Do E&F trays need support on the sides?

Keesje

Keesje

Well-Known Member
If you look at the websites of companies that sell hydro trays, you often see also the tables/stands for sale where you can place these on.
Like these

1577984070185.png 1577984095987.png 1577984294294.png

Most of these stands all have a kind of side rail. Probably to prevent the edges of the tray from bulging.

Yet you also see stands that do not have this side rail, such as these ones.

1577984463695.png 1577984528175.png 1577984631200.png


Is it really necessary to have such side rails?
Will the edges really bulge if you do not use these railings?
Of course, not much will happen with a just an inch of water anyway.
But does the tray also keep its shape when it contains 6 inches of water?
 
If worrying about the tray somehow overfilling due to a clog is your problem, the best idea would be to have a safe-pan under everything. This way if you didnt want the side rail, and were still worried about bowing or something and something failed, the secondary pan would catch it all.

I was just looking into these and the cost is just too much.. I'm going to build one but still want to buy just the drain pan they sell because I like how it is gridded to allow drainage. If I can have my drain pan level with it still draining that will be great because all my auto-watering discs will fill up evenly.

I have been looking into these because I am working on an autowatering system, I got the floranova matrix

I thought the side rails were actually for training purposes, but have no experience with any of these tables
 
Nizza said:
If worrying about the tray somehow overfilling due to a clog is your problem, the best idea would be to have a safe-pan under everything. This way if you didnt want the side rail, and were still worried about bowing or something and something failed, the secondary pan would catch it all.

I was just looking into these and the cost is just too much.. I'm going to build one but still want to buy just the drain pan they sell because I like how it is gridded to allow drainage. If I can have my drain pan level with it still draining that will be great because all my auto-watering discs will fill up evenly.

I have been looking into these because I am working on an autowatering system, I got the floranova matrix

I thought the side rails were actually for training purposes, but have no experience with any of these tables
Click to expand...
Rubber roofing or the base they put in showers and a few 2 by 4's and build any size you need
 
The fast fit, or similar stands in the top photos are the go for E&F. The newer tables in the x-trays, duralastic, botanicare are quite deep, and if you do a deep flood it’s got to support a fair amount of weight, and possible flex in the side walls.

A 1” flood is rather shallow, I.e my root mass on the table floor would be a lot deeper than that towards the end of a run.

I think the other table stands are for the shallow tables I.e when doing top feeding to pots or blocks.
 
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