Would the drain pipe create enough aeration if its positioned well enough the water level of the reservoir tank? By draining and splashing into the tank it would create aeration would it not?
@theciskokidd Good question. I put the air pump and stone in to keep plenty of air in the solution and keep the nutrients mixed. It may be totally unnecessary but since it only adds about $10 to the cost, it seemed well worth it to me. This is only how I did mine. My idea for this video is to show how I built my system and to encourage people to design and build their own. You're welcome to build it making any changes you like. You could experiment and answer your own question.
@FenderGibsonWashburn I hear ya. One last quick question. As far as draining is concerned, Ive seen a system that drains back down through the intake hose. Are all pumps designed in such a way to allow the water to fall back down through the pump and into the reservoir? Thanks!
@theciskokidd I can't say I know for all pumps but yes that is typical.
Extra info: Inside the pump is a disk with fins. When it spins it pushes the solution up the tube. Because of this a pump rated at 120gph may only pump 10gph or not at all at say 4' high.
Also concerning air pumps, use a back-flow preventer or keep your air pump above the solution level or the solution could drain through your air hose causing a mess and ruining your pump.
This is by far the most helpful Ebb and Flow instructional video on YouTube. Next time, send me the audio and I'll fix that 60 cycle hum. ;) Thanks for uploading!
Nice video and explanation! I used a very similar approach as you described, with one major difference: I placed a bell siphon over the overflow tube so that the system can remain on all the time with no timer and it will fill the table till the bell siphon catches and drains it back down, then the cycle repeats. My system takes one minute and 45 seconds to completely fill and drain one time. The plants are extremely happy and no timer, no air pump, and no air stones needed.
So when the top tray is drained ie. the water pump has been turned off, do the roots just stay suspended in the air? Or must they be submerged in water at all times?
Do you keep the pump on the whole time? or do you want it only for a certain period of time. i will buy a timer but only if neccery. i do not want to manually turn off and onn the oump. thx
i have been building flood and drain system for years, without fail. but i thought i just check out your channel. very good info, for anyone not familar with this method of hydroponics, peace and happiness.
@xXxBLINGO07xXx There is no one answer on how long to leave it run. Humidity, number of plants, age of plants, temperature, size and type of container all effect your on and off times. Start with turning the pump on for 15 minutes every 3 hours. Adjust as necessary. In certain cases you could leave it run. Although you would rarely leave it run all the time, it's nice to have that option, such as if you are trying to get young sprouts to root.
Hi thank you for explaining how everything works in this video. I have a couple of questions i would be greatfull if you could answere them.
1. when using this type of system how do you go about changing the water, nutes and flushing ?? Sorry for sounding dumb but the plants sit on top of the res if im correct ??
2. How often do you chnage the nutes ? add fresh water so on ?
@rastamanbobby Answer to #1. There are two ways I did it. 1. I bought a fluid hand pump. You can get them for around $10 in the automotive section in any Walmart type store. Put the suction side down the overflow tube and pump it out. 2. Later I added a fluid level/drain tube. I show installing one in this video /watch?v=105e3eALKPs
Answer to #2. Change the nutes every two weeks at least. Only add half strength or plain water between changes. You add it into the flood table. :)
A VERY GOOD AND WELL PRESENTED vid on how to build a system by graphics, and a creative animation
that showed the way it worked. THANK YOU FOR THIS. I feel more confident to build such a system with this well presented reference to the basics. My regards
@carpetmandan1 I'm glad it helped :-) My hope is that people will be willing to build their own systems if I take some of the mystery out of it for them. I believe having more people in the hobby is a good thing.
Excellent job with this video! Through massive amounts of research on methods I've decided that your video is the best I've came across to date. It seems everyones videos are about where they are in there current grows and not actually how they developed/ designed a system to there method. I thank you because I am enlightened from watching this and finally feel as though I'm ready to design my own. Now, get back to making more videos please! Subscribing.
@xjohnnylightningx Thank you very much for taking the time to post such a nice comment. Your right, I need to get some more videos out. I have designed several more systems but haven't had time to build and film them. Thanks for subscribing.
The small drain holes are not typically in these systems. They usually only drain back through the pump but because of the way I installed the fill tube it was necessary. That's the fun part about designing and building your own systems, you run into a problem and you design around it. :)
Thanks for sharing this helpful video on building a hydroponic system. I may consider building this system since I want to grow several plants with my hydro setup. Now, I just need to figure out what variation I can use for my system. I am very thankful that you showed different possible forms of the ebb and flow that your viewers can try.
Thank you so much! The video explains the essential structure in a clear, minimalist, encompassing way that leaves a lot to creativity without leaving you in the dark.
what dose the roots set in when the pump is off and the water drips down ? and how long do you run the pump and how may times a day ? thanks for the video
@evans27ful Look up other Ebb and Flow systems and you will see the plants have some material to grow in. A google search for "hydroponic grow medium". This medium can be in grow pots or placed directly in the flood table. There is no one correct answer for run times. There are a lot of factors involved, size, age and number of the plants, temperature, humidity, type and intensity of lighting. Start with 15 minutes on every 4 hours and adjust from there. Your welcome, have fun. :)
@oshienmikey7 You are absolutely correct. That may be hard for some people to do without special fittings or touchy adjustments. This is just my inexpensive and easy way of doing it. That's the great thing about building your own system is you can build it any way you want. Be creative and most importantly have fun. :)
After watching some rather professional looking videos, some amateurish ones with actual setups being shown and being left utterly cold by all I have to say I think this video is brilliant.
Explained with real clarity, illustrations that explain in a very clear and easy to understand way and (unlike the others I've seen so far) spoken by a voice that didn't have me heading for the "back" button before I got half way into the video.
@thirteenfingers Thank you for the kind words. It's really nice when people let me know they appreciate my work and it encourages me to make more videos. :)
Yesterday I took some time to watch your other videos and I'm really quite inspired.
