Question for ebb/flo bucket users

[Puscifer]

Good day fellow growers
Been lurking these boards since last year but have recently decided to become an active member. Security was the issue. Anyways,
been growing coco for 5 years now with on/off success. But a friend just gave me a 48 bucket ebb/flow system. I'm wondering what the general consensus is with the water left at the bottom of the buckets in between floods?
I've read where some users swear it's the root of all evil and others say it's perfectly harmless. What do you guys think? I'm all ears

 

[Yikesy]

Despite what others may say, it is a non issue. Been growing with these for years, and very rarely do the roots even hang down through the first pot. Some people raise the buckets, but it is absolutely not needed. They are great.

I wouldn't run more than 21-24 on one system though. When you get later into flower you'll be refilling every 2 or 3 days if you run 48 buckets.

 

[Arthritis_sucks]

What he said on the bucket count. Here are some tips: get 2x4's and set the buckets on them to get better drainage, depending on what medium you use you can get a big root mass in the bottom coming through...i did and had to clip roots cause they would grow into the tubes even with a pvc riser inside, use a pvc riser in each bucket about 2-2 1/2 inches, tilt the brain foward with a 1 inch rise.

They work awesome when ya make them work for ya. I use hygromite rocks which is basically silica an it creates monster trunks. Oh yeah put a air stone in your res and flood every 2-3 hours.

 

[Puscifer]

Thanks for the quick response Yikesy!
I'll be running 6 buckets the first round, and if all goes well I'll up things to 12. No more than 12 though.
Good to hear that the water is a none issue. I even went ahead and cut up a few 3" lengths of pvc for spacers in case the water would be an issue. So no spacers then!
K+, thank you.

 

[Puscifer]

Whoa, so I should rock the spacers?

 

[Yikesy]

I have never used a spacer, and always used hydroton. Might be different with hygromite, but I've never had more than a stray single root hanging past the first bucket. Either way, see what works for you. You will love the buckets.

 

[Arthritis_sucks]

It all depends on how big ya veg them too, medium, strain and how much root boosters ya givn them. I ran them with 3 cuts per bucket flipped with only 1 week veg an had only little stray roots poking through. Might need them, might not. There is a real good thread dedicated to the ebb an gro buckets on here with tons of tips on peeps that are usin them. good luck.