Problem with CAP Ebb & Gro

AlphaPhase

AlphaPhase

Well-Known Member
My roots would clog 1" lines if I wasn't diligent with modifying my system. I do t use a cap, but my system uses 1/2" lines like cap oem. Something that would keep roots completely out of the fill/drain fitting is best, bigger tubes would only be good for a bigger system really but good info none the less.
 
AlphaPhase

AlphaPhase

Well-Known Member
Active aqua have much better bucket design as well. No standing water that doesn't drain. Check em out . Drain is on bottom of bucket rather than the side.
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max420thc

Well-Known Member
I like the idea of the draining all the way, but it seems it would make it more difficult to clean from time to time as I have a trellis over them to undo the fitting to keep it clean
 
T

TWS

Well-Known Member
Theory ? If you flood often enough to where the roots don't have to look for water would it lesson the issue ?
 
AlphaPhase

AlphaPhase

Well-Known Member
Same here, I use a trellis too and it is quite a pain to disconnect the tubes. It's not impossible though, the fittings are an upside down t fitting, it goes straight up into the bottom of the buckets and the tubes connect horizontal. Still a pain in the ass to disconnect though since they are barbed fittings. I go a full grow before cleaning them and haven't had any problems yet. I use net pots on a lid that fits on the flood bucket so my roots are suspended and have no medium so I flood ALOT, the roots still get into the drain though and I even prune the roots 2x before flower. It's a constant battle :p
max420thc said:
I like the idea of the draining all the way, but it seems it would make it more difficult to clean from time to time as I have a trellis over them to undo the fitting to keep it clean
Click to expand...
 
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max420thc

Well-Known Member
AlphaPhase said:
Same here, I use a trellis too and it is quite a pain to disconnect the tubes. It's not impossible though, the fittings are an upside down t fitting, it goes straight up into the bottom of the buckets and the tubes connect horizontal. Still a pain in the ass to disconnect though since they are barbed fittings. I go a full grow before cleaning them and haven't had any problems yet. I use net pots on a lid that fits on the flood bucket so my roots are suspended and have no medium so I flood ALOT, the roots still get into the drain though and I even prune the roots 2x before flower. It's a constant battle :p
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Ive thought about doing a kind of hybrid like you mention, had one experiment go really bad trying that recently the plants burned up, probably from not being flood enough,
I am running perlite in the buckets right now and hate moving and getting rid of the material, but I do not have any problems and the plants run beautifully,
I m veging in perlite hempy cups, then flip them into a perpetual ebb and grow,
Id like to know more about your flood schedule to keep from using so much perlite,
we used net pots with just a little bit of perlite in them letting the roots dangle down into the flood bucket,
please excuse the floor I just got done doing some trimming and the trimming is on the floor, we keep everything nice and clean
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max420thc

Well-Known Member
TWS said:
Theory ? If you flood often enough to where the roots don't have to look for water would it lesson the issue ?
Click to expand...
I was flooding three times a day, I still have a lot less issues using larger tubing instead of the 1/2 inch it comes with, upsized to three quarter inch and had a lot less problem, The real trick is keeping the tubes clean and getting the real clean after every run,
I do not know if flooding more frequently would keep the roots from stretching as much,
the bottom of my buckets by the end of a run are full of roots, you will see a line of tubes in the picture and t fitting at the back of the hose run that is clipped to the last bucket in the line, that is for a garden hose clean out, also a garden hose fits into 3/4 inch tube a lot better than half inch tubing to it does not spray water all over you and in your face when you clean them out, it saves a lot of time taking the fittings apart and putting them back together
 
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UncleBuck

UncleBuck

Well-Known Member
max420thc said:
I was flooding three times a day, I still have a lot less issues using larger tubing instead of the 1/2 inch it comes with, upsized to three quarter inch and had a lot less problem, The real trick is keeping the tubes clean and getting the real clean after every run,
I do not know if flooding more frequently would keep the roots from stretching as much,
the bottom of my buckets by the end of a run are full of roots, you will see a line of tubes in the picture and t fitting at the back of the hose run that is clipped to the last bucket in the line, that is for a garden hose clean out, also a garden hose fits into 3/4 inch tube a lot better than half inch tubing to it does not spray water all over you and in your face when you clean them out, it saves a lot of time taking the fittings apart and putting them back together
Click to expand...
you don't like getting sprayed in the face by a long hose?
 
M

max420thc

Well-Known Member
the problem with the capp buckets is they have flat bottoms, I was wondering why they didn't make them with a slope to the drain in the bottom to drain to the hole better,
 
AlphaPhase

AlphaPhase

Well-Known Member
It's a really simple design. I used lids for 2 gallon buckets and cut a hole for 5" net pots filled with hydroton and I flood every hour to every hour and a half, here's a pic of the buckets. It kind of hard to see but I use reflective insulation on the lid.
Screenshot_2015-05-05-18-20-42.png
 
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