I was already leaning towards trying hydroponics but the simplicity you demonstrated and the clarity with which you did so has given me the push to give it a go.
I have a small tomato (Red Robin - officially grows to 1' but we've got one that's more like 2' to 2'6") that will set fruit indoors in winter. I think I'll try that first.
@kaisukekim There are so many ways to do it. You can put in blocks of Rockwool or net pots/pond baskets (I like the 6" ones) filled with Hydroton, STG Hail, Pea Gravel, Volcanic rock, 50/50 mix of Perlite & Vermiculite and etc... OR just fill the flood table with the aforementioned grow media. A rule of thumb for watering times is if the plants wilt BEFORE watering your OFF time is too long, if they wilt AFTER watering the ON time is too long. Read through the comments for on/off time info. :)
Thanks for sharing some techniques on how to build and ebb and flow system. I never really thought that there could be a lot of variation with this system. I'll keep in mind that the overflow pipe is important in making the system work perfectly for the plants. Moreover, I think using an automated timer would be best in regulating the precise amount of time that the nutrients and water should continuously flow for the plants.
@lovingmygarden You're welcome. Yes, Ebb and Flow has a lot of variations. It's very easy to make modification to suit YOUR needs as opposed to trying to use a pre-built system that may not be right for you. I've even designed a system that uses buckets like the "Ebb and Grow" but only uses one common timer and only one pump. The overflow pipe is what makes the system adjustable. The timer makes the system automatic, unless you have the time to switch the pump on manually. Great comment!
Very informative video.Im just wondering,with a flood and drain system,for how long should the upper container be flooded,and how many times a day?Thanks for the upload!
@Jamokai It depends on many factors. Type of media, temperature, humidity, plant size, number of plants, gallons per hour of the pump, size and type of flood table, and etc... Here's one example: Two 6" net pots filled with Hydroton suspended from holes cut in the lid with a 3 foot tall pepper plant in each outside in July North-west Ohio. On time 15 minutes, off time 3 hours. Your results will vary. You're welcome :)
@FenderGibsonWashburn Thanks for the answer.What do you prefer,flood and drain with intervals,or just a continuisly running nutrient solution,lets say for a mint plant?Thanks
@Jamokai I've never grown mint so I can't say for sure. I can tell you basil, oregano, cilantro, and parsley all do well in flood and drain. I don't see any reason why mint wouldn't do well also. Continuous running nutrient solution seems to be the preferred method for lettuces. Google search for "NFT lettuce" to see some examples. :)
I saw your video on hydro-gardening. You seem to care about helping the environment and not just out there trying to sell a hydro system, I thought you might be willing to answer a few of my questions. 1. I have a worm farm/compost bin. Can I use "worm tea" to fertilize? I do not like chemical fertilizers. 2. What types of growing media have you used, wool, rocks, perlite, STG, etc. which do you prefer? 3. Do you prefer E&F, floating table, drip method, etc.? Thanks for helping a "newbie".
@WolfSpiritWalk 1. I don't know for sure because I never tried it as a fertilizer but it's my understanding it's used as a soil amendment or foliar spray. There is organic fertilizer available for hydroponic systems. 2. Personally I've used Hydroton, Pea Gravel, Volcanic Rock and STG. I prefer Hydroton. 3. I've built systems using E&F, Top Drip, Sub-Aeration (Bubbleponic), The cool thing is they all work really well. No need to limit yourself to one type of system. Hope this helped.
I really like to add organic Compost Tea to the hydroponic nutrients solution as an organic fertilizer. I get it at Daddypetes*com in the form of compost tea bags.
It adds healthy natural microbes and microorganisms back into the water and the aeration from the bubbles helps to sustain its ability to control various root diseases blights, and molds.
I used it in flower pot farming as well, and had remarkable results. Some plants that looked like they had disease recovered nicely.
I really like to add organic Compost Tea to the hydroponic nutrients solution as an organic fertilizer. I get it at Daddypetes*com in the form of compost tea bags.
It adds healthy natural microbes and microorganisms back into the water and the aeration from the bubbles helps to sustain its ability to control various root diseases blights, and molds.
I used it in flower pot farming as well, and had remarkable results. Some plants that looked like they had been diseased recovered nicely.
I really like to add organic Compost Tea to the hydroponic nutrients solution as an organic fertilizer. I get it at Daddypetes*com in the form of compost tea bags.
It adds healthy natural microbes and microorganisms back into the water and the aeration from the bubbles helps to sustain its ability to control various root diseases blights, and molds.
I used it in flower pot farming as well, and had remarkable results. Some plants that looked like they had been diseased recovered nicely.
@KevinKaya Sorry for the short answer before, I didn't have much time. As long as you supply the roots with plenty of Air it will take the oxygen it needs through the roots. Just as, if the leaves are not in a sealed enclosure they will take in the Co2 they need out of the Air. Air Enriched would be more correct since I'm not pumping pure Oxygen into the nutrient solution. We use the term Oxygen Enriched only because thats what the plant needs at it's roots. I hope this makes it clearer.
@FenderGibsonWashburn Roots need oxygen? I never knew that, you learn something new everyday :) Although yeah "Air Enriched" should be the term used as air is the generic word used to describe the different gases around us such as N2, O2, Ar, CO2, NE, CH4 etc. .. right? :P
@KevinKaya Correct. When I say Air that is what I'm referring to. You may have heard someone say they drown a plant and it died. This is an absolutely true statement. If someone over waters a plant in soil, even though plants produce O2, the ROOTS don't get enough oxygen. Since there is no oxygen the plant can't covert the sugar (from Photosynthesis) to energy and the plant eventually dies. Since people use oxygen at a higher rate than plants we die faster. So grow lots of plants!!! :)
Great video! I have no experience in hydro whatsoever and am only in the learning stage - However; I have a question! How do you know when you are running out of solution? Ok - if you have small plants, you just lift out the top level/tray..... but say I have 5ft tall chilli plants in there.......i could have a clear base, but then that will encourage algae because of the light....
