Advantages of ebb and flow over aeroponics

Smoken-n-Token

Smoken-n-Token

Member
I'm sure this has been discussed before in other threads. My question is, what are the advantages of ebb and flow over an aeroponic system.

I started an aeroponics from the very beginning and it seems so simplistic. When I was doing research on the ebb and flow system , it seems like there is more things involved with no obvious advantages over aeroponics . Aeroponics seem to rain supreme on oxygen delivery to the roots. Much simpler, just a few spray heads and a simple system with a timer. The reservoir is also a lot smaller in aeroponic system then an ebb and flow system. So from my view, it seems like an ebb and flow system will be more expensive .

Was it simply that the ebb and flow system was developed before the aeroponics system was developed? Is that why it's still around?
 
TheChemist77

TheChemist77

Well-Known Member
ebb n flow is cheaper and less chance of cloged jets but aero is definatly better because its more oxegen in the water.. i grow DWC, just switched from 10 years of ebb n flow.. bigger roots =bigger yields...
 
TheChemist77

TheChemist77

Well-Known Member
it was around sooner than aero and its better for people who dont have alot of time in their gardens and less chance of somthing like a clogged jet screwing up your yields. ebb n flow is like set it and forget it just change the resevoir and the timer does the rest,,easy for beginers and produces massive yields so a begiunner can get yields of a pro w/ ebb n flow
 
TheChemist77

TheChemist77

Well-Known Member
ebb n flow will always be around as its a tried and true method of indoor growing,,, one of the best in my opinion, its great for beginers to learn hydro then after they master it they can do any hydro ap like aero as its all about giving plants what they need and being on top of the ph at all times
 
Smoken-n-Token

Smoken-n-Token

Member
I must disagree on a few of those statements.

Most aeroponic systems will have more than one sprayer and therefore is redundant. All you need to get started in aeroponics is a reservoir a pump, tubing and spray nozzles or simply just put a hole in your PVC pipe/Vinyl tubing and let it spray against the inside walls . I've never done ebon flow but my understanding is the nutrients and pH balancing would be the same as if in aeroponics or deep water culture.

Check out my simple aeroponic system Dirt cheap




Seeing how Ebb and flow uses pretty much all the same components as a aeroponic system would exception for the growth medium vs tubing or PVC piping(for aero). Aeroponics has no growth medium other than the air therefore is always going to be cheaper . Also going to deliver more oxygen to the roots . Which creates faster growth and stronger plant.

I'm not sure what kind of growing mediums that are used in a ebb and flow system, but I believe they use growing rocks . And they seem to be a bit expensive. They seem to run about $4 a pound and I'm not quite sure how much you would need for a large area say 4x4. With Ebb and flow it would seem the larger you go the more expensive it becomes.

But correct me if I'm wrong.

you also mention that it's easier because the cycles between watering or greater than aeroponics . If using an automatic timer it would make no difference if your cycles are 6 hours or 4 minutes.

Am I missing something here? What's the advantage?
 
butsack

butsack

Well-Known Member
Smoken-n-Token said:
I must disagree on a few of those statements.

Most aeroponic systems will have more than one sprayer and therefore is redundant. All you need to get started in aeroponics is a reservoir a pump, tubing and spray nozzles or simply just put a hole in your PVC pipe/Vinyl tubing and let it spray against the inside walls . I've never done ebon flow but my understanding is the nutrients and pH balancing would be the same as if in aeroponics or deep water culture.

Check out my simple aeroponic system Dirt cheap




Seeing how Ebb and flow uses pretty much all the same components as a aeroponic system would exception for the growth medium vs tubing or PVC piping(for aero). Aeroponics has no growth medium other than the air therefore is always going to be cheaper . Also going to deliver more oxygen to the roots . Which creates faster growth and stronger plant.

I'm not sure what kind of growing mediums that are used in a ebb and flow system, but I believe they use growing rocks . And they seem to be a bit expensive. They seem to run about $4 a pound and I'm not quite sure how much you would need for a large area say 4x4. With Ebb and flow it would seem the larger you go the more expensive it becomes.

But correct me if I'm wrong.

you also mention that it's easier because the cycles between watering or greater than aeroponics . If using an automatic timer it would make no difference if your cycles are 6 hours or 4 minutes.

Am I missing something here? What's the advantage?
Click to expand...
a lot of people use rockwool for flood tables and coco for flood buckets.

i guess you can just use a normal 15 min timer for ebb and flow, the timers that manage less than 15 mins at a time a bit more spendy.

they are both great, its your choice in the end, use both! i start with aero and end in e/f! :bigjoint:
 
Smoken-n-Token

Smoken-n-Token

Member
It's my understanding that aeroponics delivers the most oxygen to roots, therefore develops larger plants and have bigger buds. Not to mention the speed growth. So why does one choose Ebb and flow over aeroponics whenever the price points are almost exactly the same depending on which direction to go.

