problems getting used to 55g ebb n grow 24 pot system

[Guest 168361]

hey I just started a 24 site ebb n grow system. Not sure if im retarded but this thing is already giving me trouble. Im already missing my tables. I recently switched from tables to an ebb n grow because i have height restraints. The ebb n grow seems real finicky. Its dumping shit tons of water probably from overflow. And im not used to the nutrient schedule

Does anyone have experience with these things??? Any tips for a newb ebb n grower??

any help would be appreciated....or recommend a new system

 

[BigGuns90]

I founded only couple videos off ebb n flow commercial sets... i was thinking of buying it but in the video guy rages about leaking and other problems... sorry i cannot help just said that

 

[Guest 168361]

yea leaking seems to be a problem....i would go rdwc next time

 

[growsjoe1]

Skuddles

What size pots???
What type of medium?
What size plants....what age?...from seed or clone?
How many floods per light cycle...how many, if any do you flood during dark hrs?
Are all pots at least a 1/2 inch higher than controller?
What is the current ppm and ph of your res? How much of that 55 gal is being used?

 

[Squire5683]

Skuddles.... I run a 48 site bucket system. Its kinda foolproof. Get everything set up but dont put in the top buckets. Fill the rez with water, then set timer to fill. Watch hoses for leaks. If ya did them right you shouldnt have any leaks. Now watch the filled water level in the buckets. I leave mine down about 1/2"-1" below top of bucket. Let it cycle a few times to see if youre happy with levels. If you have uneven floors, you might need to put spacers under control bucket or under each individual bucket

Good luck

 

[mr cheese]

are you on about the iws system?? i tried it before it hit the uk shops and what a piece of junk! your right they are finicky, main prob is the pump they supply is way to small 4 the 24 site version, by the time the whole system is full the plants are suffocating as their stood in water to long.. ended up using the system as a sort of dwc with air stones in ech bucket.. get a bigger pump that takes less than 15 min to fill the system .. hope this helps.. stay safe...mrc

 

[Guest 168361]

your right the pump is wayyyy small...plus i think i was flooding the system too long anyway.

 

[supersmallgiant]

How many GPH is the pump?

 

[Dankgravy]

Mine would "Leak" when I first got it. It took me a while to realize that it was because you have to attach an elbow that has a small slit for air to both the hose coming out of the res and the one going in... If you run just a hose or an elbow that does not allow airflow the pump will pump extra water out, which is where my "leaking" came from.

But these things suck. Not the right environment for growing in. This will be my one and only run on it.

 

[U.G.U]

Dankgravy
agreed, sounds like you need anti siphons on your drain and feed lines. Place a 1/4" 90 into the lines right were they go back into the res. that will stop it from overflowing.

 

[Sam the Caveman]

I would love a flood and drain system like an ebb and grow, but I think I would rather diy it so I can get a mega pump on it and change a few things that the ebb and grow system doesn't have.

For one when you elevate the buckets so they can drain properly they won't flood as high because the controller bucket is still the original height. Every inch you raise the plant buckets, that's one inch that won't get flooded. So the contoller bucket should be taller than the plant buckets.

A controller bucket that I can change the pump size depending on how many buckets I'm running. More buckets = larger pump.

 

[Guest 168361]

turns out there was a faulty float valve....i swapped the control bucket hopefully it will be a fix. i heard that they clog easily if you use molasses based ferts

 

[DHF]

Faulty "float switch" in POS controller bucket , not float valve for top off.....

Faulty "float switch" in POS controller bucket , not float valve for top off.....

Been screamin for over a decade that the manufactured units are bigtime POS , and the controller bucket with bullshit cheapass "float switches" and no anti-siphon`s inline from feed and drain were and are an accident waitin to happen......but......

The concept is sound as well as bulletproof , and I ran DIY 5 gal ebb and flow buckets for over 5 yrs at multiple locations without leak 1 and never once did they overflow or flood the rooms like the pre-built units are so notorious for.......

Bigger the pumps the better , and I solved the bullshit controller bucket by just adding an extra sealed bucket in each flip room with it`s own "industrial float switch" wired directly back to the feed pumps to kill juice flow if the timers didn`t kill the feeds first before the separate drain pump on it`s own timer kicked on and sucked shit back to main rez at light speed till next feed cycle......

