Extremely simple DIY ebb and flow hydroponics system: part 2

[irqvet2010]

I built 1 out of your idea but Im having a technical issue my water does not want to go uphill, i have a 20 gallon air pump and my seals are good, what do you think is happening?

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

@irqvet2010 Maybe a few reasons, if its a brand new pump make sure it is working by seeing if the hose makes bubbles underwater, there may be some sort of seal somewhere blocking the air inlet. Second, if you are just using aquarium air tubing link in the first vid of this series, it may be too small try using a larger diameter hose, you'll notice I am using a much larger hose for the liquid in this. Using the airline as the water hose worked, but just barely and it took forever.

[irqvet2010]

@SurfMonkeyCoconut Ha my airline had a tiny hole i found it by dipping everything in my bathtub, thanks

[dt65262]

OMG this video is much better without the music from video one! Thanks for keeping it out. GREAT video! On to video part 3

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

@dt65262 Awesome! thanks for hanging in there!

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

@dutch1565 awesome! that sounds like a great alternative, porous structure to allow the roots to grow through and the nutrient solution to flow freely!

[englandinacan]

Get rid of those windows. You need to block ALL light in the nutrient res or you'll get algae growth.

Algae doesnt directly harm your plants, but it does eat up nutrients REALLY quickly, causing them and ph to fluctuate madly.

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

@englandinacan Nutrient solution jug is below the window under a counter, there is some indoor light down there, but not enough to cause algae problems. You are correct though, in direct sunlight or intense light, algae will throw off your chemistry. Changing the solution everyday will help tide alage, but one could also spray paint the bottle black.

[bustherh]

@englandinacan use colloidal silver to prevent algae growth

[stevenmedicine]

Do you need rockwool or those little balls your using? or could i use those jiffy pucks? after i have a good root ball then i would plant it in a bigger pot to grow, then when that plant gets big enough then i would take clones off that plant, could i take the fresh cutting and (put it in jiffy, or rockwool or the one your using?) put it into the ebb&flow? i would eventally plant it into a bigger pot after it forms a good root ball, does this make sense? Could it root Clone cuttings?

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

@stevenmedicine Rock wool is absorbant and draws the hydro fluid to the roots, the clay balls are there just for substrate support. You could use jiffy pots, but once wet they won't transmit nutrients as well as rock wool. jiffy pots also don't dry well between soakings, so you may get mold/algae problems. I would spend the extra coin for the tried and true stuff if the stuff you are growing is important to you. Rock wool comes in packs so once you invest in the bagyou can clone all you want!

[stevenmedicine]

can you finish a plant from start to finish?, such as marijauna in the ebb & Flow? i'm going to make the reserviour out of a 2L pop bottle & the other is going to be a plastic coffee container. the nutrients come in 3 bottles and you mix all 3 together? or could i use water? i'm stuck with the solution? one of the bottles of nutrients is for leaf? 2nd bottle of nutrients is for Growth? and 3rd bottle of nutrient is for flower and i mix them together in proportions found on a chart is that right?

[stevenmedicine]

@stevenmedicine that is how i read it in your response to @MrGnpm about the solution. could you please tell me what are the nutrients you buy for the ebb& Flow?

[englandinacan]

@stevenmedicine if you're growing weed then spend the money to do it properly, or you'll get a tenth of the harvest.

If you're using bottles etc to cut costs, then you probably don't have a proper grow light.

If you're growing outside or under a windowsil, don't use hydro as it's not worth it, you'd be better off with plant pots and cocopeat (it's great stuff).

You also NEED a nutrient meter and ph test kit. Else you're gonna harm your plants with hydro. I speak from experience.

[englandinacan]

@stevenmedicine Onto the nutes... They come in multiple bottles as you said. THESE ARE CONCENTRATES.

Fill up your reservior with distilled water. If you can't get distilled, leave the water out for 24 hrs to let the chlorine escape.

Next, add the nutrients one by one to the water, according to directions. You should have a part a/b for veg and a part a/b for flowering.

They are packaged seperately as some of the compounds in the nutes breakdown/react with eachother when not diluted

[MrGnpm]

great video, i am going to make one of my own, what kind of mixed solution do you mix in your ebb & flow? and or do you buy it at a local hydroponic store? and Does the Air pump tube goes an inch from the top of reserviour cap? or put the tube at the bottom of the reserviour? just a couple questions before i start making the project, I May have a couple more question later on Thanks

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

@MrGnpm I use "General Hydroponics" brand of nutrients. The solution comes in 3 bottles, and you mix them together in proportions found on a chart they have depending on the stage of your plant's growth. I.e. seedling, leaf growth, flower, etc... Its a great system. The air hose just goes an inch from the cap, not to the bottom.

[vewdew3]

oohh and maybe some rock wool blocks and the clay blocks on ur ebay too....ur vids are awesome and you cant argue with your feedback on ebay.keep up the great work and THANK YOU !!

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

@vewdew3 Cool! thanks for the suggestion, its hard to source these for wholesale, seems hydro manufactures have enough business as it is! :D

[brapbrap37]

lol



[fkelly84]

wow this is great!... sounds fun!... i'll make a six pack this spring ... thank you

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

@fkelly84 For sure! its a really fun way of growing houseplants!

