Ebb & Grow Bucket system - flood cycles

[morrisgreenberg]

anytime i ask about flood cycles i always get a vague response and usually some people argue about night time flooding,3-6 times daily. i would like to know who has this unit and what brings you success, my system will be started with rooted clones, so i may have to flood more than if i started with small seedlings, as plants grow larger they will be taking up more water, whats the best flood cycle for each photoperiod? also i got the technaflora success kit, some nice vitamins too, im sure you guys got it, you like the stuff?
thanks in advance

 

[morrisgreenberg]

anyone? this is a bump

 

[morrisgreenberg]

does noone own this unit?

 

[FilthyFletch]

Nope costs to much so I have been trying to replicate it have all the parts just need some more pictures of the controller bucket...can you give me some shots of the controller bucket? I grow in flood tables and flood 4 times a day every 6 hours myself and seems to work good for me. I use rooted clones set in 4x4x4 rockwool cubes then into 6 inch square pots with hydroton..

 

[morrisgreenberg]

sure, i only bought it cus i didnt want to build anything anymore, and cost wise the system is expensive cus the components arent cheap

 

[StreetRider]

sure, i only bought it cus i didnt want to build anything anymore, and cost wise the system is expensive cus the components arent cheap

If you have good drainage of your medium water them often. As long as them get an air cycle after each feeding you will be fine. Most cycle seem to work for most people.

21 hour light cycle - 5 feedings lights on

21 hour light cycle - feedings every 3 hours

 

[morrisgreenberg]

i am too a big fan of clay, thats my medium, ok either way since i dont have any definitive answer from users ima have to with the flood table crowd sinces its the same, i recently put together a top feed drip system with my 3x3 tray, and i have been progressingly bumpibg up the drip cycles, from 2 times daily to 6 as they enter vegetative, im an aero guy myself and i have put together 4 systems 50 sites each, but i have a few strains that need to grow out. enter the ebb and grow, trainwreck and jorges diamonds are going in this unit...those lanky spear shaped buds i dont think will do so good in lollipop sog techniques..... also another big thing, lights out, whats your feed like? i got advice for a waterfarm but sent that shit back, i was told no matter what dont feed at night, this will give me root rot, matter of fact an old al b fuct thread he tore some guy up over that, in my aero systems i run a lighter spray schedule at night, 15/45 day 15/60 night, never a problem, what i was told about the waterfarm was that the roots will hold up during 12hours of darkness with clay pellets, i just dont see how thats possible

 

[Merlin11]

I have a bucket ebb and flow system that I built my self. Right now Iam running 15min pump on 2 hr pump off no watering at night. My White Widow is 32 days old and over 20". It is a bush very thick folage. Seems to look realy fine. I hear I should run the pump like 5 or 6 times a day? I use clay pellets in 10" baskets in 5 gal black buckets. At 32 days old is a 20" bush not so good, just ok or realy good?

 

[StreetRider]

I have a bucket ebb and flow system that I built my self. Right now Iam running 15min pump on 2 hr pump off no watering at night. My White Widow is 32 days old and over 20". It is a bush very thick folage. Seems to look realy fine. I hear I should run the pump like 5 or 6 times a day? I use clay pellets in 10" baskets in 5 gal black buckets. At 32 days old is a 20" bush not so good, just ok or realy good?

It sounds like you are doing great. It it is working for you stick with it. Don't let any off us tell you your wrong. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Just keep an eye on your plants they will tell you if you are over watering.

I really think that if you are keeping you neuts O2 up it is hard to over water them in clay. Just give them a break between feedings and they seem to do great. And I do not water at night even with my bush. I think they will be fine in flowering.

 

[morrisgreenberg]

the argument goes, they stop drinking at night, but i have trouble believeing that since the plant during flowering is performing at night, maybe 5 floods during light cycle and once in the middle of the night?

 

[StreetRider]

the argument goes, they stop drinking at night, but i have trouble believeing that since the plant during flowering is performing at night, maybe 5 floods during light cycle and once in the middle of the night?

Let your plants tell you if they need more light. IF they pick up noticible after your first lights on feeding then maybe they are drying out over night. Other then that maybe you shouldn't risk it.