@Photokat22 Very good question! I had a sort of Dip Stick like when you check your oil in a car. I put a dowel rod down the overflow tube and checked to see how far the solution was from the bottom. I added only half strength or less solution to make up the difference. After two weeks drain it all out and start over. I found a nice hand pump in the automotive section for less that $10. Run it down the overflow pipe and pump all the old solution out.
If you didn't drill any holes in the bottom of the flood table, how does the water drain back into the reservoir? I would think that it would only drain as far as the overflow pipe, and that's it. Is it flowing backwards through the pump? Also, if you did drill holes in the bottom of the flood table, how many are you talking? Obviously too many would prevent a proper flood in the table. Thanks!
@TheLiquidSword Excellent observations! Yes, the solution will drain back through the pump once it switches off. The latest one I drilled four 1/4" holes, one in each corner. It takes a little bit longer to fill the flood table but it's worth it for a complete drain. You shouldn't have any problems as long as you don't make too many or too big of holes that it drains faster than the pump can fill it. Drilling holes is the simplistic way, I've read a couple other good ideas here in the comments.
@s9srider Nope. The hydroponic solution is in the upper container for only 15 minutes every 3 or 4 hours. The rest of the time it's held in the reservoir till the next cycle.
@trojanshawaii Yes. Tomato plants love flood and drain. One way would be to put a tomato plant in a pond basket filled with hydroton and place it in the flood table. The number of plants is only limited by the space needed for the plants to spread out.
@FFarmerCharlie I admittedly know very little about aquaponics but since I try to keep the reservoir dark to help prevent algae I can't imagine goldfish would be very happy in there. I may experiment some day. Thanks for the idea.
@FenderGibsonWashburn maybe if you syphon from an actual glass aquarium, otherwise the quality of life for these guys would be pretty poor...Nitrogen will be covered, you will still need some additional liquid nutrients to provide enough for the plants.
@FenderGibsonWashburn maybe if you syphon from an actual glass aquarium, otherwise the quality of life for these guys would be pretty poor...Nitrogen will be covered, you will still need some additional liquid nutrients to provide enough for the plants.
you can also make the pvp pipe/tube from the pump flush with the top container that way when the pump shuts off the water can drain back threw the same tube. then you wont have to drill any drain holes.
@MWCstream You are absolutely correct and this one does drain that way for the most part.
The problem I kept having is no matter how I connected the fill hose to the flood table, it would always stick up an eighth inch or more. The flood table never drained completely. Drilling small drain holes was my simple solution.
Melting in a sump area for the fill connection seemed too complicated and potentially dangerous for this project. Any tips would be appreciated.
you might have luck drilling holes towards the top of the supply pipe. instead of trying to make it flush. that way it can still drain out of the same pipe.
Very informative video, and good job with the animation. I found this tutorial to be more easily undestandable than others on youtube. And has anybody told you that your recorded voice sounds exactly like John Goodman?
@PearBearCam That's exactly why I did this video as an animation. I filmed myself building the actual system first and I wasn't satisfied with the results. That's why I called this the "animated version." Plus this way I could show variations and cut-away views.
Yes I've had other people say I sound like John Goodman. I take it as a compliment. :-) Thanks for the nice comment.
@thesokable If you check my other videos you will see I built a very small system that only has room for 4 small plants. Once you understand how the Ebb and Flow system works you can build one of any size you want. That's the main point of this video, you can build the perfect size system for you. Thank you for the question.
i have a question. what if i built a mini clear plastic tower on top of the water system so it has it own atmosphere? wouldn't i need to build some sort of tube leading out side of it so i can put more water in the supply? so it can keep the atmosphere?
@galacliva Do you mean like a mini greenhouse or terrarium? Hydroponics uses a balanced nutrient solution. Simply adding more water will not work over the long term. You will need to be able to test and adjust solution strength and ph, change the solution, and add more water when necessary. Just keep the entire reservoir outside the mini greenhouse and run fill and drain hoses inside to the flood table. I hope this helps.
what do u mean kind comment? lol just kidding.. thank you for taking the time to make such great explanatory video that involves all the parts and instruction!!
good vid its helped me out alot! i was going to follow some detailed instructions but after seein that its so simple i will make my own tomoro! thanks!
@robmcewing Glad I could help. Having detailed instruction are nice but I like coming up with solutions on my own. It's good to use information from different sources in case you run into an unexpected problem. Good luck with your system.
@impreza705 I have never found a need to have it on that often but that's the great thing about hydroponics, not everyone has to do it the same way for it to work. Thanks for helping others with your input. It's very much appreciated.
i totally agree,i never stop learning new ways to get better results. I find the watering schedule is totally dependant on what you are growing aswell.
@davidhopp1 I use a Sunterra #120016 200gph in mine. It has a lift of almost 4 feet, plenty enough for this project. I can't comment on other brands because this is what was available to me locally.
@davidhopp1 Unfortunately there is no one answer that covers all situations. It will depend on temp, humidity, type of medium used and etc... A good starting point is to run the pump for 15 minutes every 3 or 4 hours. Experiment and adjust as necessary.
My first system I had a cheap timer and ran it for 1/2 an hour every 3 1/2 hours and it worked fine. Don't stress over it, It's not a big deal as long as you don't drown or let the roots dry out. Good luck and have fun!
@davidhopp1 The brand doesn't much. I have a couple different ones. The ones I use have little pins that push in. Try to find one that can be set to only 15 minutes. It only needs to run a pump with a few watts so a cheap one will work fine. If you got the money you and buy a digital one that can be set for only a few minutes. At this stage I haven't found it necessary.
@09arken It depends on how tall your net pots are. You want the solution level to come up about 2/3 to the top of the net pots. You can either set the net pots on the floor of the top tub or cut holes in the lid and suspend them.
