Should I go to Ebb and grow system?

[BadRabbit]

Gang,

Currently use classic ebb and flow table, works great, but thinking about going to the Ebb and Grow (separate rez with pots on the floor/controller module). Small indoor, 6 plants, 600 watt light, etc.

The big advantage I see ... an extra 1/2 ft. of grow headroom and maybe a little easier to maintain resevoir/nutes. But, adds some complexity with controllers and costs big $$ ...

Is it worth it to upgrade? Can I still use my rockwood with the ebb and grow or do I have to use the 'hydroton" ... is the hydroton media disposable or is it cleaned and re-used like the old grow rocks?

thanks for your thoughts and experience,
rabbit

 

[samba]

Gang,

Can I still use my rockwood with the ebb and grow

Yes, if I dont understand totally incorrectly

or do I have to use the 'hydroton" ... is the hydroton media disposable or is it cleaned and re-used like the old grow rocks?

cleaned and re-used but a PITA

 

[Sam the Caveman]

Why do you want to change it?

I don't think 6" of height is worth it.

 

[lokes]

Stick with the tables. If you do go to buckets read the gassing off thread here on the site. FYI

 

[!!!]

Hydroton is re-usable. Rockwool is not.

You can use either or both. I have my clones start in 1" rockwool cubes and then transplant that to pots of hydroton.

Stick to the flood tables. Why go to ebb/grow?

 

[philcollins]

go with what u got....save the money for something else...u wont see any difference in the buds, quality or quantity

 

[HUGE]

I own the ebb and gro and I say stick with what you have. But from what I've read rockwool is not designed for recirculating systems like ebb and flo. But I know people do it and if it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

[BadRabbit]

wow, thanks much for the input and comments ... I'm a little surprised, I thought there would be more support for the 'ebb and gro'.

Yeh it's expensive ... but then I see much bigger plants in all the lovely pictures here at IC and I still wonder if the extra headroom isn't worth it, especially since I hope to run some stretchier sativa dom strains.

So, I found an interesting video from grodan - they promote their growth results over hydroton in tests (obviously biased, but seems to have some credibility and fits with my experience)

http://grodan101.com/sw_instructional_DVD.php

I used the clay pebble things years ago when I first started and absolutely hated the extra chore of cleaning them ... my operation is so small scale that a couple of bags of rockwool per year is no problem and it performs beautifully with no clean up required.

So .... still quibbling ...

The table is simpler ... and effective ... and paid for years ago.

But ebb/flo gives me room to get to the back of the narrow grow space I have in addition to an extra 6" to 8" of headroom ... getting to the plants in the back later in flower is tough, this way I can just step in there.

ah well ... I'll post results and comparisons if anyone's interested ...

cheers, thanks for the input, mucho appreciated.
rabbit




.... so thank you

 

[BadRabbit]

PS - "gassing off" ... my wife complains about it all the time ... but I'll go track down the topic .. thanks.

 

[compost]

I used to run flood and drain in 2 quart pots hydroton with a silicia layer on top to hold it down. If your table is sitting right on top of your res you can do a hybrid if you want. When I go back to hydro(not anytime soon) I plan on using a F&D system hybrid.

Instead of individual cups I was gonna just fill the entire 2X2' table with hydroton, put the plants in and veg away. When I transplanted it to flowering I would move it to a 3X3 tray with 1" holes where I was transplanting to. Give the plants 3 days in the room with CO2 and then change the lights over to 12. I could leave the plants in a 2X2' tray and just let the roots go to the res also.

Either way the 3 days when you already have a big root system should be sufficient to let the roots hit the water. You would need to add in an additional pump or 2 for this system to work FYI.

 

[BadRabbit]

OK, I read it. Scary stuff. I've used hydro for over 8 years ... and built many of my own systems and never had anything but great results -- I suppose the bottom line is to watch what components you add to your system and react quickly if any bad patterns appear.
cheers,
rabbit