Multi-flow/Ebb n' Flow Buckets - Which Medium Do YOU Use??

[Blaze215]

Hi IC,
After my current run with the 2 Gallon soil buckets I am going to be transitioning over to an Ebb n' Flow bucket grow.

Now I have seen some pretty fantastic results that others have achieved using Hydroton but really don't look forward to the washing and overall use of that particular medium.

There are also those growers who are having great results with coco as well.


What I would like to know is:

A) How do YOU use your Ebb n' Flow buckets?

B) What size buckets are you running?

C) What is your nutrient regimen?

D) How many times per day are you flooding?

E) Do you top off or do add backs?



Thanks in advance for the info and the pics.

215

 

[wantaknow]

i flood 6 times a day every 4 hour duation depends on strain ,i do top off my rez and add back nutes,gh 3 part always with diamond nector and a bloom enhancer ,its a capp controler ,with five gallon buckets a chiller and a battery usp backup to protect the spikes and power outages and the relays in the controller bucket very important,good luck and try some ak 48 its preety forgiving when you first get started ,and get a ph pen start off at 5.8 good luck

 

[Haps]

My tidal system is dwc based, so I only use 5 inch net pots of hydroton-lava rock mix. So fifteen bucket only uses 4 gallons of media, simple to cleah up. If you buy stock systems, you have no choice but to use lots of media. I run 6 tides per day for ten weeks, 420 tides and they are done.
H

 

[DHF]

Well Blaze.....thread`s over 2 weeks old with not many responses , so I`d haveta say consensus on the ebb and flow bucket setups from the factory is hydroton .......

I`ve seen folks try with coco and other substrates , but I used lava rock for over 5 yrs left over from my old krusty bucket runs with excellent success in DIY 5 gal buckets....

Fed 3 times a day during lights on only cuz I`m old school and was taught the drying out sequence for explosive rootzone formation , but per Wanta`s and Brutha Hap`s 6 times a day feed 24/7 , who am I to say there are constants and absolutes in our lil hobby.....

I will say this......Pot adapts well to it`s environment and if yas throw juice at it regularly it`ll haveta have it or suffer.....I usedta feed bare minimum and adapt if needed to keep from wastin juice.........

Some of my finicky elites needed 4 feeds per lights on cycle late flower to prevent drooping , but as a rule........I never had problems with lights on only feeds , but there WAS always a full inch or so of residual juice in the bottom buckets at all times from the feeds/drainlines on the sides of the buckets , but acted as insurance from power outages since the lava wicked juice to the roots if needed so I guess if they needed solution to keep from drooping/drying out , they had it in the reserve tanks below since the bottom roots sat in juice with the upper air roots in the big container.......

The new factory units drain from the bottom or so I`m told , so there is no insurance in the bottom containers anymore.....Adapt or perish.....Many waysta skin a mule......

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

 

[overgrowit]

Im using A product called "Rocks" made by Sunleaves http://www.sunleaves.com/detail.asp?sku=SR313

They are advertised as the rock that doesnt roll. They weigh more than hydroton but work the same and dont float or roll around when you drop them. They are smoothed irregular shaped pieces of superheated shale. Not sharp like lavarocks. Also they are cheaper than hydroton.

 

[Critter]

Im interested in E&F also.
I want to build some out of some old 18gal dwc totes w/ ten gal totes inside. Just wondering if I activley drain/pump out water or use an air-pump on what sits after flood?

Blaze Ill continue looking for e&f info and bring it here if that's okay with you?

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=198594&page=2

This is a good one too.

 

[Blaze215]

Im interested in E&F also.
I want to build some out of some old 18gal dwc totes w/ ten gal totes inside. Just wondering if I activley drain/pump out water or use an air-pump on what sits after flood?

Blaze Ill continue looking for e&f info and bring it here if that's okay with you?

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=198594&page=2

This is a good one too.

Certainly Critter. Please feel free to do so.

I am also interested in how experienced E&F growers handle their reservoir maintenance through the grow cycle. Do they add back in to the res to maintain a constant level of liquid? If so then is the liquid being added back a lower nutrient strength or just plain ph'd water?

Those rocks that Overgrowit linked to up top look promising but for now when I make the switch I will be rolling with hydroton. They are proven to grow some big ass plants!

 

[paladin420]

Hello all...Hydroton for me..started with pea stone so still in love with hydroton...will be lookin at overgrowits post cause those are issues with hydrot.. dependin on plant numbers or growth stage, i change rez's every 7-10..total scrub all fresh.... in between I only add water about once..I let my PPM and PH drift...If when I add h2o in need to adjust up or down I will...If in a range I like I'm done.....I only will 'fix' barrel once, next time it needs anything down the drain it goes..3 or 4 times a day is max for me on cycles....ur gonna love it..pal

 

[Blaze215]

Hello all...Hydroton for me..started with pea stone so still in love with hydroton...will be lookin at overgrowits post cause those are issues with hydrot.. dependin on plant numbers or growth stage, i change rez's every 7-10..total scrub all fresh.... in between I only add water about once..I let my PPM and PH drift...If when I add h2o in need to adjust up or down I will...If in a range I like I'm done.....I only will 'fix' barrel once, next time it needs anything down the drain it goes..3 or 4 times a day is max for me on cycles....ur gonna love it..pal

That is solid info Paladin. Thanks for the share. Krunchbubble also speaks about letting his ph drift.

Anyone else?