Epic flood table fail

[TacoMac]

There is an excellent full plan by Popular Mechanics on a do-it-yourself ebb and flow system. You can read it here: https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/lawn-garden/how-to/a24404/how-to-grow-hydroponic-plants/

 

[PetFlora]

You need to get trays for hydroponics, or rugged cement mixing trays and build diy F&D kits. To get the water to the level you desire, you need a fill and drain bulkhead kit for your flood table.
Like this -
https://www.hydroponics.net/i/132732
Use the 3/4 " fitting for your drain and the 1/2" for your fill. Stack the collars on the 3/4 drain to raise the water level in the flood tray.

Thanks for the bulkhead link. I've been using these from marine industry. I like the ones you linked to as they should help with aeration

 

[DailyBlastin]

It drains back through the inlet and back through the pump.

this video is exactly how i setup my first F&D table same materials and everything! , then i switched to ebb and flow buckets, then i realized recirculating systems are more of a PITA than they're worth, converted my buckets to drip>drain>waste and haven't looked back all depends on what you're into tho.

 

[budman410]

this video is exactly how i setup my first F&D table same materials and everything! , then i switched to ebb and flow buckets, then i realized recirculating systems are more of a PITA than they're worth, converted my buckets to drip>drain>waste and haven't looked back all depends on what you're into tho.

Thanks guys when I get to work all check out the vids and do the reading.. since I’m doing a sog grow I’m doing tables but for different strains I’ve been trying I veg them out and put 4-5 under a 600hps. I love drain to waste lol this flood table is def new to me

 

[budman410]

Omg ok I’m going to finish this build completely sober.. I literally got the drain and fill reversed like hydro been sayin using the tall drain as the fill. I really hate myself for that right now lol. Well now I need to rebuild the stand and hope I can find that heavy duty tote In atleast 30 gallons. When I first looked I only seen it in 20 gallons t Home Depot

 

[DailyBlastin]

Thanks guys when I get to work all check out the vids and do the reading.. since I’m doing a sog grow I’m doing tables but for different strains I’ve been trying I veg them out and put 4-5 under a 600hps. I love drain to waste lol this flood table is def new to me

i believe the 21gallon tote as seen in the video is the largest cement mixing tub you will find at a hardware store, possibly bigger ones if you look online but thats definitely the biggest ive seen in stores.

 

[PetFlora]

Im surprised that few know that (including popular mechanics) only one pump fitting is needed

It also acts as a drain back to the rez

 

[HydroRed]

Omg ok I’m going to finish this build completely sober.. I literally got the drain and fill reversed like hydro been sayin using the tall drain as the fill. I really hate myself for that right now lol. Well now I need to rebuild the stand and hope I can find that heavy duty tote In atleast 30 gallons. When I first looked I only seen it in 20 gallons t Home Depot

Home depot/Lowes both carry the cement mixing tubs and 27 gal heavy duty totes. I use the smaller cement mixing totes (7 gal) and just use 2 per table.
I use the 27 gal HD tote from home depot. I can fill it without any buldging or bowing of the sides. These things are tuff.

HD 27 gal Tote:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-27-Gal-Storage-Tote-in-Black-HDX27GONLINE-5/205978361

HD Cement mixing tubs (which come in S/M/L):
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Plasgad-Black-Medium-Concrete-Mixing-Tub-887101C/205451550

Click the link in my sig (HydroRed's Horticultural Whorehouse) and you can see what I've been doing with this setup.

 

[Budley Doright]

Im surprised that few know that (including popular mechanics) only one pump fitting is needed

It also acts as a drain back to the rez

Well you do need two if your not timing your floods and you want to control depth at exactly the same depth no matter pump timing. Unless I’m not getting what your saying.

 

[HydroRed]

Well you do need two if your not timing your floods and you want to control depth at exactly the same depth no matter pump timing. Unless I’m not getting what your saying.

I cant seem to wrap my head around it either. Theres virtually no control with only one bulkhead. Not to mention, the F&D bulkhead kits come in pairs already with the extension collars for like $6. Hard to find peace of mind for $6 these days haha

 

[Budley Doright]

I cant seem to wrap my head around it either. Theres virtually no control with only one bulkhead. Not to mention, the F&D bulkhead kits come in pairs already with the extension collars for like $6. Hard to find peace of mind for $6 these days haha

Ya I hear ya but I have heard of and actually seen it suggested on occasion, seems kind of silly for the extra fitting. I actually use .5” fittings for HRV drains (get em free) and they are pretty much flat for the fill outlet. I’ve been running the same setups for 5 years and it’s pretty much bullet proof now.

 

[Budley Doright]

It’s hard to see but to the left of my fill (water fountain lol) is my drain, I wrap it with silk screen to stop roots from entering which also has saved me from blockages which I had in the past ...... it’s love hate relationship with roots lol.

 

[PetFlora]

Too simple?

Flood is on a deep cycle timer (on and off times are dialed in), so it floods to same height each time, then slowly drains back to rez

 

[DailyBlastin]

Too simple?

Flood is on a deep cycle timer (on and off times are dialed in), so it floods to same height each time, then slowly drains back to rez

its simply a matter of "to each their own" some might find it easier to only have 1 bulkhead fitting used as fill and drain with perfectly dialed in timers, others like the peace of mind of having seperate fill and drain bulkheads so even if a timer craps out or a random electrical issue happens they will be certain they wont flood the room, neither way is really better, its just preference.

 

[Budley Doright]

Too simple?

Flood is on a deep cycle timer (on and off times are dialed in), so it floods to same height each time, then slowly drains back to rez

Yup that’s how it works .

 

[budman410]

A quick update, fixed the table and got it draining and filling like its suppose to. There’s one corner that’s a little uneven ima just stick some under the leg.. thanks for the advice guys I’ll post a thread once I put the clones on.. another quick question, some of the clones roots don’t extend down far will they be ok if the flood don’t go more then halfway up the pot. Will the water wick upward to the Rockwool

 

[HydroRed]

A quick update, fixed the table and got it draining and filling like its suppose to. There’s one corner that’s a little uneven ima just stick some under the leg.. thanks for the advice guys I’ll post a thread once I put the clones on.. another quick question, some of the clones roots don’t extend down far will they be ok if the flood don’t go more then halfway up the pot. Will the water wick upward to the Rockwool

You could always top feed for a few days until the roots can search a bit if you are concerned, then just resume back to floods. Rockwool retains water very well.

 

[budman410]

That’s what I was thinking thanks, my Mazar clones roots are very long I’m sure they would be alright it’s the widows I’m worried about.

 

[Budley Doright]

With my setup the nettpots are suspended and water hits the bottom .5” of a 6” pot and they love it.

 

[firsttimeARE]

With my setup the nettpots are suspended and water hits the bottom .5” of a 6” pot and they love it.

What do you use to suspend them? Im struggling with F&D right now with algae and would like a covered setup to prevent this.

I found some 2'x4' slabs of 1/2" thick plastic at home depot, but its pricey at like $45 per slab.