@dddproject Like a Hybrid System. I think that would be in interesting project. Maybe have an extra air pump kick in when the water pump does? Not sure it would make a difference but you never know till you try.
thank you
shelladavis 3 days ago
How the fuck did I get here from If I Eat Your Brains-Insane Clown Posse?
2wheelfamily 1 week ago
Would the drain pipe create enough aeration if its positioned well enough the water level of the reservoir tank? By draining and splashing into the tank it would create aeration would it not?
theciskokidd 2 weeks ago
@theciskokidd Good question. I put the air pump and stone in to keep plenty of air in the solution and keep the nutrients mixed. It may be totally unnecessary but since it only adds about $10 to the cost, it seemed well worth it to me. This is only how I did mine. My idea for this video is to show how I built my system and to encourage people to design and build their own. You're welcome to build it making any changes you like. You could experiment and answer your own question.
FenderGibsonWashburn 2 weeks ago
@FenderGibsonWashburn I hear ya. One last quick question. As far as draining is concerned, Ive seen a system that drains back down through the intake hose. Are all pumps designed in such a way to allow the water to fall back down through the pump and into the reservoir? Thanks!
theciskokidd 2 weeks ago
@theciskokidd I can't say I know for all pumps but yes that is typical.
Extra info: Inside the pump is a disk with fins. When it spins it pushes the solution up the tube. Because of this a pump rated at 120gph may only pump 10gph or not at all at say 4' high.
Also concerning air pumps, use a back-flow preventer or keep your air pump above the solution level or the solution could drain through your air hose causing a mess and ruining your pump.
FenderGibsonWashburn 2 weeks ago
thank you for the only hydroponic video on youtube that makes sense
lukepieters 3 weeks ago
This is by far the most helpful Ebb and Flow instructional video on YouTube. Next time, send me the audio and I'll fix that 60 cycle hum. ;) Thanks for uploading!
travroy 1 month ago
Nice video and explanation! I used a very similar approach as you described, with one major difference: I placed a bell siphon over the overflow tube so that the system can remain on all the time with no timer and it will fill the table till the bell siphon catches and drains it back down, then the cycle repeats. My system takes one minute and 45 seconds to completely fill and drain one time. The plants are extremely happy and no timer, no air pump, and no air stones needed.
potlover62 2 months ago
@potlover62 Very cool, thanks for the idea. :)
FenderGibsonWashburn 2 months ago
Thanx man
BroncoBill321 3 months ago
hey everyone in science class who sees this!!! hi!!!!
yingtau 4 months ago
Also does the top tray need to be light proofed because of the roots? Or does it matter? I have seen other methods using clear containers...
stillwaters1993 4 months ago
So when the top tray is drained ie. the water pump has been turned off, do the roots just stay suspended in the air? Or must they be submerged in water at all times?
stillwaters1993 4 months ago
Very helpfull video, i have a question
Do you keep the pump on the whole time? or do you want it only for a certain period of time. i will buy a timer but only if neccery. i do not want to manually turn off and onn the oump. thx
initialsareAK47 4 months ago
Go to Green Book Pages for all your GREEN needs
GreenbookPages 4 months ago
i have been building flood and drain system for years, without fail. but i thought i just check out your channel. very good info, for anyone not familar with this method of hydroponics, peace and happiness.
steveeb1269 5 months ago
Well done Sir! Thanks for the insightful vid!
15569903 6 months ago
Thanks, very helpful and very basic, but straight to the point and very well explained!
AnimationsN1 8 months ago
nvm spoke to soon. most helpful video ever thank you
rabiddbaby 8 months ago
where does the overflow tube need to be positioned exactly???
rabiddbaby 8 months ago
what would be a good plant pot size for like 4-5 in this setup?
dericade 8 months ago
+Rep
jcotto78 8 months ago
@jcotto78 GC rocks
rabiddbaby 8 months ago
respect man!
JohnnyDreamboat 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
simple way to put it...lol
vantol420 9 months ago
simple way to put it...lol
vantol420 9 months ago
Fairly interesting, but what amazes me is that you did this with MS Paint and MS Movie Maker! :-)
tonyj4x4 9 months ago
U should be a teacher lol
How long do I leave water pump on that pumps water into the top box? If I left it on all the time there would be no point in having 2 boxes?
xXxBLINGO07xXx 10 months ago
@xXxBLINGO07xXx There is no one answer on how long to leave it run. Humidity, number of plants, age of plants, temperature, size and type of container all effect your on and off times. Start with turning the pump on for 15 minutes every 3 hours. Adjust as necessary. In certain cases you could leave it run. Although you would rarely leave it run all the time, it's nice to have that option, such as if you are trying to get young sprouts to root.
FenderGibsonWashburn 10 months ago
Great video, and yea - well presented.
Great job
LookieLoudLou 10 months ago
this video is superb thank for explaining hydro very simply much appreciated
MrMutualRespect 10 months ago
@MrMutualRespect I really dig your name. Purposely a gardening reference. Thanks for taking the time to comment. :) You are very welcome.
FenderGibsonWashburn 10 months ago
Hi thank you for explaining how everything works in this video. I have a couple of questions i would be greatfull if you could answere them.
1. when using this type of system how do you go about changing the water, nutes and flushing ?? Sorry for sounding dumb but the plants sit on top of the res if im correct ??
