Ebb bucket modification help

[Alpha Phase]

I'm experienced with flood tables but only have a couple grows under my belt using ebb n grow buckets. My modified flood table used suspended net pots so the roots had a nice air gap between the hydroton and the bottom of the table.

So my question is this. My current net pots are huge. They fit exactly in to the outer buckets and use 2 gallon of hydroton and there is no root suspension. I want to modify this and use a 5" net pot instead so that the roots are suspended into the buckets. Has anyone done this before? Are there any problems with this? Any help would be appreciated.

The pics are the modified lid and net pot that will sit on the outer bucket, the other pic is of the big netpot, as you can see its a big difference.

 

[PetFlora]

I use net pot lid + 4 liter Air Pot

Although I could flood, since I already own both a 160 gph pump and Hydro Halo Drip Rings, I top feed

Plant is a reveg (see my thread for beginning pics on 8/09

Roots growing into polished ornamental rock (Dollar Store)

System is fast draining. I water ~ 45 seconds/45 minutes during lights on


View attachment 282197 View attachment 282198

 

[wantaknow]

I would add another bucket with drain holes in it this will give several inches of added height you can raise the controler to fine tune the water llevels

 

[Alpha Phase]

Looking good petflora! Nice root mass for sure!

That's a great idea wantaknow I think I will do that, thanks! I'm liking the ebb buckets compared to flood tables now, much more modifications I can do with the buckets

 

[Alpha Phase]

I almost finished the bucket mods, I used 5"net pots and have also the inner buckets for the pots with drainage holes. It's looking promising, I almost have the tent complete and will be adding rooted clones already in the proper net pots into the system. The ebb buckets are the back two rows.

Anyone got any ideas for flood intervals? When I had the buckets filled with hydroton I flooded 3x a day but with these bet pots and not much medium I'm assuming I'll have to flood much more. Once an hour? Any help on this id appreciate, thanks!

 

[PetFlora]

Looking good petflora! Nice root mass for sure!

That's a great idea wantaknow I think I will do that, thanks! I'm liking the ebb buckets compared to flood tables now, much more modifications I can do with the buckets

Due to drip rings clogging, I rethought this, and have developed a DIY mini-Me F & D. I recently harvested first test. Perfect!

Drop by my thread to see how

 

[DONAJTHEIII]

Due to drip rings clogging, I rethought this, and have developed a DIY mini-Me F & D. I recently harvested first test. Perfect!

Drop by my thread to see how

no drip clean ? my lines never clog when using hydro nutes I also use sm-90 which reduces sprayer pressure too. Will take a look at your DIY right now.



AJAE

 

[FlowerFarmer]

I'm experienced with flood tables but only have a couple grows under my belt using ebb n grow buckets. My modified flood table used suspended net pots so the roots had a nice air gap between the hydroton and the bottom of the table.

So my question is this. My current net pots are huge. They fit exactly in to the outer buckets and use 2 gallon of hydroton and there is no root suspension. I want to modify this and use a 5" net pot instead so that the roots are suspended into the buckets. Has anyone done this before? Are there any problems with this? Any help would be appreciated.

Haps ran a modified bucket setup like this if I recall. Used less rocks then a typical flood bucket setup.

I'd just flood more frequently if running with roots not entirely submerged in rock. Say 1 flood cycle every 1.5 - 2 hours as opposed to every 4 hours which folks typically do in hydroton.

I've ran mediumless ebb and flow in the past and used a 30 min every 90 min duration. Got a nice healthy mat of roots between my suspended tray lid and my tray.


You'll just have to play with the intervals to get that super healthy root growth with lots of fine hairs. I'd start at 15-30min every 90 and go from there. Again, I had success with 30min every 1.5 hours, but I was only in a shallow 3" deep tray with suspended lid/rapid rooter above so your mileage may vary.

 

[Alpha Phase]

Awesome Flowerfarmer, I'm about one week into flower and the modification buckets are working GREAT! Huge root mass, I began flooding every 1.5 hours and over time worked up to every 3 hours and once during lights off. Working like a charm and all the roots form a mat at the bottom of the inner bucket and none of them grow through into the drain. Works perfect and plants are growing like crazy, much better than a bucket of hydroton and the roots are bone white. Definitly would recommend this for ebb buckets, huge difference