Sorry bout your probs Skrud , but done right the setup is bulletproof and produces like a mofo without a need for inline chillers and no chance for root rot as long as the plants aren`t over-vegged for the bucket/container size and clogs the lil bitty feed/drain lines supplied with the bullshit units.........

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

 

[!!!]

If you have height constraints, why did you go with ebb/grow? I always assumed these systems were used primarily to grow trees.

Why not get a shorter table stand and/or SoG or scrog?

(curious)

 

[Guest 168361]

Been screamin for over a decade that the manufactured units are bigtime POS , and the controller bucket with bullshit cheapass "float switches" and no anti-siphon`s inline from feed and drain were and are an accident waitin to happen......but......

The concept is sound as well as bulletproof , and I ran DIY 5 gal ebb and flow buckets for over 5 yrs at multiple locations without leak 1 and never once did they overflow or flood the rooms like the pre-built units are so notorious for.......

Bigger the pumps the better , and I solved the bullshit controller bucket by just adding an extra sealed bucket in each flip room with it`s own "industrial float switch" wired directly back to the feed pumps to kill juice flow if the timers didn`t kill the feeds first before the separate drain pump on it`s own timer kicked on and sucked shit back to main rez at light speed till next feed cycle......

Sorry bout your probs Skrud , but done right the setup is bulletproof and produces like a mofo without a need for inline chillers and no chance for root rot as long as the plants aren`t over-vegged for the bucket/container size and clogs the lil bitty feed/drain lines supplied with the bullshit units.........

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

good point these units are shit...deffinately doing it myself next time.....say you wouldnt happen to have or be able to point me in the direction of some schematics to build one of your said ebb n grow units???????

 

[Sam the Caveman]

Here is one

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=92963&highlight=diy+ebb

there are others, if you search on here for "diy ebb and grow" using the "in titles only" search option

 

[DHF]

No schematics on my setups as they were kinda big with large pickup truck sized 325 gal "exterminator" rez`s that fed 2 separate flip rooms runnin 36-5 gal buckets in each room at each location Skrud.........

Those DIY threads round here show how to use the same bullshit float switches that stick from residual salt buildup and ultimately flood rooms or burn up pumps once gone haywire , so not good references IME......

I help alot in PM due to bein kinda wordy as I`ve never posted a pic in over 15 yrs due to serious security issues where I live , so if yas decide on this type setup , just Holler and we`ll getchas headed in the right direction........

There is a thread here in Hydro from several yrs back named "Rays 5400 watt basement ebb and flow buckets" I think , by a young Euro Bro I helped nicked Ray of Light.....Check archives/old threads......

Dewd blew me away and computerized the setup , then killed it with 12 lbs his first run , and the setup all but ran itself......

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

 

[supersmallgiant]

Those DIY threads round here show how to use the same bullshit float switches that stick from residual salt buildup and ultimately flood rooms or burn up pumps once gone haywire , so not good references IME......

What are the best switches to use? I plan on setting up two bucket systems this year and want to use the best switches available. They will be on the second floor so flooding is not an option.

 

[DHF]

SMG........"Industrial float switches" are easily available online from sites like Grainger.com , and other similar ones.........

I found mine locally from a supply house yrs ago , but the lever type like float valves for topping off rez`s are the most reliable grow in and grow out , compared to those bullshit "vertical" slide upright magnetic ones used in the pre-built controller buckets where 2 of em have to be re-configured with magnets moved to act "opposite" of the other 2 once feed or drain cycle kicked on or off.................

Only difference on the proper ones being the switches need wired to the feed pump to kill juice flow if the timer on the feed pump doesn`t kill it first , compared to float "valves" that`re gravity driven and stop once juice reaches a certain level in rez`s........

Pretty simple as a failsafe device that won`t allow flooding once rootmass forms in the bottom containers and take less time to fill the volume that could possibly overflow and flood everything till the timer kicked off....

Just shit I`ve seen go wrong over the yrs that I learned howta get past for dialage......

Holler if I can help....DHF....

 

[Guest 168361]

dhf- yes this is the kind of shit i need brotha....i was running 1 115gallon rez to feed two tables. I like the bigger rez way more than the smaller type. It just stays sooooo much more stable. When I up the scale on my grow I think i will also up my rez size where appropriate. Thanks a ton