EBB & FLOW Hydroponic

An Ebb and Flow system consists of a growing bed in which individual containers filled with medium hold your plant's root systems. The growing medium also acts as a buffer, holding water and nutrients around the root system, and reducing the risk of crop loss due to power or equipment failure. The growing bed is flooded periodically to feed and water the plants and allowed to drain freely to pull oxygen into the root zone. Ebb and Flow systems' low maintenance, high productivity, and ease of use make them among the most popular hydroponic systems for not only the beginner, but for the advanced gardener as well.

How do I build my own hydroponic system? Yes, you can build your own hydroponics system. We supply a variety of trays, pumps, filters, reservoirs, and other pieces that make building your own custom system a breeze. There are also many different types of hydroponic systems that are easily built from common parts that are usually readily available. Below we have illustrated a simple ebb and flow system made from components that we sell. Also, we have included a list of common pieces that can be found locally to build this system.
An ebb and flow system is one of the easiest hydroponic systems to build yourself. Many of the parts needed can be found locally, if not we carry a complete line of ebb and flow trays, NFT channels, reservoirs, hydroponic pumps and filters, fill and drain kits, etc. The principle behind an Ebb and Flow system is easily understood. A bottom reservoir contains nutrients which are periodically pumped up to the ebb and flow tray, and then allowed to drain via gravity back into the reservoir. When the Ebb and flow tray is flooded plants receive nutrients and water, also CO2 is pushed out and away from the plants root system. When the nutrient solution drains back into the reservoir, fresh oxygen is pulled down into the root system. This combination of fresh nutrients, water, and oxygen is then readily assimilated by the plants, ensuring lush healthy growth. Following is a list of parts that could be used to build an ebb and flow system out of componenets that we sell. Other alternatives are suggested below:

1. 4'x2' ebb and flow tray
2. 30 gallon reservoir
3. Maxijet 500 pump
4. American Hydroponics fill/drain kit
5. 6' - 1/2" blue flexible tubing
6. 3 hose clamps - 1/2"
7. 30 - 4 1/2" square containers
8. 50 litres LECA growing medium

Watch the video below for your guide to bulid this model system

Types Of Hydroponic System Designs

SYSTEM DESIGNS

1) The basic wick: The roots grow down through an aggregate medium. A wick (absorbent material) is laced through the medium and hangs down into a reservoir and draws the nutrient solution up into the root zone.

2) The non-recirculating (“air-gap”) system: The roots hang into a nutrient solution reservoir, with the upper part of the root mass suspended in air (air roots to take up needed oxygen) and the lower part of the root mass in direct contact with the nutrient solution (water and nutrient roots).

Type Of System:

• *Liquid/Closed Option * Aggregate Option

3) The raft, float or deep flow system: Plants are suspended through styrofoam boards which float on the surface of the nutrient solution. Oxygen must be supplied to the roots using an aquarium pump and air stones or a “venturi” system.

Liquid/Closed

4) The flood and drain (or ebb and flow) system: The roots grow down through an aggregate. The nutrient solution is pumped into the aggregate medium, floods the root zone for a short time, and is then allowed to drain back into the reservoir.

Type Of System:

• *ManualOption * Aggregate/Closed

5) The top feeder system: The roots grow down through an aggregate. The nutrient solution is delivered to the top of the aggregate

medium, percolates through and then either drains to waste or is recirculated into a reservoir.

Aggregate/Closed or Open

6) Nutrient film (flow) technique (NFT): The roots may be growing from Rockwool blocks or through cups filled with an aggregate for support but ultimately hang into a slightly slanted tube or trough. The nutrient solution is pumped to the higher end, flows past the hanging r roots and then back to the reservoir

Type of system = Liquid-Aggregate/Closed

7) Aeroponics: The roots are suspended in an enclosed space and, at regular intervals, sp sprayed with the complete nutrient solution.

Type of system = Liquid/Closed or Open

Types Of Hydroponic Systems

1) Systems categorized by where the roots are located:

• Liquid Culture: The roots are hanging into the nutrient solution which can be either in the form of a liquid or a mist.

• Aggregate Culture: The roots grow into an inert medium such as sand, gravel, Rockwool, perlite, vermiculite, peat moss, foam, coconut coir, etc. and are then irrigated with a complete nutrient solution.

2) Systems categorized by what happens to the nutrient solution:

• Open: The nutrient solution is distributed from a reservoir to the plants and is then “drained to waste” (i.e., not used again).

• Closed: The nutrient solution is distributed from a reservoir to the plants. After passing through the root zone it is collected and reused. In large systems the solution may be analyzed, then modified by the additions of water, acid/base, and/or various inorganic elements to return the solution to the appropriate inorganic mineral composition (and EC) and pH. The solution may also be sterilized (UV light, ozone treatment, etc.) so that any plant pathogens, picked up in the solution from perhaps one or a few infected plants, are not subsequently spread to all of the plants.