| The ebb and flow system, also known as the | | | | into the tray and an overflow drain. The overflow |
| flood and drain system, is one of the most | | | | drain will be placed at the highest area where you |
| popular systems beginners choose to start | | | | want the water level to rise and is designed to |
| hydroponic growing. It requires mostly basic | | | | prevent nutrient solution from flooding your grow |
| hydroponics supplies and very little maintenance. It | | | | room. |
| works by flooding the grow tray for a period of | | | | Containers - Use plastic containers to hold your |
| time to soak the roots and then allowing the | | | | plants. |
| nutrient solution to drain back into the reservoir. | | | | Growing Medium - This is what will support your |
| This occurs several times a day. The exact | | | | roots. Popular choices include coconut coir, |
| number of floodings will depend upon what kind of | | | | rockwool and perlite. |
| plants you are growing. | | | | Pump and Timer - Your pump will flood the grow |
| You will need the following hydroponic supplies: | | | | tray and your timer will turn the pump on and off |
| Ebb and Flow Tray - Make sure that the tray you | | | | according to your settings. |
| use is made of heavy plastic and can support | | | | To assemble these hydroponics supplies, first |
| your plants, growing medium, and nutrient solution | | | | install your fill fitting and the overflow drain into |
| easily. Make certain that when your tray drains, it | | | | your grow tray. Place the grow tray onto your |
| leaves the tray bottom virtually dry. If there are | | | | support structure and place the reservoir under it. |
| spots with "puddles", it may over water certain | | | | Put your submersible pump in the reservoir and |
| plants causing your roots to rot. | | | | connect it to the fill fitting on the grow tray. Now |
| Buckets or Modules - Instead of a tray, you may | | | | connect the pump to the timer. Test your |
| also use several buckets or modules where you | | | | hydroponic system, making certain that there are |
| place plants individually. This has the advantage of | | | | not any leaks and your overflow drain works |
| allowing you to expand your hydroponic system | | | | properly. |
| more easily. | | | | To operate the ebb and flow system, set your |
| Support Structure - Since the reservoir is usually | | | | timer to flood the grow tray three or four times |
| not sufficient support for your tray, you will | | | | a day at regular intervals. Again, the exact |
| probably need to buy a support structure | | | | number will depend upon the size of the plant and |
| separately. | | | | what kind of plant you are growing. Each flood |
| Reservoir - This is where you will keep your | | | | cycle should pump about a 1/3 more nutrient |
| hydroponic nutrients solution. Make sure you | | | | solution than the grow tray can actually hold. How |
| thoroughly clean and disinfect your reservoir | | | | long each flood cycle will last will depend upon how |
| before filling it. Your reservoir should be black and | | | | powerful your pump is. Make sure to replace your |
| block as much light as possible to discourage the | | | | nutrient solution every two weeks and monitor |
| growth of algae. | | | | your solution's pH level daily. The ideal pH for both |
| Fittings and Pipes - These hydroponic supplies will | | | | your nutrient solution and your roots is about 5.6. |
| include the pipe that will pump the nutrient solution | | | | |