Convert top feed to ebb and flow?

projectinfo · Oct 7, 2018

Currently running top feed into netpots onto tables that drain into the res and get pumped back up all day and night.

Id like to eliminate the top feed line and just pump in and drain from the bottom of the table

I have a repeat cycle timer

so i need to add something like clay balls to the table so the roots dont dry out?

What elese would i have to change to make it happen ?

Is this a bad idea?

The system is ok, its just more to clean/leak. Id rather cut the fat where possible. Thanks

Any other suggestions ?

zypheruk · Oct 7, 2018

Just bigger net pots with clay balls or coco flood and drain as often as required. Reason im saying bigger net pots is simple, when you fill the table with clay balls it can get very heavy fast, and also it's a pain at the end of every grow cleaning all them clayballs so easier with net pots.

projectinfo · Oct 7, 2018

What do you do to cover the roots to reduce algae and drying out

zypheruk · Oct 7, 2018

You can stick a cover over the table Im guessing the same as you have atm.

70's natureboy · Oct 7, 2018

projectinfo said:
What do you do to cover the roots to reduce algae and drying out

Canopy.

The issue you will have is your small net pots will want to tip over easily if the plants get any bigger, which they will. Putting your long roots into bigger net pots may not be the best option. I think it will set them back a little while they try to figure out which way to grow. They will be tangled and twisted before they find a way out of the net pot. I think the best option would be to dump an inch of rocks in the bottom of your flood tray, lay your roots out neatly over them and then bury your net cups with another 3" of rocks. That way they won't tip over and your roots will have lots of room to spread immediately. Or you could just finish your grow as is and use a flood tray next time.

projectinfo · Oct 7, 2018

70's natureboy said:
Canopy.

The issue you will have is your small net pots will want to tip over easily if the plants get any bigger, which they will. Putting your long roots into bigger net pots may not be the best option. I think it will set them back a little while they try to figure out which way to grow. They will be tangled and twisted before they find a way out of the net pot. I think the best option would be to dump an inch of rocks in the bottom of your flood tray, lay your roots out neatly over them and then bury your net cups with another 3" of rocks. That way they won't tip over and your roots will have lots of room to spread immediately. Or you could just finish your grow as is and use a flood tray next time.

If your just in bigger pots do you also put clay balls in the table ?

Im starting tables a few weeks apart so id like to know how to start the next tables off properly. Thanks pal great info

projectinfo · Oct 7, 2018

zypheruk said:
Just bigger net pots with clay balls or coco flood and drain as often as required. Reason im saying bigger net pots is simple, when you fill the table with clay balls it can get very heavy fast, and also it's a pain at the end of every grow cleaning all them clayballs so easier with net pots.

Yes i hate dealing with clay balls. But in pots would be nice. Do you use netpots or just normal soilpots? 1gal im guessing.

Also i setup nets during the stretch

zypheruk · Oct 7, 2018

Start the next table with rooted clones put into the normal pots filled with hydroton that you wish to use and flood as required, flood depth depends on how far up the pots and roots etc you want to flood. With a cover on the table it will help hold moisture in for the roots until next watering.
Have tried it that way before and works fine.

But what if as an alternative you used coco in plastic / fabric pots and leave the cover off, it would work just as well, be easier managed, and at least if a pump dies they will last till next flood. Takes pressure of the grower to work on other things. Coco is the safer option I feel.
Just some food for thought.

projectinfo · Oct 7, 2018

zypheruk said:
Start the next table with rooted clones put into the normal pots filled with hydroton that you wish to use and flood as required, flood depth depends on how far up the pots and roots etc you want to flood. With a cover on the table it will help hold moisture in for the roots until next watering.
Have tried it that way before and works fine.

But what if as an alternative you used coco in plastic / fabric pots and leave the cover off, it would work just as well, be easier managed, and at least if a pump dies they will last till next flood. Takes pressure of the grower to work on other things. Coco is the safer option I feel.
Just some food for thought.

I did a coco run, it was ok but i did drain to waste .