2. How often do you chnage the nutes ? add fresh water so on ?
Thanks
rastamanbobby 1 year ago
@rastamanbobby Answer to #1. There are two ways I did it. 1. I bought a fluid hand pump. You can get them for around $10 in the automotive section in any Walmart type store. Put the suction side down the overflow tube and pump it out. 2. Later I added a fluid level/drain tube. I show installing one in this video /watch?v=105e3eALKPs
Answer to #2. Change the nutes every two weeks at least. Only add half strength or plain water between changes. You add it into the flood table. :)
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
A VERY GOOD AND WELL PRESENTED vid on how to build a system by graphics, and a creative animation
that showed the way it worked. THANK YOU FOR THIS. I feel more confident to build such a system with this well presented reference to the basics. My regards
nbm34 11 months ago
@rastamanbobby
what'a a "nute"?
zarni000 6 months ago
nice simple video. really helped
carpetmandan1 1 year ago
@carpetmandan1 I'm glad it helped :-) My hope is that people will be willing to build their own systems if I take some of the mystery out of it for them. I believe having more people in the hobby is a good thing.
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago 2
@AmazinglyAgnostic Thanks!
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
is this for growing weed?
briangunn21 1 year ago
@briangunn21 This is for growing plants. What type of plants is totally up to you.
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
@FenderGibsonWashburn so you burn too? thats cool
briangunn21 1 year ago
@AmazinglyAgnostic My favorite are the Rubbermaid Roughneck totes.
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
Excellent job with this video! Through massive amounts of research on methods I've decided that your video is the best I've came across to date. It seems everyones videos are about where they are in there current grows and not actually how they developed/ designed a system to there method. I thank you because I am enlightened from watching this and finally feel as though I'm ready to design my own. Now, get back to making more videos please! Subscribing.
xjohnnylightningx 1 year ago
@xjohnnylightningx Thank you very much for taking the time to post such a nice comment. Your right, I need to get some more videos out. I have designed several more systems but haven't had time to build and film them. Thanks for subscribing.
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
The small drain holes are not typically in these systems. They usually only drain back through the pump but because of the way I installed the fill tube it was necessary. That's the fun part about designing and building your own systems, you run into a problem and you design around it. :)
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
Thanks this was very clear and useful!
The small holes bit at the end (not shown in animation) is key to draining fully!! Woo hoo!
casemon 1 year ago
Thanks for sharing this helpful video on building a hydroponic system. I may consider building this system since I want to grow several plants with my hydro setup. Now, I just need to figure out what variation I can use for my system. I am very thankful that you showed different possible forms of the ebb and flow that your viewers can try.
grower912 1 year ago
The method @ 1:42 with the six cups is, what i find to be perfect than a drip irrigation system when it comes to entry level (veg. stage).
nuen8 1 year ago
AWESOME VIDEO, thanks for posting!!
bl33ditout 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
see your beautiful girl here naneedj.info
dilkaa 1 year ago
Thank you so much! The video explains the essential structure in a clear, minimalist, encompassing way that leaves a lot to creativity without leaving you in the dark.
GrumpyOldDude90 1 year ago
Best video ever.
nuen8 1 year ago
good video
mabdiuhrman 1 year ago
this information was very helpful too me. i thank you very much.
TheReggaeRadio 1 year ago
what dose the roots set in when the pump is off and the water drips down ? and how long do you run the pump and how may times a day ? thanks for the video
evans27ful 1 year ago
@evans27ful Look up other Ebb and Flow systems and you will see the plants have some material to grow in. A google search for "hydroponic grow medium". This medium can be in grow pots or placed directly in the flood table. There is no one correct answer for run times. There are a lot of factors involved, size, age and number of the plants, temperature, humidity, type and intensity of lighting. Start with 15 minutes on every 4 hours and adjust from there. Your welcome, have fun. :)
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
this iz borrrrrrrrrrring but useful information!!!!!!!
hi remson
MrJustinbieber18 1 year ago
@MrJustinbieber18 hi urself i dont know u sike i do so get off and work
SomethingManMade 1 year ago
@SomethingManMade oh know you diddnt you suck
MrJustinbieber18 1 year ago
@MrJustinbieber18 lik i care wat u think lol jk so im serious and get back to WORK!
SomethingManMade 1 year ago
@SomethingManMade no dont want to also iv'e been working your looking at videos!
MrJustinbieber18 1 year ago
Comment removed
MrJustinbieber18 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Nice video! Thanks!
peachlate 1 year ago
Nice video! Thanks!
peachlate 1 year ago
@oshienmikey7 You are absolutely correct. That may be hard for some people to do without special fittings or touchy adjustments. This is just my inexpensive and easy way of doing it. That's the great thing about building your own system is you can build it any way you want. Be creative and most importantly have fun. :)
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
After watching some rather professional looking videos, some amateurish ones with actual setups being shown and being left utterly cold by all I have to say I think this video is brilliant.
Explained with real clarity, illustrations that explain in a very clear and easy to understand way and (unlike the others I've seen so far) spoken by a voice that didn't have me heading for the "back" button before I got half way into the video.
Nice work, and thanks very much.
thirteenfingers 1 year ago
@thirteenfingers Thank you for the kind words. It's really nice when people let me know they appreciate my work and it encourages me to make more videos. :)
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
@FenderGibsonWashburn You're most welcome. :)
Yesterday I took some time to watch your other videos and I'm really quite inspired.
I was already leaning towards trying hydroponics but the simplicity you demonstrated and the clarity with which you did so has given me the push to give it a go.
I have a small tomato (Red Robin - officially grows to 1' but we've got one that's more like 2' to 2'6") that will set fruit indoors in winter. I think I'll try that first.
Exciting times.
Thanks again.
thirteenfingers 1 year ago
Very nice explaining video!
Is the airstone on timer or is it always on?
Erna113 1 year ago
@Erna113 The air stone is always on. :)
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
how often do you flood the upper tray and how long do you keep the pump on for during each flood period?
relztem3 1 year ago
@relztem3 On for 15 minutes every three hours as a starting point. Please read through the comments for additional information
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
this was so helpful, im sooo glad i came across this! your awsome lol
warwickslap 1 year ago
@warwickslap Thanks :) I'm working on some new videos that should be out soon.
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
great job on the video, naration, paint and music!
