takes a lil bit ta start it up.....

Just saw where you`re usin 2 gal buckets.........don`t know how I missed it , but you need ta increase your feed for sure if you`ve got 4000 watts sittin on top of these plants......

They should be a lot bigger IMO but what the fuck do I know.............try extra feed and if the leaves droop and turn under , you`ll know it`s overwatering/feeding.....but......

I fed my 5 gal buckets 3 times a day , and I`m pretty sure folks runnin multiflows and ebb and grow setups were on 4 times a day@ 15 minute cycles with the same size buckets as yours........only 1 wayta find out......dialage takes time......

It only gets better if yas pay attention and learn from the last run........I`m still learnin and wouldn`t have it any other way.......

Holler...DHF...........

 

[SANDS]

Hey Sands......Gladta see yas hard at work......Take this shit seriously with a passion and the rewards will follow exponentially.......

As you finish each run , upgrade your equipment for environment , then next run put some cash aside for makin flip rooms where yas can stagger your plants by a month or so in age and be harveyin every 4-5 weeks once things are set in motion.....

Perpetual is the way for yearly yields , and it only takes a lil bit ta start it up.....

Just saw where you`re usin 2 gal buckets.........don`t know how I missed it , but you need ta increase your feed for sure if you`ve got 4000 watts sittin on top of these plants......

They should be a lot bigger IMO but what the fuck do I know.............try extra feed and if the leaves droop and turn under , you`ll know it`s overwatering/feeding.....but......

I fed my 5 gal buckets 3 times a day , and I`m pretty sure folks runnin multiflows and ebb and grow setups were on 4 times a day@ 15 minute cycles with the same size buckets as yours........only 1 wayta find out......dialage takes time......

It only gets better if yas pay attention and learn from the last run........I`m still learnin and wouldn`t have it any other way.......

Holler...DHF...........

Word DHF, this is not work this is a beautiful education. I love every second besides the wait.


The reason I am only filling twice a day is I started at every 3 hours and cutting it back from there. The rocks stay damp for 12 - 13 hours in my desert climate.

I lowered my 1000 watt mh yesterday to 3 feet above the canopy and suddenly it is five degrees cooler. I don't know why but I am very happy today. The light was 5 feet above and the ac was blowing right on it but, I couldn't get the temps below 80 degrees to save my life.
Last night it was 65 in there and today it was 75. It is 95 degrees here today and 75 makes me smile.

 

[SANDS]

DHF do u mean my girls should be bigger than they r now? I was thinking of adding a cycle since I lowered my light yesterday but idk.

 

[flyer]

hi sands, good grow you got going.
quick question about your ebb and flow buckets. why is that clear tube going in top of the bucket?
is it a air tube with airstone going in bucket?

 

[SANDS]

Well I actualy yes but I turned the pump off as I don't need it. Thanks for stopping by

 

[SANDS]

Bumped up to 4 cycles Yesterday

Bumped up to 4 cycles Yesterday

I am increasing the feed amounts. I bumped it to 3 cycles and saw improvement over the last couple of days. So I decided to try 4 cycles and see what happens.

All the girls are looking well not much to report just filling in.

 

[DHF]

Hey Sands.....Make sure that your first feed is after lights have been on long enough ta burn off residual humidity buildup from 12 hrs of lights off , as well as the last feed at least 30 minutes or more before lights off to evaporate as much humidity for the same reason before the dark period begins........

I`m sure you`ll see increased foliage with more feed cycles with ample drying out time between......

Good luck and take care......DHF.......