I had a hard time with rhe nutrients, you need more calmag or sonething ?

Do you do ebb and flow recirc coco?

Airwalker16 · Oct 7, 2018

The point of ebb and flow is to water from the bottom. You don't use netpots really unless you fill the tray completely with hydroton. As stated earlier, normal square 1-2gallon pots with some coco mat on the bottoms to cover the holes and filled with coco or hydroton is what you do. Then when the tray fills, it wicks the moisture up. Coco is a much safer way to be sure success. If you let your clones roots get long in an aerocloner though, you can be pretty safe as long as you make sure the roots reach the bottom of the pot when you fill it with hydroton. That way you know they're getting water each flood cycle.

zypheruk · Oct 8, 2018

@projectinfo as @Airwalker16 has explained.
Keep us all informed when you switch over.

projectinfo · Oct 8, 2018

zypheruk said:
@projectinfo as @Airwalker16 has explained.
Keep us all informed when you switch over.

I said fuckit. Im goin no till organic. I need less work mixing and washing for hydro all the time .. Its exhausting and i killed a few rounds of clones . Fuck :/

PetFlora · Oct 8, 2018

Since you have so many plants get a tray or trays with sidewalls tall enough to handle flooding to the netpot lip (this will require a much larger rez). Instead of filling the tray with medium (I hate hydroton) use net pots

Her's a few pics for ideas. I have to cover everything due to mosquitos that manage to get in the house and find any open vessels with water. The DWCish with la mist heads works OK, but the heads are prone to clog when the ppms are increased for flowering (or much above 300)

hth

ThaMagnificent · Oct 10, 2018

I run my tables with rockwool chunks in the pots

Airwalker16 · Oct 11, 2018

PetFlora said:
Since you have so many plants get a tray or trays with sidewalls tall enough to handle flooding to the netpot lip (this will require a much larger rez). Instead of filling the tray with medium (I hate hydroton) use net pots

Her's a few pics for ideas. I have to cover everything due to mosquitos that manage to get in the house and find any open vessels with water. The DWCish with la mist heads works OK, but the heads are prone to clog when the ppms are increased for flowering (or much above 300)

hth

Hate hydroton buy would rather use River Rocks!?!

Major Blazer · Oct 12, 2018

Its totally fine to use net pots in a flood tray, you just don't want to use those little 3" ones - they should be large enough to accommodate your desired plant size/root mass. I'm using 3 gal fabric pots myself with about 3" of rockwool cubes on the bottom and hydroton the rest of the way up. The roots really live in the rockwool in my setup and the hytroton is there for plant support.

PetFlora · Oct 12, 2018

Airwalker16 said:
Hate hydroton buy would rather use River Rocks!?!

Polished stones are virtually inert, and, do not break down. I'v been using the same stones for 10 grows and counting

baaael · Nov 29, 2018

Major Blazer said:
Its totally fine to use net pots in a flood tray, you just don't want to use those little 3" ones - they should be large enough to accommodate your desired plant size/root mass. I'm using 3 gal fabric pots myself with about 3" of rockwool cubes on the bottom and hydroton the rest of the way up. The roots really live in the rockwool in my setup and the hytroton is there for plant support.

View attachment 4214365

hi bro,nice set up ,what are your feeding times and also the e.c for vege,im running a similar way but with four 7gl pots being singularly feed off the same main feed line instead of a table,thanks man

Major Blazer · Nov 30, 2018

baaael said:
hi bro,nice set up ,what are your feeding times and also the e.c for vege,im running a similar way but with four 7gl pots being singularly feed off the same main feed line instead of a table,thanks man

Those plants were happy with an EC of around 1.8 - 2.0 flowering. I flooded 3x a day, only when lights were on.

baaael · Nov 30, 2018

thanks dude,i supose it will be different as u have rockwool at the bottom,i have full hydroton and flood once an hour,they look fine but just trying to get it perfect
im running the clones at 250ppm or 0.5 e.c,
u think thats fine?
theyre only 2 days in the system

Convert top feed to ebb and flow?

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