by Lettuce Be |
Last Updated: 08/13/2021 Contents
- 1 What is the Ebb & Flow Hydroponics?
A Flow and Ebb system is undoubtedly the simplest and most effective hydroponic technique. That’s why they’re so popular among hobbyists and commercial greenhouse growers alike.
Unlike some other hydroponic setups, such as Aeroponics, this form can be difficult to set up and requires some attention, but it is not as complicated as some more advanced forms. Understanding this technique’s principle will allow you to set up a DIY Ebb & Flow system, scale as big as you want, using cheaply available materials.
What is the Ebb & Flow Hydroponics?
Flushing and draining the nutrient solution periodically is Ebb and Flow. It consists of two phases. During the flood stage, nutrient-rich water and water running over the roots of plants floods the growing areas. Drainage refers to the process of water flowing back into the reservoir. Therefore, no standing water is possible. As their names suggest, these two actions are performed alternately.
How the Ebb and Flow System Works
Throughout the grow tray, there are individual containers in which plants reside. A timer controls the water pumping cycle. Water and nutrients start flowing when the timer goes off. In the above container (grow tray), the nutrient solutions soak the plant roots of the plants until they reach the maximum amount of water.
The system continues to circulate nutrient water for a certain period of time while the level is set. The overflow regulator at this point ensures that standard water levels are maintained.
Additionally, the tube prevents the flow of nutrient water during circulation from spilling out. The water pump halts when the timer goes off, and the nutrient liquid stops flowing in the tanks. The drainage system allows it to drain back into the water reservoir.
Aeration in Ebb & Flow
Make sure there is enough air in the system. When the nutrient solution falls back into the reservoir, some growers prefer getting the tube’s air in the nutrient solution. You should provide an air pump if there is no adequate oxygen in the nutrient reservoir. The overflow tube should be longer than the water inlet tube.
Materials for Building the Ebb and Flow Hydroponics
Essentially, the system consists of a reservoir and plant tray.
Nutrient Solution Reservoir
The reservoir is an essential part of any hydroponic system. Plants require nutrients and water to grow properly. A single reservoir is sufficient for most of the Ebb & Flow systems. Large structures must have a large reservoir to have enough nutrients to support larger plants, or you should have additional reservoirs.
Submersible Pump
For the irrigation of growing trays, pond and fountain pumps are essential. To provide enough water to your growth tray in a short period, you must carefully choose a pump with a strong flow rate.
Timer
A timer controls the watering process. Automated timers will automatically turn on and off so that the plants receive the appropriate amount of nutrients.
Grow Tray (Flood Table)
Plant pots or buckets are essential components in any system since they contain plants. A system can include a large container/tray or smaller trays within it.
Tubing
Tubes transmit nutrient-dense water in and out of the system by connecting the reservoir to the system.
Overflow Tube
Overflow tubes serve as a critical container component because they determine the height to which nutrient solution rises. Moreover, the channel serves to prevent spills of the balanced nutrient solution. The built-up pressure during pumping can cause the incoming water to overflow.
Growing Media
The growing medium for the Ebb & Flow system must be heavy and strong to prevent flotation because of how the system works. You might consider gravel, clay pebbles, lava rock, hydroton, perlite mixture, coco coir or Rockwool as growing materials.
Other Components
Flood and drain systems have the advantage of being inexpensive. You can also improvise the material. You can use simple buckets, tubes, water bottles, trashcans, and storage containers. It is okay to use the devices as long as they hold water.
Different Kinds of Ebb and Flow Hydroponics Setup
Using a pump to provide nutrients to plants is the same principle for the different ebb and flow hydroponic structures.
Flooding Tray
The design of the flood tray differs significantly from the other models. There is only one container for growing plants in the system. Over a raised surface, the structure has a shallow rectangular or square tray. Under the container, there is a water reservoir. Water from the pool is let into the tank when nutrients are flooded to the plants.
The opposite side of the container allows water to drain into the nutrient solution reservoir. Within the flooding tray, the plants grow inside a plastic bucket. Ensure the bucket contains the proper medium for growing the seedling. To manage the water level height in the container, the overflow tube is responsible. The technique facilitates the transportation of plants whenever they need to be transported.
Containers in Series
Buckets or containers for plant growth in an ebb and flow system are not limited by creativity. One tube usually contains several containers/buckets. The nutrient flow must travel evenly through the buckets and containers before draining back into the reservoir through the black tubing.
In this method, many containers are the dominant characteristic. All containers are flooded with nutrients at the same time by the pumps. A separate container must be situated higher than a water reservoir. By this, nutrient solutions can only become re-immersed in the reservoir through gravity.
Overflow Tube Height System
For nutrient solutions to pass through every shallow container effectively, the overflow tube plays a crucial role. The excess water can also be fixed quickly and easily using the adjustable hose.
Surge Tank Ebb & Flow
This design uses a primary tank to distribute water evenly among all containers, rather than relying on the outlet tubing. There are two pumps in this ebb and flow system. The hydroponic solution is pumped into all containers and the surge tank with a single pump in the reservoir. Another one is in the surge tank, which is used to push the solution to the reservoir.
The Dutch Bucket
It would be impossible to talk about ebb & flow without mentioning the Dutch Bucket. It is inherently a variation of Ebb & Flow.
Advantages of Ebb and Flow Hydroponics
- Low cost. Setup, materials purchases, and fabric maintenance are very affordable for everyone. It’s possible to save lots of money if you improvise the parts.
- Plants have an abundance of nutrients. Your plants receive just the right amount of nutrients thanks to the system. Overflow tubes prevent containers from flooding. This results in healthy and strong plants that reach maturity.
- Structures are easy to build. Hydroponics does not require advanced knowledge, unlike other costly and complicated types of hydroponics.
- Easy to use. As soon as you set up the system, you’re done with the hard part. The rest of the work requires a minimum amount of supervision and maintenance. Maintaining the availability of the nutrient-rich solution is a simple task, as is regular verification of functionality. The system is simple to use and needs little technical assistance.
Disadvantages of Ebb and Flow Hydroponics
- Instances of unstable ph levels. Water overflows from the structure and floods the plant when the structure fails. Excess nutrients create an unbearable PH environment that destroys farm produce. This causes toxicities to be formed in the crop, resulting in losses for the farmer.
- There are often breakdowns. You must be extra careful as soon as you build your structure with improvised materials. It might not work if a small mistake is made during the formation. Pumping machines are often the cause of breakdowns.
Conclusion
Hydroponics and Aquaponics benefit from the Ebb and Flow System because they are effective, simple, and flexible. Commercial growers have used ebb & flow for years to grow plants and fish successfully. These systems are easy to set up, and hobbyists can enjoy fresh food in their indoor hydroponic garden.
