I didn't flush before drowning, and the ppm of the water was around 500ppm for the first 4 days or so, until enough water disappeared (still not sure where exactly, my guess is: plants drank some, dehumidifier ate some, light/heat [80-87F] evaporated some) that when I topped up my trays the ppm dropped below 100, then the plants were drinking plain RO water with minor amounts of nutes left in it, essentially flushing.
Near the end, I became skeptical that the roots were still getting oxygen, and it was suggested that maybe they were getting it from the fresh RO water when I topped up the trays each day. So, I used HELLA propane boiling large soup pot after soup pot of water to remove the O2 and topped up the trays over the course of a few hours (Haven't got the gas bill yet, should be interesting).
I am still not clear on what an over ripe plant looks like, I had some further along than others at chop @ Week 10.5, some turned dark purple from eating all the Nitrogen, some stayed mostly green, some a purple yellow fan leaf gradient, some even had pink tips and streaks in the sugar leaves. I love them all, but would like to see some pics of an over ripe plant (alive & wet, and cut & dried) so that I can determine which is most ideal of the various stages I had.
As far as lids, check this out, it's the best deal I've found:
3.5gal Buckets (they have other sizes if you need as well)
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?sku=1934&catid=752
Universal Lids for 3.5, 5, and 6 gal Buckets
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?sku=2399&catid=686
The smell was unbeliveably bad, I pray it is something that went wrong with my particular setup, and that this doesn't happen to you or anyone else, it was sooooo foul. That's why I MUST get buckets to contain it, because the magic cure is so worth it, I will always drown from now on. Bud was smokable immediately after drying for 5-6 days in 64-75F and 40-50%RH in SJ Dark Dryer Tent with a growbox hanging layered drying rack inside and an 8" duct fan with a homemade "pillow" fish carbon filter and with the bottom part of the tent partially unzipped and the intake of a 30pt dehumidifier stuck in against the partially open flap. I had all 6 layers packed to the brim and branches hanging on the sides, with more to be cut down after they matured a slight bit more in their newly spacious lighted areas (since I had removed the larger buds above them; I cut branches at a time, not the whole plant).
<---------------Super #1 Fan of Snow Storm Ultra & Drowning + Instant delicious smooth crystal filled smoke
Well back to more trimming.