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

@SurfMonkeyCoconut also all your house guest will ask about it!! ;)

[LilaHarvey]

How often do you change the nutrient water?

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

@LilaHarvey once a week, but sometimes sooner when the plant gets more mature and demands more, you can kinda tell when the water gets more clear than pink colored when the liquid neuts are depleted!

[H20654]

@thegame52291 Your mom likes my Monkey inside her

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

@H20654 Lol, its funny because its true!

[nuen8]

@H20654 that sounded so wrong.

[funkysnair]

hi there!

looking good but arent the roots supposed to have a gap between the water and the mesh pot to allow for airflow

basicly the roots and the basket arenot supposed to be submerged in the liquid?

i was led to belive that the bubbling would create splashes on the clay pebbles and the roots would drop out of the bottom of the mesh pot into the solution with a 1" - 2" air gap between them?

i am not criticising you im mearly questioning your idea, i am going to do something like it

[IcechickenSr]

Is the air presure from the air pump acting as a hydrolic pump pushing water out of the res and into the Jar with the plant in it?, I gather it all drains out of the jar back into the res when the air pump shuts off? If so I never thought of this and it would be extremely simple. Cheers, IC.

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

@IcechickenSr you got it!

[goodtimes1123]

soo could i use marbles?

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

@goodtimes1123 sure, if your net cup is large enough, or the marbles are small enough...however you will need rockwool around the seedling!

[goodtimes1123]

oo well thank you sir, by the way, your the best you actually check your emails lol.

[goodtimes1123]

hello, the plant looks very healthy. I was woundering im sorta new to the hydroponic system, and i was woundering if i need the clay pebbles?, like what do they do?

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

@goodtimes1123 Hi there! The clay hydro pellets are inert, same with the rock wool, its there to provide something for the roots to grow into and to hold on. I believe the rock wool, is necessary as it absorbs the nutrient solution well and allows the roots to spread easily, but you may replace the clay pellets with anything, light weight gravel, lava rocks, pumice, etc...

[Krayz333]

Great system gonna try and build one today :D

[branfrog]

@okin33333 I am using an aquarium pump rated for 10 gallons, its about the perfect amount of air for a 1 container system like this.

[bodkins01]

Get it right please its not baysle as you say its baaaaaaaa as in the sound a sheep makes basil, queens english

But then you are american the home of corruption

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

@bodkins01 LOL! awesome, OK!  I'll be sure to make an upcoming video entirely in British standard speak ;)

[pnolty13]

What kind of basil did you use?

Did you start the seeds in the system or outside the system?

What nutrient solution did you use?

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

The typical $2 seed packet basil, this is sweet basil.

Seeds were put directly in the rock wool, soaked in a tofu container half filled with nutrient solution for 1 day. Then put into the ebb, flow system.

I used the three part General Hydroponics nutrients.

[bbuubbi]

4 wecks?!?!?!?

LOL OMG WTF its huge!!!

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

lol! What you talkin' 'bout.

check out part 4 its even bigger!

[deathman113]

hey..look i know that youre probably getting annoyed from me aking all these questions but i wanna get stuff str8 b 4 i buy anything,

so.where did u get the air release valve? and how does it work in the system?

from what i understand, it sounds like it lets the air into the container to pump the solution out and then during the flow back to the container, it lets air out to be replaced by the liquid...is this correct?

also, one more thing what kind of fertilizer do u uze and were can i get sum?

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

No prob, the 'air release' valve is actually just an air regulating adjustment knob, available at the pet store aquarium section...i think i described it better in the comments in the "part 1" video.

You will need this because most pumps have a 'check valve' and wont allow air to back flow. the regulator knob will act as a leak in the line, and will allow air to back flow in the reservoir.

Liquid will not pass through the air line, it is on a separate line..the feed line supplies liquid

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

instructables. co m has more info about building systems like this. as for the liquid ferts i use the 3-part "General Hydroponics" fertilizers. You mix the 3 liquids at different ratios depending on what growth stage you are at. this is available at hydroponic stores and or websites..ebay etc..

[deathman113]

thanks so much man!!!

[pondmatter]

Does the release valve work on its own all of the time? Or does it have to be opened and closed manually?

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

it will work on its own as long as the valve is correctly adjusted. Once you get it, you shouldn't have to play with it at all.

[deathman113]

hey..me again...what size net pot is that...it looks like 3 inch...maybe 4...

also, what kind of air pump is that..and how loud is it?

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

yes its a 3" net cup. See part 3 of this series to see a short discussion about sizing.

The pump is made by Tetra and is called "Whisper air pump" it is a 10gallon pump and is very quiet! about $8. I have to put my hand on it to feel the vibration when i want to check to see if it is on. 90% of the noise generated by this system is from the bubbling in the jar.

[deathman113]

lol...drill that hoe...

thats wat it sounded like ya said...lol

[SurfMonkeyCoconut]

LoooooL! Awesome! I have too many clay beads in my mouth.