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DJ_avocado said:
I've come to an understanding that there are LOTS of ways to construct an ebb and flow system.  Is there any difference in < 1. filling the entire bucket with medium and growing right out of that> OR < 2. Using those net pots>.  Its seems to me that with the net pots the system would need more water to operate but less medium.  Is there any real difference?

I thought that the combined power of four 90w LEDs would equal something like 1000w from an HID. I've read a lot praising LEDs for being low energy and super effective.  How does LED really compare? Anyone use them?

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Yes there is a huge difference! First of all, both methods you mentioned are not ebb and flow. Second of all, all hydroponic grow methods use a medium.

The first method you mentioned sounds kinda like a hempy bucket.

Ebb and flow I think is a stupid name for what that kind of system does. It's sometimes referred to as flood and drain, which I think is not only a better name but explanatory of what the system does. Flood and drain basically, at specific intervals, floods the pot and the medium inside. Then it drains. Pretty simple concept.

Here's my system. You can see I have the plants sitting in pots which rest in a large pipeline I call the flood chamber. Every 2.5 hours, water is pumped up and the chamber is flooded along with the pots sitting inside. They stay submerged for a good half an hour. Then the pump turns off, and the chamber drains.


The idea is to submerge the roots in nutrient solution, then drain the cups, which pulls air into the medium. The medium is typically made up of perlite, vermiculite or those clay hydro pebbles. All these mediums have extremely helpful water retention capabilities - they are also all very airy! So basically, you give the roots a wonderfully moist and well oxygenated environment!

As for the cups:
As you can see I don't use netted cups. I bought plastic planting pots, and drilled holes in them. I should have drilled much more though. The idea behind the netted cups is that the roots can just shoot out freely, with no hindrance. In other words, they're basically perfect for hydro grows. My system seems to work alright, but I think I would have had even better results had I had more holes or better yet more holes.


Why would a netted pot need less medium and more water? No logical sense in that man. It's just a different pot. The only time you can grow without using any medium, is when you grow aeroponically.

I think Dr. Penguin used an LED setup for his grow. In any case, while a lot of people seem to be enthusiastic about the future of LED's in indoor growing. I don't think they're quite there yet. I'm pretty sure 4 90w systems are not equivalent to a 1000W HID system.

Magash would definitely know and I'm hoping he jumps in here soon with some input.

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jwes420 said:


Les Claypool is THE SHIT!!!

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