rockwool in ebb n gro bucket system?

[popdog]

Has anyone used any other medium beside hydroton in an ebb and gro type bucket system?
I am sick and tired of washing 400 liters of hydroton each cycle. I am interested in using rockwool, either mini cubes or loose fill. Anyone tried? Only problem I see is that if they were too dry, it might float the cubes up and overflow them. Also if you could tell what you adjusted your flood intervals. I usually do every 3 hours during full bloom. I know it would be less often with rockwool. I was thinking the best way to do this would be to use the ebb n gro system as a drip system, either drain to waste or recirculating. Problem is, this would add alot more setup time, and that is what I am trying to avoid by using rockwool in the first place.
Advice anybody?

 

[ICbuds]

I use rockwool chunks and cubes in ebb and gro buckets. It's easy once you figure out how NOT to over water in the first couple weeks.

 

[ekomsi]

Explain your flood cycle with the rockwool in the ebb n gro buckets, IC plz, I hear you op on washing hydroton. I switched to coco this run.

 

[ICbuds]

Ya man, no problem. I hit them with a top watering everyday for the first 7 days of 12/12 at full strength then flood and drain starting on the 8th day and every other day until the 14th day and then every day there after(3weeks in). I'm using a nutrient called Veg+Bloom and I just follow my strains preferred EC which for some is like 1.6 and others 1.9 from day through flower. make sure you don't have bugs and your room stays 75 degrees

 

[-Capfan-]

Has anyone used any other medium beside hydroton in an ebb and gro type bucket system?
I am sick and tired of washing 400 liters of hydroton each cycle. I am interested in using rockwool, either mini cubes or loose fill. Anyone tried? Only problem I see is that if they were too dry, it might float the cubes up and overflow them. Also if you could tell what you adjusted your flood intervals. I usually do every 3 hours during full bloom. I know it would be less often with rockwool. I was thinking the best way to do this would be to use the ebb n gro system as a drip system, either drain to waste or recirculating. Problem is, this would add alot more setup time, and that is what I am trying to avoid by using rockwool in the first place.
Advice anybody?

Running ebb and grow buckets, 10 " netpots, loose fill, Veg for 2 months, ( feed once a day ) Once flowering starts i feed a a hr before lights on, and 6 hours into the cycle -

What i am wondering is, the ebb and grow system is great for creating fresh 02 to the root system with the back to back fill/drain times, using rockwool, you only feed, once, TWICE MAX a day, i wonder if we lose yield or not necessarily maximizing yield?

im currently thinking of trying RDWC, personally just not satisfied with the situation.

 

[St3ve]

Well first of all.. depending on how established the root system is.. its damn near impossible to over water in RW. I have flooded as many as 6 times (every two hours) with fine results.

That said.. what is your goal? To not have to rinse out the medium after every grow? Not to rinse at all before or after use? I mean.. there is grow rocks (which are cheaper than hydroton but still need a pre-rinse) but you can just re-rinse and reuse. They are similar to hydroton though. If rockwool cubes then yea no rinsing really and you throw them away each run and start fresh.. but thats expensive considering for a 6" block you're looking at around $3 per cube so that gets expensive. Plus throwing away rockwool every run is a security issue for some.

Coco was mentioned and I think could be a good alternative. If you buy something like the botanicare aeration bags you just fill your pots and go, no rinsing. Then toss it in the flower bed after the run and start fresh. It would be comparable to RW but cheaper depending on how big of pots. But some as rocks, you can reuse if you give it a good rinse (not wash) afterwards.

 

[Trewarin]

hydroton and 3/4" gravel are THE best options for a well balanced ebb and flood system.

 

[St3ve]

hydroton and 3/4" gravel are THE best options for a well balanced ebb and flood system.

lol really.. THE best huh? For what exactly? So you're saying that you personally have tried every combination of every medum around and you are certain that this is the best for plant health, easy of use, and conveneice?

Sorry to bust your balls but blanket statements like that aren't helpful. There is a pro and con to everything.

 

[Trewarin]

Organic*
Assuming you're not an idiot and refrain from cleaning or replacing the media. I can't speak for chem

 

[medicalmj]

Running ebb and grow buckets, 10 " netpots, loose fill, Veg for 2 months, ( feed once a day ) Once flowering starts i feed a a hr before lights on, and 6 hours into the cycle -

What i am wondering is, the ebb and grow system is great for creating fresh 02 to the root system with the back to back fill/drain times, using rockwool, you only feed, once, TWICE MAX a day, i wonder if we lose yield or not necessarily maximizing yield?

im currently thinking of trying RDWC, personally just not satisfied with the situation.

Check out the Under Current system. I did a DIY RDWC based on what some peeps I know and just had to many issues. Taking a break from RDWC til I can get it right. Also check out Heath Robinson stuff here on ICMAG. Hell I just might but a turnkey to save the time even tho I love the DIY part of it all.

GL

 

[St3ve]

Organic*
Assuming you're not an idiot and refrain from cleaning or replacing the media. I can't speak for chem

thanks for the clarification

 

[Saran]

I like to see it

http://youtu.be/Pnccae8y-q0

 

[Big_Al_Wang]

Have the same question

Have the same question

What would be a good flood cycle to start off with when using rockwool in an ebb n gro system?

 

[Big_Al_Wang]

Saran good find on the video

 

[Big_Al_Wang]

Lol just realized how old this thread is. There is some good info out now and I think more people have tried this now. Also saw some great results with just a six inch block in the pot and a 3 or 4 inch block ontop of that. Saw it on this site and guy had very nice results