Switching to DIY ebb & flow/Perpetual Grow (help needed)

So this is my current set up


I have 3 plants in a 4 1/2 gal DWC bucket I made myself, in a 36x20x 62 grow tent, I'm looking to go into a homemade flood table, Ebb and flow set up, because I've seen some DIY threads all over the different pot grower forums, that have inspired me, also becoming a victim to root rot, pH swings, an my roots basically eating the air stone in my DWC.

so I decided to get handy, an build my own flood table, here's my plan
I will be using this 27.5 x 20inch concert mixing tub

With an ebb and flow kit from eBay or wherever with this tote

all in one easy trip to home depot an I'll have that covered
Now I want to make a table for the mixing tub to stand as I want to be able to take my res in an out of my tent, I was thinking the TV dinner stand I have seems to be the right size, but that gives my plants about 2-3ft of growing space before she hits the 300W led.

I'm trying to maximize my grow space, an also want to be able to move clones in an out of the table as this tent is for flowering, an I will be using my DWC to clone/veg them for a bit, I'm trying to set up a perpetual thing

Now the part I need help with is, the ebb and flow part

How often should I flood? I will be using hydroton mostly as my Clones will be from dwc buckets with neoprene collars, I will be using 1 gal. Pots filled with hydroton (still debating on square or round pots)

How many plants would fit comfortably in this space? The tent being 36x20x62 and the table being 27.5 x20, an about 2-3ft of vertical space

Help me out guys send me links to flood table grows if possible, I've seen amazing Flood table grows an very dead set on it, as it seems one Step up from DWC, I just hope I don't fuck it up which is why I'm here for your advice

I too am making a switch to flood and drain tables, using the DIY with the cement mixing trays and pots of hydroton.

As for a stand, I am going to be using a homemade stand to hold two of these tubs up above a res below. Just used 3/4 in PVC and connecters to make it. Let me know if you want pics of it, it's pretty easy to make.

Also, feel free to check out this thread: https://www.rollitup.org/t/pineapple-express-ebb-flow-600w-dyna-gro.833395/page-4#post-10865930

He was using the same type of tubs we are planning to use, and he had pretty good results from what I can see.

Also, here's what he said to me about his feeding times:

"As far as flood times ive been flooding 3 times during the on hours, first one is 1 hour after the light turns on for 15 minutes, second one is for 30 minutes 6 hours in and the last flood 1 hour before the light shuts off. Works great, not over watering problems, even used these times for the seedlings just stretched the timing of the floods out farther apart during veg, still only flooding 3 times. Never flood during lights off."

I plan on trying this out first time around and see if it works for my ladies, and adjusting from there if need be. Ill be starting flower on my first batch of clones in about another week.

Good luck on your grow!

Peace
- JB Grower

bobvilla777 said:

I too am making a switch to flood and drain tables, using the DIY with the cement mixing trays and pots of hydroton.

As for a stand, I am going to be using a homemade stand to hold two of these tubs up above a res below. Just used 3/4 in PVC and connecters to make it. Let me know if you want pics of it, it's pretty easy to make. [/QUOTE]

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Yeah let me see them, I was thinking of going the pvc route but I was kind of scared it wouldn't hold the tub with it's full flower weight, I was going to modify the tv dinner stand so it can fit the Tote underneath, but not sure cause the height is about 27 inches tall an with the table on top that's another 6 / 7 inches, I want as much vertical space I can get with my table

What Nutrients you plan to run?, I'm trying to grow mine with Lucas formula, to keep it simple an cheap as possible it hasn't let me down in DWC I've grew nice smoking tasty buds even when I caught deficiencies due to usual DWC issues.

how are you going to go about Veg? Or are you going from clone str8 to flower?

I got the idea from another thread where-in he used pvc to make a stand for one tub and had the res right underneath. He had the table full of hydroton with 6 plants inside and finished flower that way with no issues. Im hoping mine can hold up as well. Only time will tell though as this is my first run with it. I don't see any issues with stability so far while moving it around. I am going to be adding PVC glue to all the connecters once it is finalized.



I plan to cut back on the height of these, as I too would run out of vertical space. I need to get my res first and measure it out before I cut the 4 legs down.