Imadeyalook 1 year ago
@Imadeyalook Thank you for taking the time to comment. That's really nice of you to say. :)
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
hey what do you put in the top bucket to grow? also do you just turn on the pump when feeding are leave it on?
kaisukekim 1 year ago
@kaisukekim There are so many ways to do it. You can put in blocks of Rockwool or net pots/pond baskets (I like the 6" ones) filled with Hydroton, STG Hail, Pea Gravel, Volcanic rock, 50/50 mix of Perlite & Vermiculite and etc... OR just fill the flood table with the aforementioned grow media. A rule of thumb for watering times is if the plants wilt BEFORE watering your OFF time is too long, if they wilt AFTER watering the ON time is too long. Read through the comments for on/off time info. :)
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
Thanks for sharing some techniques on how to build and ebb and flow system. I never really thought that there could be a lot of variation with this system. I'll keep in mind that the overflow pipe is important in making the system work perfectly for the plants. Moreover, I think using an automated timer would be best in regulating the precise amount of time that the nutrients and water should continuously flow for the plants.
lovingmygarden 1 year ago
@lovingmygarden You're welcome. Yes, Ebb and Flow has a lot of variations. It's very easy to make modification to suit YOUR needs as opposed to trying to use a pre-built system that may not be right for you. I've even designed a system that uses buckets like the "Ebb and Grow" but only uses one common timer and only one pump. The overflow pipe is what makes the system adjustable. The timer makes the system automatic, unless you have the time to switch the pump on manually. Great comment!
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
@FenderGibsonWashburn : thanks so much for the reply :) i really appreciate it :)
lovingmygarden 1 year ago
Very informative video.Im just wondering,with a flood and drain system,for how long should the upper container be flooded,and how many times a day?Thanks for the upload!
Jamokai 1 year ago
@Jamokai It depends on many factors. Type of media, temperature, humidity, plant size, number of plants, gallons per hour of the pump, size and type of flood table, and etc... Here's one example: Two 6" net pots filled with Hydroton suspended from holes cut in the lid with a 3 foot tall pepper plant in each outside in July North-west Ohio. On time 15 minutes, off time 3 hours. Your results will vary. You're welcome :)
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
@FenderGibsonWashburn Thanks for the answer.What do you prefer,flood and drain with intervals,or just a continuisly running nutrient solution,lets say for a mint plant?Thanks
Jamokai 1 year ago
@Jamokai I've never grown mint so I can't say for sure. I can tell you basil, oregano, cilantro, and parsley all do well in flood and drain. I don't see any reason why mint wouldn't do well also. Continuous running nutrient solution seems to be the preferred method for lettuces. Google search for "NFT lettuce" to see some examples. :)
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
@FenderGibsonWashburn Thanks for your help.
Jamokai 1 year ago
verry informative and simple thanks
MrMastermike1 1 year ago
I saw your video on hydro-gardening. You seem to care about helping the environment and not just out there trying to sell a hydro system, I thought you might be willing to answer a few of my questions. 1. I have a worm farm/compost bin. Can I use "worm tea" to fertilize? I do not like chemical fertilizers. 2. What types of growing media have you used, wool, rocks, perlite, STG, etc. which do you prefer? 3. Do you prefer E&F, floating table, drip method, etc.? Thanks for helping a "newbie".
WolfSpiritWalk 1 year ago
@WolfSpiritWalk 1. I don't know for sure because I never tried it as a fertilizer but it's my understanding it's used as a soil amendment or foliar spray. There is organic fertilizer available for hydroponic systems. 2. Personally I've used Hydroton, Pea Gravel, Volcanic Rock and STG. I prefer Hydroton. 3. I've built systems using E&F, Top Drip, Sub-Aeration (Bubbleponic), The cool thing is they all work really well. No need to limit yourself to one type of system. Hope this helped.
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
I really like to add organic Compost Tea to the hydroponic nutrients solution as an organic fertilizer. I get it at Daddypetes*com in the form of compost tea bags.
It adds healthy natural microbes and microorganisms back into the water and the aeration from the bubbles helps to sustain its ability to control various root diseases blights, and molds.
I used it in flower pot farming as well, and had remarkable results. Some plants that looked like they had disease recovered nicely.
saturdayhero1 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I really like to add organic Compost Tea to the hydroponic nutrients solution as an organic fertilizer. I get it at Daddypetes*com in the form of compost tea bags.
It adds healthy natural microbes and microorganisms back into the water and the aeration from the bubbles helps to sustain its ability to control various root diseases blights, and molds.
I used it in flower pot farming as well, and had remarkable results. Some plants that looked like they had been diseased recovered nicely.
saturdayhero1 1 year ago
I really like to add organic Compost Tea to the hydroponic nutrients solution as an organic fertilizer. I get it at Daddypetes*com in the form of compost tea bags.
It adds healthy natural microbes and microorganisms back into the water and the aeration from the bubbles helps to sustain its ability to control various root diseases blights, and molds.
I used it in flower pot farming as well, and had remarkable results. Some plants that looked like they had been diseased recovered nicely.
saturdayhero1 1 year ago
When you say Oxygen enriched, don't you mean CO2 enriched? or? :P
KevinKaya 1 year ago
@KevinKaya Lets say air enriched? ;)
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
@KevinKaya
No plants roots breath oxygen. The leaves breath Co2. Oxygen is very important in your nutrient solution in a hydroponics system.
nilknarf420 1 year ago
@KevinKaya Sorry for the short answer before, I didn't have much time. As long as you supply the roots with plenty of Air it will take the oxygen it needs through the roots. Just as, if the leaves are not in a sealed enclosure they will take in the Co2 they need out of the Air. Air Enriched would be more correct since I'm not pumping pure Oxygen into the nutrient solution. We use the term Oxygen Enriched only because thats what the plant needs at it's roots. I hope this makes it clearer.