 

[FilthyFletch]

I always have watered at dark times in ebb and flow flood setups and my aero setups throough years of trial I have found that being on 24/7 is much better then on and off cycles and saves your pump from all those hard starts. I need to get the brain bucket insides and many angle pics of the ebb n gro setup as I see some pictures but need to see how the pumps and floats work in it as the rest is dirt cheap. Got everything to make this for under $100 including pumps and I have abrain bucket identicals to thiers just dont want to use that cycler they have as thats the money pasrt I think I can do a 20 bucket setup for under $200 on this one. Its on my have to complete projects just like my copy of the BC BUD box producer for under $700. I started that one in an arguement on here with that company since they charge like 4 grand for those and its not that exspensiuve to build. I have trhat one laid out and just have to get to welding and will post that one as I get it done. If you can post up pictures of this unit how it looks inside and how the buckets look inside and such. from what i have tohether its 2 buckets stacked the one inside has holes drilled in it so it can be flooded from the bottom bucket. My version has a screen in the bottom to keep hydroton in place but I am thinking i might use deep bucket lid net pots for this and then only need 1 bucket as the 5 gallon netpot lids have an 8 inch net pot that snapes on the bucket like a lid with built in netpot that hangs down about 10 inches so yoiu could flood it liek regular flood table settings and would save time.money and shipping weight. I have 2 lines on each bucket one for fill and one for overflow. I think the brain bucket can be done with simple dual cycle timer and one float. The buckets overflow will dump into the brain bucket with the float which will activate at a certain level of overflow which will return that water to the barrel then the other line is hooked to a pump that feeds the flood lines. i want to simplify the brain to make it cheap and cost effective so we will see all pictures will help on this...

 

[Homegrowncronic]

I use the ebb & grow system myself and I feed 4 times a day during the lights on period. I always water an hour after lights go on and an hour before lights go off, with 2 cycles in between.

 

[widow84]

in my ebb & flow I water first weeks 1 cycle of 15 min
then when they get bigger in veg 2 times 30 min each and I end in 3 times 30 min each when lights go on , and before off with one in the middle

this system works for me

 

[Cr8z13]

I also have the Ebb & Grow system and I feed every 8 hours including a dark cycle feeding. My plants haven't complained.

 

[FilthyFletch]

Ok i have all the needed parts to build this sytem the brain bucket and all. I will give a final tally for the system (not including the hydroton or rockwool just the system as it is sold in stores) Quick estimnates so far looks to be around $115 for the entire setup of timers hoses, buckets,wires,float switches,res,buckets,outlets,project box for timer,relays and all the connectors. i will link from here once I start the tutorial of building this unit. I will stick to my watering every 8 hours lights on and off 4 waterings a day. I will have tot ime fill and drains to know how long i will run which depends on how many buckets you set up. I have mine designede to handle up to 32 buckets but will run 16 first run

 

[blueybong]

Morris ~ how's the system working out for you? Any tips to pass on?

Thanks!!

 

[morrisgreenberg]

tip number 1, raise each bucket 1 inch higher than the controller, this is easy with cut peices of wood, i hate having a small pool of water in the bottoms of each bucket, i use PBP line of nutes, i cant imagine a salty nutrient line with this system, from the pools of water in th e bottom with salty nutes will causes chaos, PbP isnt salty so its not harsh when built up, even still my ppms are always much higher in the control and buckets, raisig the buckets will allow for good drainage, besides who wants roots sitting in 2 inches of warm water? tip 2....tomotao cages with a 2-4 week veg (strain dependant) and lollipop the shit outa every branch, not the basic 1/4-1/3 of the bottom, i mean around 50% of each individual branch, side by side comparisons showed me denser fruit, longer colas and much much resin coated, cuts from same mother ended up looking like 2 different plants

 

[blueybong]

I already found out about raising the buckets one inch I too didn't like that extra water in there.

Tip # 2 was really interesting and thanks for responding!

 

[morrisgreenberg]

no prob, ill see you around...you gotta try the trimming, trim to the point where you say "did i go over board" i wouldnt do this no later than 2-3 weeks into flower