Wandering Roman
Member
I've been watching many growers over the years employ the ebb n flow principal (which is an outstanding method) and actually over think it!
The problem in my experience is that the dissolved oxygen levels need to be reached at a regular interval without the use of air stones.
The common practice suggests that a pump cycle of around 3- 5 minutes is ample and that the fall of the water will pull oxygen into the root zone as it recedes .
This alone may be true ,but the amount of oxygen inserted into the water(nute solution ) is minimal.
I have noticed many employing airstones into their reservoirs in an attempt to remedy this.
In many higher heat environments ebb n flow is very forgiving compared to aero or dwc applications but this should not be an excuse not to properly set up your pump cycles correctly the first time and expect airstones to keep you in the safe zone.
The answer is simple:
Run your on time for 15 minutes,,allow the over flow outlets to be ample enough to return your water run off back to the tank in an effortless manner,with rapid turbulent results.
I have always employed a 1" schedule 40 overflow pipe with
4 -1/4" holes drilled in it at 90 degree intervals..
The res is directly below and is with my builds a 120 gallon rubbermaid tub...
The resulting water return is a massive waterfall that excites the oxygen levels in the solution to maximum levels naturally.
If I run a 1 piece 4x8 table I make sure to plumb a 1" line from the opposite end to the tank as well so I have 2 returns ,this is not including the supply line from the pump.
As you allow the pump to run 15 minutes on every three hours the roots will explode with growth,pathogens will not take residence in your tank and the oxy levels will be massive compared to short on times and airstones.
2 massive waterfalls for 15 minutes really gets the DO levels supercharged w/o all the BS people are using in vain.
I have also noted a member here talking about magnetic drive pumps and their propensity to effect iron levels in water in a negative way, I would like to see this in tests as I feel it's pure BS! just as the magnetic pieces of shit they try to sell to soften water...pure bunk!
I've had Danner supreme mag drives submersed in my nute tanks for years ,,,,show me a problem!! I'd like to see that!
You can simply set your 15 on 15 off timers to 1 pin down every 3 hours,let that solution flow and watch your grow improve ten fold!...
Make sure to have your run off designed to allow the pump to run on for hours w/o ever over flowing the tub....
common sense!! returns have to be bigger than 3/4" with most decent pumps!
Use bigger pumps,,,think 900 to 1500 gph mag drive pumps!!!
don't simply send the water up there,,but shoot it up to the net pots and get that BIG flow back to the res!! watch the solution turn white with bubbles as it crashes and agitates the base solution....no pathogens are gonna survive that turbulence as their bodies will explode in the motion,,,,,stagnant conditions render anaerobic environments!!! you don't want that!!
That's it! enjoy your new paradigm!
The problem in my experience is that the dissolved oxygen levels need to be reached at a regular interval without the use of air stones.
The common practice suggests that a pump cycle of around 3- 5 minutes is ample and that the fall of the water will pull oxygen into the root zone as it recedes .
This alone may be true ,but the amount of oxygen inserted into the water(nute solution ) is minimal.
I have noticed many employing airstones into their reservoirs in an attempt to remedy this.
In many higher heat environments ebb n flow is very forgiving compared to aero or dwc applications but this should not be an excuse not to properly set up your pump cycles correctly the first time and expect airstones to keep you in the safe zone.
The answer is simple:
Run your on time for 15 minutes,,allow the over flow outlets to be ample enough to return your water run off back to the tank in an effortless manner,with rapid turbulent results.
I have always employed a 1" schedule 40 overflow pipe with
4 -1/4" holes drilled in it at 90 degree intervals..
The res is directly below and is with my builds a 120 gallon rubbermaid tub...
The resulting water return is a massive waterfall that excites the oxygen levels in the solution to maximum levels naturally.
If I run a 1 piece 4x8 table I make sure to plumb a 1" line from the opposite end to the tank as well so I have 2 returns ,this is not including the supply line from the pump.
As you allow the pump to run 15 minutes on every three hours the roots will explode with growth,pathogens will not take residence in your tank and the oxy levels will be massive compared to short on times and airstones.
2 massive waterfalls for 15 minutes really gets the DO levels supercharged w/o all the BS people are using in vain.
I have also noted a member here talking about magnetic drive pumps and their propensity to effect iron levels in water in a negative way, I would like to see this in tests as I feel it's pure BS! just as the magnetic pieces of shit they try to sell to soften water...pure bunk!
I've had Danner supreme mag drives submersed in my nute tanks for years ,,,,show me a problem!! I'd like to see that!
You can simply set your 15 on 15 off timers to 1 pin down every 3 hours,let that solution flow and watch your grow improve ten fold!...
Make sure to have your run off designed to allow the pump to run on for hours w/o ever over flowing the tub....
common sense!! returns have to be bigger than 3/4" with most decent pumps!
Use bigger pumps,,,think 900 to 1500 gph mag drive pumps!!!
don't simply send the water up there,,but shoot it up to the net pots and get that BIG flow back to the res!! watch the solution turn white with bubbles as it crashes and agitates the base solution....no pathogens are gonna survive that turbulence as their bodies will explode in the motion,,,,,stagnant conditions render anaerobic environments!!! you don't want that!!
That's it! enjoy your new paradigm!