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
@FenderGibsonWashburn Roots need oxygen? I never knew that, you learn something new everyday :) Although yeah "Air Enriched" should be the term used as air is the generic word used to describe the different gases around us such as N2, O2, Ar, CO2, NE, CH4 etc. .. right? :P
KevinKaya 1 year ago
@KevinKaya Correct. When I say Air that is what I'm referring to. You may have heard someone say they drown a plant and it died. This is an absolutely true statement. If someone over waters a plant in soil, even though plants produce O2, the ROOTS don't get enough oxygen. Since there is no oxygen the plant can't covert the sugar (from Photosynthesis) to energy and the plant eventually dies. Since people use oxygen at a higher rate than plants we die faster. So grow lots of plants!!! :)
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
very nice video!!very helpful to a beginner THANK'S
lkerley2006 1 year ago
great video on how ebb and flow systems work. check out my video on how to build a quality ebb and flow system for $60.
ezhydro 1 year ago
Great video! I have no experience in hydro whatsoever and am only in the learning stage - However; I have a question! How do you know when you are running out of solution? Ok - if you have small plants, you just lift out the top level/tray..... but say I have 5ft tall chilli plants in there.......i could have a clear base, but then that will encourage algae because of the light....
Photokat22 1 year ago
@Photokat22 Very good question! I had a sort of Dip Stick like when you check your oil in a car. I put a dowel rod down the overflow tube and checked to see how far the solution was from the bottom. I added only half strength or less solution to make up the difference. After two weeks drain it all out and start over. I found a nice hand pump in the automotive section for less that $10. Run it down the overflow pipe and pump all the old solution out.
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
good video helped a lot thanks
sixxdegree 1 year ago
finally a great video... thanks that was very helpful
feller010 1 year ago
this is the BEST tutorial i've seen on this system.
this system works for cannabis grow? i think it does ^^
mcbublick 1 year ago
If you didn't drill any holes in the bottom of the flood table, how does the water drain back into the reservoir? I would think that it would only drain as far as the overflow pipe, and that's it. Is it flowing backwards through the pump? Also, if you did drill holes in the bottom of the flood table, how many are you talking? Obviously too many would prevent a proper flood in the table. Thanks!
TheLiquidSword 1 year ago
@TheLiquidSword Excellent observations! Yes, the solution will drain back through the pump once it switches off. The latest one I drilled four 1/4" holes, one in each corner. It takes a little bit longer to fill the flood table but it's worth it for a complete drain. You shouldn't have any problems as long as you don't make too many or too big of holes that it drains faster than the pump can fill it. Drilling holes is the simplistic way, I've read a couple other good ideas here in the comments.
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Awesome! This is a very technologically advanced tutorial!
branfrog 1 year ago
Awesome! This is a very technologically advanced tutorial!
branfrog 1 year ago
ok thanks
s9srider 1 year ago
shouldn't the bubbles be in the top container ?
s9srider 1 year ago
@s9srider Nope. The hydroponic solution is in the upper container for only 15 minutes every 3 or 4 hours. The rest of the time it's held in the reservoir till the next cycle.
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
can u use this set up for tomatoes?
trojanshawaii 1 year ago
@trojanshawaii Yes. Tomato plants love flood and drain. One way would be to put a tomato plant in a pond basket filled with hydroton and place it in the flood table. The number of plants is only limited by the space needed for the plants to spread out.
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
put goldfish into the bottom tank and you get free fertilizer.
FFarmerCharlie 1 year ago
@FFarmerCharlie I admittedly know very little about aquaponics but since I try to keep the reservoir dark to help prevent algae I can't imagine goldfish would be very happy in there. I may experiment some day. Thanks for the idea.
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
@FenderGibsonWashburn maybe if you syphon from an actual glass aquarium, otherwise the quality of life for these guys would be pretty poor...Nitrogen will be covered, you will still need some additional liquid nutrients to provide enough for the plants.
branfrog 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@FenderGibsonWashburn maybe if you syphon from an actual glass aquarium, otherwise the quality of life for these guys would be pretty poor...Nitrogen will be covered, you will still need some additional liquid nutrients to provide enough for the plants.
branfrog 1 year ago
what type of fert and can u use a light with it as well thanks
hoffanater 1 year ago
@hoffanater You can use any fertilizer intended for use in a hydroponics system. Yes you can use light with it. Your welcome :)
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
you can also make the pvp pipe/tube from the pump flush with the top container that way when the pump shuts off the water can drain back threw the same tube. then you wont have to drill any drain holes.
nice vid keep up the good work.
MWCstream 1 year ago
@MWCstream You are absolutely correct and this one does drain that way for the most part.
The problem I kept having is no matter how I connected the fill hose to the flood table, it would always stick up an eighth inch or more. The flood table never drained completely. Drilling small drain holes was my simple solution.
Melting in a sump area for the fill connection seemed too complicated and potentially dangerous for this project. Any tips would be appreciated.
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
you might have luck drilling holes towards the top of the supply pipe. instead of trying to make it flush. that way it can still drain out of the same pipe.
MWCstream 1 year ago
@MWCstream Excellent idea. I can picture that working. Thank You!
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
no problem, i have never built one of these but i was interested and saw your video on it, great design. keep up the good work.
MWCstream 1 year ago
Very informative video, and good job with the animation. I found this tutorial to be more easily undestandable than others on youtube. And has anybody told you that your recorded voice sounds exactly like John Goodman?
PearBearCam 1 year ago
@PearBearCam That's exactly why I did this video as an animation. I filmed myself building the actual system first and I wasn't satisfied with the results. That's why I called this the "animated version." Plus this way I could show variations and cut-away views.
Yes I've had other people say I sound like John Goodman. I take it as a compliment. :-) Thanks for the nice comment.
