Adding Some ebb and flow tables. Resivor size? opinions?

Whats up everyone just need an opinion on a resivor size for a ebb and flow tray thats 76" x 40". I picked the tray up from a friend but just need to pickup a new res and pump. Also any suggestions on a pump lph?

for a 3x6 table i would advise getting at the least a 50 gallon res.. 70 would be ideal, and any larger would be best..

when thinking about your res, you have to understand that the bigger the res you have, the more ppm and ph stability that you have, which means your plants will be healthier and happier, not to mention less res changes and fluctuations.

and depending on your medium you can go with a few different pump sizes.. larger pumps would be more for hydroton so that it fills and drains quickly, since your feeding times would be close together, and if you are using something like coco or rockwool that holds a large amount of water, you dont need a large pump because you will only be feeding a few times a day

hope this helps

FLo

^ what he said is spot on

newportbeach949 said:

^ what he said is spot on

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Thanks for the help. I apperciate it

If you don't want to deal with ph and ppm fluctuation every single day try to put 10 gal. of water per plant.

I get away with a 40g rez for my 3x6 & 4x4 tables....

I am adding about 5g of water to top them off every other day, but in doing do I am constantly checking PH & PPM so its a good "work" so to speak by keeping me involved a little bit more than if I just "set it and forget it".

The more plants/bulk you have on the table the less water you will need to reach the overflow point.... I usually have 20 plants on each table, in 8" mesh pots.

good luck

Thanks again! I think I just might go buy a 70 gal res. Those things are pretty freakin expensive though.

You haven't told us two important details.

The depth of the table to figure out the exact cubic volume of the table and the height of the containers you would like to use.

Volume = Length X Width X Height

Gallons = Volume X 0.00433


i.e. 76*40*7*0.00433 = Total of 92 gallons
i.e. 76*40*5*0.00433 = Total of 66 gallons

Remember two goals
1. you want to fill 50%-75% of the container
2. you should keep an extra 10-15% extra water than needed during your flood.

Good luck. Hope this helps.

larger pumps would be more for hydroton so that it fills and drains quickly, since your feeding times would be close together

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how many times a day should you feed using hydroton?

depends on stage and size of plants.. with large plants in heavy feeding you will be feeding once an hour for 15 minutes

I appreciate it! Do you think about 500gph pump would do the trick. Its a 70 gal res in a 6'x3' tray with hydroton. 6x3x5 in deep with an extra inch or so for overflow.

will be more than enough

could I get by with a 350 or 400 checking some out right now.

420MED said:

could I get by with a 350 or 400 checking some out right now.

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Yes you could get by with a lower gph pump, you would just have to flood longer.