And especially on larger grow's aeroponics would be far cheaper as it requires no growth medium . I know it's one's choice to choose which one to go with.

Here's an easier way of asking this question.

If you have done aeroponics and switch to ebb and flow, can you explain to me why you chose to switch? :weed:
 
butsack

butsack

Well-Known Member
i go from aero to ebb for stability mostly. ive found i can get away with 1 cup of hydroton per 4 ft plant in ebb

what about foggers? this is what i'm intrested in...:cool:
 
Smoken-n-Token

Smoken-n-Token

Member
I hope it doesn't seem like I'm bashing on the ebb and flow system.

Just trying to understand the logic behind it. I'm trying to weigh out the differences.

I just see so many advantages in aeroponics that I'm really curious when someone goes to design there system, that they choose Ebb and flow over aero. It works so well, it's used to root clones.

My curiosity really gets to me sometimes. I'm not going to be a good grower if I can't see a clear advantages between the two and that nags me. :roll:

I'm just seeing so many more advantages with aeroponics, their price point is about the same. Larger scale ops with aero are simpler and more cost effective. It also has the added benefit of being able to root your clones in your main system if needed.

:)
 
Drumfounded

Drumfounded

Well-Known Member
Hey Smoken! I'm a brand new grower so I don't have much input on the subject but I changed from DIY aero to ebb and flow simply because I was having problems with the aero. I tried my first grow from seed and it was a miserable failure in the aero. After that, a friend suggested I try ebb and flow. I'm about 4 days from harvest on my first successful grow and it was just so easy. The plants look and smell incredible and all I really do is check the water a few times a day and change the Rez every 5-10 days, depending on how the plants are reacting. Right before the switch, I cloned. I put half the clones in my aero cloner and half the clones in a propagation tray. The clones in the tray did beautifully while the clones In the aero took so long to root and only about half of them made it to veg. Again, I am a total newbie, so it's more than likely my fault. I plan to continue experimenting with the aero as I believe it is superior as you said. However, from experience, I have to agree with a lot if te above responses that ebb and flow is easier for beginners and a more tried and true method with more success than aero. Just my 2 cents. By the way, your diy aero unit is awesome, super simple design! Mine was a pain in the ass to build!
 
Smoken-n-Token

Smoken-n-Token

Member
butsack said:
i go from aero to ebb for stability mostly. ive found i can get away with 1 cup of hydroton per 4 ft plant in ebb

what about foggers? this is what i'm intrested in...:cool:
Click to expand...
Never done foggers, but I'm also highly interested in it. It also would seem like a simple build but I never did the research on the price of an atomizer.

I paid $12 for my pump for that little aeroponic set up . If I can find a atomizer for less than $20 that definitely would reign supreme over my current setup and it wouldn't be too difficult to switch out.
 
Smoken-n-Token

Smoken-n-Token

Member
Drumfounded said:
Hey Smoken! I'm a brand new grower so I don't have much input on the subject but I changed from DIY aero to ebb and flow simply because I was having problems with the aero. I tried my first grow from seed and it was a miserable failure in the aero. After that, a friend suggested I try ebb and flow. I'm about 4 days from harvest on my first successful grow and it was just so easy. The plants look and smell incredible and all I really do is check the water a few times a day and change the Rez every 5-10 days, depending on how the plants are reacting. Right before the switch, I cloned. I put half the clones in my aero cloner and half the clones in a propagation tray. The clones in the tray did beautifully while the clones In the aero took so long to root and only about half of them made it to veg. Again, I am a total newbie, so it's more than likely my fault. I plan to continue experimenting with the aero as I believe it is superior as you said. However, from experience, I have to agree with a lot if te above responses that ebb and flow is easier for beginners and a more tried and true method with more success than aero. Just my 2 cents. By the way, your diy aero unit is awesome, super simple design! Mine was a pain in the ass to build!
Click to expand...
Maybe that's why I'm not getting it. My first aeroponic grow was a complete success. I never cloned in aeroponics, I've always clones in deep water culture. And had a 100% success rate. I don't know, maybe it was the strain I was growing . It was white berry.

Here is my first design. Skip to 1:00

And the harvest :weed:

And the size of this beast. Not bad for a first run :)
 
Smoken-n-Token

Smoken-n-Token

Member
I think I understand, it has a higher success rate. But honestly I'm not sure how aeroponics can be screwed up if you can Ebb and flow you should be able to do aero. :)

I guess the only way to answer my question is to do it myself :) hehe

I thought that there was a clear advantage to the ebb and flow system compared to aeroponics, you know every system has its own quirks and its own advantages over something else. So from what I'm hearing it's the easiest to start with when getting to hydroponics as it's sort of a hybrid between hydroponics and aeroponics.

Thats it, it's the stepping stone between hydroponics and aeroponics. The best of both worlds. DWC Is super simple, but has its problems mainly with root rot. Aeroponics, explosive growth big yields but can be tricky to keep the pH in check, until one gets a feel for it. And then there's Ebb and flow. Nearly eliminates the possibility of root rot at the same time increasing oxygen to the roots by flooding and draining and the pH is more stable, therefore easier to do.