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
@FenderGibsonWashburn Thank you for the small system demo, I can do this, I really get it. then I will something bigger, you made my day
MsKasper101 1 year ago
thanks for the vid , how small can you build one of these h.s please thanks again......
thesokable 1 year ago
@thesokable If you check my other videos you will see I built a very small system that only has room for 4 small plants. Once you understand how the Ebb and Flow system works you can build one of any size you want. That's the main point of this video, you can build the perfect size system for you. Thank you for the question.
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
@FenderGibsonWashburn thanks alot mate
thesokable 1 year ago
i have a question. what if i built a mini clear plastic tower on top of the water system so it has it own atmosphere? wouldn't i need to build some sort of tube leading out side of it so i can put more water in the supply? so it can keep the atmosphere?
galacliva 1 year ago
@galacliva Do you mean like a mini greenhouse or terrarium? Hydroponics uses a balanced nutrient solution. Simply adding more water will not work over the long term. You will need to be able to test and adjust solution strength and ph, change the solution, and add more water when necessary. Just keep the entire reservoir outside the mini greenhouse and run fill and drain hoses inside to the flood table. I hope this helps.
FenderGibsonWashburn 1 year ago
k.i.s.s. grafix.
most explicable.
obliged!
rgds
b
bputerszsnit 2 years ago
@bputerszsnit
c.g.i. 2d
quite germane
acknowledged!
thnx
f
FenderGibsonWashburn 2 years ago
my hero!
msjesjames 2 years ago
@msjesjames Aw thanks, I don't consider my self a hero. I'm more of a grinder, hoagie, or sub. I made a sandwich joke. 8^)
FenderGibsonWashburn 2 years ago
Very Helpful Video.. Thanks
kcdareem1959 2 years ago
@kcdareem1959 You're welcome. Thank you for taking the time to make such a kind comment.
FenderGibsonWashburn 2 years ago
what do u mean kind comment? lol just kidding.. thank you for taking the time to make such great explanatory video that involves all the parts and instruction!!
721069 2 years ago
good vid its helped me out alot! i was going to follow some detailed instructions but after seein that its so simple i will make my own tomoro! thanks!
robmcewing 2 years ago
@robmcewing Glad I could help. Having detailed instruction are nice but I like coming up with solutions on my own. It's good to use information from different sources in case you run into an unexpected problem. Good luck with your system.
FenderGibsonWashburn 2 years ago
how long should the plants be watered for....thanks for the easy walkthroug in this vid
sypokillla 2 years ago
15 mins on 15 mins off,gives the roots a even mix of nutrient and oxygen
impreza705 2 years ago
@impreza705 I have never found a need to have it on that often but that's the great thing about hydroponics, not everyone has to do it the same way for it to work. Thanks for helping others with your input. It's very much appreciated.
FenderGibsonWashburn 2 years ago
i totally agree,i never stop learning new ways to get better results. I find the watering schedule is totally dependant on what you are growing aswell.
impreza705 2 years ago
Good video, the best one i have found so fair.
SerenityNetwork 2 years ago
@SerenityNetwork Thank you for the kind comment.
FenderGibsonWashburn 2 years ago
how deep do you put the pots in the water?
NICOGORAN88 2 years ago
@NICOGORAN88 The average is about 2/3 the height of the pot.
FenderGibsonWashburn 2 years ago
I love this video. This has cleared up a lot of questions that other videos couldn't answer. :) I'm so happy I can't wait to grow.. :)
tight4soundz 2 years ago
@tight4soundz Glad it helped. Don't forget to read through the comments. It contains a lot of extra information.
FenderGibsonWashburn 2 years ago
@FenderGibsonWashburn your tutorial was great and very thourough. much appreciated
citystarsskatemt 2 years ago
also, any suggestions on 200gph water pump brand/model?
davidhopp1 2 years ago
@davidhopp1 I use a Sunterra #120016 200gph in mine. It has a lift of almost 4 feet, plenty enough for this project. I can't comment on other brands because this is what was available to me locally.
FenderGibsonWashburn 2 years ago
how do you time the water pump to flood the flood table when needed?
davidhopp1 2 years ago
@davidhopp1 Unfortunately there is no one answer that covers all situations. It will depend on temp, humidity, type of medium used and etc... A good starting point is to run the pump for 15 minutes every 3 or 4 hours. Experiment and adjust as necessary.
My first system I had a cheap timer and ran it for 1/2 an hour every 3 1/2 hours and it worked fine. Don't stress over it, It's not a big deal as long as you don't drown or let the roots dry out. Good luck and have fun!
FenderGibsonWashburn 2 years ago
thanks man merry christmas
davidhopp1 2 years ago
whats the name of the timer your using? what specs should it have?
davidhopp1 2 years ago
@davidhopp1 The brand doesn't much. I have a couple different ones. The ones I use have little pins that push in. Try to find one that can be set to only 15 minutes. It only needs to run a pump with a few watts so a cheap one will work fine. If you got the money you and buy a digital one that can be set for only a few minutes. At this stage I haven't found it necessary.
FenderGibsonWashburn 2 years ago
Nice video A+.. and sounds kinda like Sean Connery lol.. Like the video
CrazyBlue420 2 years ago
@CrazyBlue420 Thank You! You think I sound like Uncle Sean? Just kidding, he's no relation.
FenderGibsonWashburn 2 years ago
You had me going there for a minute lol.. I was like wow.. It seemed like yesterday I was watching Indiana Jones lol
CrazyBlue420 2 years ago
how far to you fill top tub up to
09arken 2 years ago
@09arken It depends on how tall your net pots are. You want the solution level to come up about 2/3 to the top of the net pots. You can either set the net pots on the floor of the top tub or cut holes in the lid and suspend them.
FenderGibsonWashburn 2 years ago
what if you but an air pump in the top tank, like a deep water system /ebb and flow crossbreed?
dddproject 2 years ago
@dddproject Like a Hybrid System. I think that would be in interesting project. Maybe have an extra air pump kick in when the water pump does? Not sure it would make a difference but you never know till you try.
FenderGibsonWashburn 2 years ago