First time Ebb & Flow , Need Advice Please!

Im going to setup my first ebb and flow. I had a few questions that I need cleared up before i start.

What would be the best medium loose rockwool or Hydroton and how often would the trays need floodingto prevent the roots from drying?

If i were to grow auto strains how would i adapt my nutrients to their needs.

Lastly if i wanted to grow both regular and auto strains in the same area could i use a bulb that gives off both light spectrums due to the differences in the life cycles. Would a bulb giving both light spectrums be less effective than bulbs dedicated to specific lights spectrums.

Thanks for any and all info anyone can provide!!!

I have never done ebb and flow but will be doing soon and will help the best I can.

Usually the trays are flooded 3 times a day During the Lights On cycle. Have first feeding around 2 hours after lights comes on then have the second feeding 3-3.5 hours after that and the last feeding a few hours before the lights go off. You can adjust that to suite yours needs, that's more of a flowering schedule.

I have never grown auto's either but once again will help you there.

If you grow regular photo period and automatic flowering strains together in the same flood table. If you leave the lights on 18/6 or 24/0 the regular will never flower and the auto's will. If you do 12/12 to flower the regular plants the auto's will suffer. Now you could time it where you veg(18/6) for 2-2.5 months(the reg plants) and then the auto's would be ready for harvest and the regular plants could go into 12/12.

Also the bulb spectrums is pretty much up to you. Auto's and regular plants doesn't really alter what choice in bulbs you have. I would use a Hortilux HPS for flower.

Good Luck.

I love me some ebb/flow. Currently I flood 4X/day with hydroton. 18/6: Flood at lights on, 5 hours, 5 hours, 5 hours. 3 hours later lights go off. Some auto's still prefer 12/12 so I'm not sure why you think they'll suffer. I use HPS from seed to harvest. It provides more lumens (I know the blue spectrum is preferred for veg since they benefit more from the wavelength but they grow fine and might work better in your situation)

I meant to say they the auto's yield would suffer lol oops.

I said this because it's what I've read from others experience with auto's and regulars on 12/12 could have been something else in the grows but I figured the 12/12 was the factor.

i use e and b too. i feed for ten minutes 4 times a day, not matter if it is 24/0 or 12/12. the first feed is 30 min after lights on and last is 1 hour before lights out, the other two split the difference. If its 24/0 i just feed every 6 hours. i use hydroton in smart pots but i will soon be switching to coco croutons.

hortilux makes bulbs that will give you both spectrums but they are really really expensive.

I started with clones and i flooded 1 time for 10 min every 2-3 days. I was using 6 in rw. They really retain water.?

It retains water like crazy, when my plants are small I can get away with flooding only once per day.

If you use rockwool then you can flood much less than with hydroton. Early to mid veg I was flooding my girls once a day for 15 minutes and it was fine.

HYDROTON!
Flood at lights on, and every 3 or 4 hours until dark.
Dont flood while it's dark.

Getting both 2700k and 6500k light spectrums is a good thing.

The only problem with running multiple strains like you plan to is that you will end up with an uneven canopy, meaning you wont be getting the most out of your lights.
Good luck, brotha.

And remember when it comes to feeding, less it more

Thanks alot guys, I apreciate all the help all thats left to do is configure my nute ratios. Cant wait to get theses babies started

Helloo.. im here looking for any advice and input for my first grow room .... ill be uploading pics once i figure out how to!
list of items im using....
1000w huliculture metal halide
lumatek 1000-600w Electronic ballast
4x4FT ebb and flow tray ( about 6-7 in deep )
6x6IN pargo rockwool
FlurDuo A and B
flourlious by general hydro.
40 gallon resevoir
temp controled by A/C
6in Inline vortex fan for cooling the light

and whats the correct watering schedule for those 6x6 cubes.... the temp goes up and down between 70-75, humidity is about 44-52...

my current watering cycle.. FOR VEG
it takes 4mins to fill the the top tank, then i let the water circulate for 11 mins, then drains in 5 mins..... i am doing this every 8 hours currently so 3 times a day .... Correct?

LOL TNT... im going to tell you to go here..... Your pretty much exactly what im doing.. and i'm completely setup.....

https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/430235-my-first-grow-super-lemon.html

Are you useing 6x6 rockwool cubes? Cause water would retain in that for a looooonnnnnnggg time... im using 1'" rockwool and flooding once a day...