For nutes, I plan to use the K.I.S.S. method... https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=191645
It's a basic replacement for the Lucas Formula, it's just a measured amount of Maxibloom. Im going to supplement with Advanced Nutrients Big Bud and Ultra Snow Storm. Big Bud will be new for me but I heard it does well with this formula. Ultra Snow Storm is something that I've used before and it worked really well so I keep it in my regimen.

I will be letting them veg in the bubble cloner for a little while by before transplanting into the flood and drain system. I am doing a perpetual grow with 4 different strains in 3 week increments. Each strain will get 3 weeks in the bubble cloner, 9 weeks in the flower tent.

Hope this helps,
Peace
- JB Grower

bobvilla777 said:

I got the idea from another thread where-in he used pvc to make a stand for one tub and had the res right underneath. He had the table full of hydroton with 6 plants inside and finished flower that way with no issues. Im hoping mine can hold up as well. Only time will tell though as this is my first run with it. I don't see any issues with stability so far while moving it around. I am going to be adding PVC glue to all the connecters once it is finalized.

View attachment 3254512 View attachment 3254513

I plan to cut back on the height of these, as I too would run out of vertical space. I need to get my res first and measure it out before I cut the 4 legs down.

For nutes, I plan to use the K.I.S.S. method... https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=191645
It's a basic replacement for the Lucas Formula, it's just a measured amount of Maxibloom. Im going to supplement with Advanced Nutrients Big Bud and Ultra Snow Storm. Big Bud will be new for me but I heard it does well with this formula. Ultra Snow Storm is something that I've used before and it worked really well so I keep it in my regimen.

I will be letting them veg in the bubble cloner for a little while by before transplanting into the flood and drain system. I am doing a perpetual grow with 4 different strains in 3 week increments. Each strain will get 3 weeks in the bubble cloner, 9 weeks in the flower tent.

Hope this helps,
Peace
- JB Grower

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Yeah I'm afraid to switch Nutes, I just got good with Lucas so I figure I do it with my first go on ebb and flow, the res being apart from the roots is a new experience for me.

I think I'm going to veg the same way you are, trying to go 4 or 5 plants maybe, still need to figure my space, I'm just waiting for my check an a ride to HD, an this local hydro shop I never been 2.

I'm going with an 18 gallon tote for res witch is about 16-17 inches high, but I'm not sure because originally I was thinking of getting a 10 gallon tote witch was 7-8 inches high, I don't even know the significance of the res size in flood and drain to be honest, I'm just assuming bigger is better, or in this case the bigger the res the less changing I have to do

bobvilla777 said:

I got the idea from another thread where-in he used pvc to make a stand for one tub and had the res right underneath. He had the table full of hydroton with 6 plants inside and finished flower that way with no issues. Im hoping mine can hold up as well. Only time will tell though as this is my first run with it. I don't see any issues with stability so far while moving it around. I am going to be adding PVC glue to all the connecters once it is finalized.

View attachment 3254512 View attachment 3254513

[/QUOTE]

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For the pvc stand did you have to use adapters? Or did you just use the corner sockets?
Cause I've seen a similar stand here https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=70262

an he had to use 1/2 adapter on the corner piece

smokefacekillah said:

For the pvc stand did you have to use adapters? Or did you just use the corner sockets?
Cause I've seen a similar stand here https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=70262

an he had to use 1/2 adapter on the corner piece

Click to expand...

Yea, that's actually the thread that inspired me to go the DIY route with flood and drain.

I actually just used corner pieces. I didn't see any need for adapters since I used the same size PVC all the way around.

bobvilla777 said:

Yea, that's actually the thread that inspired me to go the DIY route with flood and drain.

I actually just used corner pieces. I didn't see any need for adapters since I used the same size PVC all the way around.

Click to expand...

Cool I figured the same 2, that just seemed like a waste, I'm so anxious to run wild in home depot but haven't hard the ride

I've read that flooding for 15 mins each hour up until week 5 flower and then flood twice an hour during lights on and once an hour during lights off. Anything over 20 mins I feel runs the risk of oxygen deprivation. I've also thought about adding a few air stones in my flood table for extra oxygenation < < anyone try this? GL guys and I'll be popping on this thread from time to time.