Ebba and Flow Drip system, design theory

I'd been looking at making an ebb and flow system and got curious about drip irrigation. I'm now devising an ebb and flow drip system. I wanted to post the basic framework and see if anyone notices flaws, or has has suggestions on the comments below.

The Drip: Each grow bucket will have a section of drip tubing supplied via gravity from the reservoir. There will always be enough solution in the reservoir to maintain a continuous drip. The key will be getting just the right drip so that a bucket is filled in an hour or so. This is the variable I haven't tested out yet but I'm sure I can figure something out.

Once the bucket is full the float switch activates the water pump and removes all water to the reservoir. The pump needs to be able to drain the buckets in several minutes. Once the grow buckets have emptied the float switch turns the water pumps off.

The blacklight: I'm not sure if this would be useful or not. Maybe use beneficials instead? Or neither?

Dual water pumps for redundancy.

you need to do the opposite, that is to flood and drain quickly. you dont want to keep your roots submerged for long time. you only need 1 pump and 1 control res no float switch no airpump no driplines. I think that a regular flood and drain system will be much more efficient in every way. blacklight is not really needed, what you really need is HPS for flowewring, myths dont grow weed

Started new thread, please disregard.

Doh, I ment to say UV light (in the rez)... though I've since abandoned that idea.

Thanks for the input. I agree, and was a little unclear on how ebb and flow worked. After some more reading it seems like DWC is the way to go if temps can be properly controlled. I'm leaning towards a recirculating DWC now.

I've been looking at aquarium chillers like AquaEuro or Coralife. Basic theory: Water pump pulls water from the bottom of the grow buckets, through the chiller and into the reservoir where air stones are located. Water is returned from the reservoir to the buckets near the top via gravity.

My only issue with this system is that I'm not sure if I can incorporate two water pumps for redundancy. One would work fine, but I'd like to have two running in case one dies. Ideally the pumps would be 1/2 the strength necessary for the chiller. If one were to die the other would limp the system along until I could replace. Any ideas on the recirculating DWC (specifically relating to the diagram below) or the pump situation would be appreciated.

If you have an air stone in each bucket (which you really should) you won't have to worry so much about water pump failure. If it does fail it will only stop the circulation but each bucket will stay aerated. Then you'll have time to get a new pump and continue on to harvest the crop instead of having to start over because they all died.

So I guess the idea is sound, I just need to decide on 1 or two pumps and where to put the bubblers. I have 3 100 gallon bubblers.

Is there such thing as too much bubble action around the roots? Water will be cycling every 5 minutes or so. The plan was to use the bubblers in the extra reservoir and really get things churning in there.

I do like the idea of bubblers below the plants and nixing the 2nd water pump.

Or, I could place bubblers in the reservoir AND below the plants. Is there a point of diminshing returns? I can add bubblers all day.

Well, you can only get so much disolved oxygen into the water, but I don't think you can do much harm by "over" aerating the water unless your putting heated air in and it's making the water too warm (Which shouldn't be a problem for you since your running a chiller)

Awesome, thanks for the response.

Rahz said:

I'd been looking at making an ebb and flow system and got curious about drip irrigation. I'm now devising an ebb and flow drip system. I wanted to post the basic framework and see if anyone notices flaws, or has has suggestions on the comments below.

The Drip: Each grow bucket will have a section of drip tubing supplied via gravity from the reservoir. There will always be enough solution in the reservoir to maintain a continuous drip. The key will be getting just the right drip so that a bucket is filled in an hour or so. This is the variable I haven't tested out yet but I'm sure I can figure something out.

Once the bucket is full the float switch activates the water pump and removes all water to the reservoir. The pump needs to be able to drain the buckets in several minutes. Once the grow buckets have emptied the float switch turns the water pumps off.

The blacklight: I'm not sure if this would be useful or not. Maybe use beneficials instead? Or neither?

Dual water pumps for redundancy.

View attachment 2455197

Click to expand...

Eh, I'm not too sold on it to be honest. I would either go ebb n flow, or a recirculating top drip, like one that is used in a hydrofarm waterfarm kit. (modified to circulate of course)

I'm on my 3rd sketch up, still not comitted to anything yet. At this point it's just a RDWC with a chiller.



Basically the same as the last pic I posted, but the flow has been reversed. Water comes in from the bottom and exits a few inches below the top, the idea being to keep the outlet away from roots. I'm going to use 6.5 gallon buckets, air stones in all of them. Everything will be insulated to minimize power usage. The chiller will be on the other side of a wall for heat removal.

What size hose lines are you gonna go? Don't forget about what you'll link the system up with. If you run 1/2 inch, they only allow so much water to run through them. Just something to think about

Alright thanks. Looks like the pumps in my GPH range will accept 1/2" to 3/4" hose so I'll use the larger gauge.

Rahz said:

Alright thanks. Looks like the pumps in my GPH range will accept 1/2" to 3/4" hose so I'll use the larger gauge.

Click to expand...

Just helps move more water so that you circulate faster. Helps with active hydro.