Sorry seems like I'm asking questions and then answering myself . I seem to do better that way don't know why.

Keep Smoken-n-Token
 
Last edited:
Smoken-n-Token

Smoken-n-Token

Member
butsack said:
ive never heard of cloning in DWC
how long does that typically take?
Click to expand...
About 5 to 8 days, I'm sure every strain is different. This is when I start to see the roots coming out of the grow rock. I don't use anything other than just grow rocks net cup and a bubbler. Oh, and of course root tech rooting hormone Gel. I also cut the fan leaves alittle more then a quarter way from the tip.

I've never sprayed them or nothing I don't put no nutrients in the water just pH balance it. The theory is that the plants are going to want to search for nutrients and water therefore is going to want to develop roots. And by spraying the plant you're giving it water through its leaves and that's not going to encourage the plant to grow roots. It's like a child, take away his toys and he's going to want to work harder to get them back. It's all about encouragement. it's simply survival, fource it into survival mode that's how it was explained to me and it works.
 
Drumfounded

Drumfounded

Well-Known Member
Again, I don't have much cause I am still so new but the ONE big difference I can say is the ph fluctuation. I know this is a big reason my first grow failed. In the aero, I had to constantly adjust the ph, I'm assuming it had to do with the smaller Rez as well as the constant air injection. With the ebb, I still check my ph up to three times a day, but only because I'm obsessed, lol. When my beneficials are optimal, I can set my ph to 5.9 at a fresh Rez change and it will stay 5.9, maybe rise to 6.0-6.1, by the next change ten days later. I'm currently setting up a tent with aero, I'm really hoping to get it this time. You just gave me a load of confidence when you said I should be able to get it after using the ebb. I'm hoping I just messed the first grow up with rookie mistakes and that hopefully aero is more forgiving than I thought. Thanks for the vids! I'll be checking them out as soon as I post this! Also, thanks for the thread! I've been scared of aero since my bad experience, but trying to explain why they are so different or what the benefits of ebb are, made me realize they are not so different at all.
 
Smoken-n-Token

Smoken-n-Token

Member
Drumfounded said:
Again, I don't have much cause I am still so new but the ONE big difference I can say is the ph fluctuation. I know this is a big reason my first grow failed. In the aero, I had to constantly adjust the ph, I'm assuming it had to do with the smaller Rez as well as the constant air injection. With the ebb, I still check my ph up to three times a day, but only because I'm obsessed, lol. When my beneficials are optimal, I can set my ph to 5.9 at a fresh Rez change and it will stay 5.9, maybe rise to 6.0-6.1, by the next change ten days later. I'm currently setting up a tent with aero, I'm really hoping to get it this time. You just gave me a load of confidence when you said I should be able to get it after using the ebb. I'm hoping I just messed the first grow up with rookie mistakes and that hopefully aero is more forgiving than I thought. Thanks for the vids! I'll be checking them out as soon as I post this! Also, thanks for the thread! I've been scared of aero since my bad experience, but trying to explain why they are so different or what the benefits of ebb are, made me realize they are not so different at all.
Click to expand...
Yea, I love video's:

Your pH problem can be solved quite easily if that's the problem that you're having.
If you don't mind switching your nutrients you can go with the advanced nutrients perfect pH system
Here's a video that demonstrates this:


Of course you don't have to purchase that extreme kit. The standard 3 part system has that pH perfect built into it.
But it does take a little bit of fun out of it . Half the fun is constantly checking the pH. lol But no, it's a great nutrient system from what I read in the reviews. I personally haven't tried it but it's something you might want to consider.
 
Drumfounded

Drumfounded

Well-Known Member
What a beautiful monster! What was the dried weight? Not only have you got my wheels spinning on aero again, but you just taught me something. My system, the roots are sprayed directly. I think I may reposition the PVC to create more of a mist.
 
Drumfounded

Drumfounded

Well-Known Member
Smoken-n-Token said:
Yea, I love video's:

Your pH problem can be solved quite easily if that's the problem that you're having.
If you don't mind switching your nutrients you can go with the advanced nutrients perfect pH system
Here's a video that demonstrates this:


Of course you don't have to purchase that extreme kit. The standard 3 part system has that pH perfect built into it.
But it does take a little bit of fun out of it . Half the fun is constantly checking the pH. lol But no, it's a great nutrient system from what I read in the reviews. I personally haven't tried it but it's something you might want to consider.
Click to expand...
I believe I simply underestimated the importance of ph in the first grow. While I notice it fluctuates a lot less in the 55gal Rez, I have definitely learned how to get it perfect and keep it there. I really appreciate the idea and I'll definitely keep it in mind for the future, but I'm getting great results from the nutes I'm using and I'm comfortable with them for now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top