Quick question on Rez/Control Bucket Temps

[Buzkill]

Hi all,
Well the girls are doing well so far so no new photos, (but the girls say High).
I been looking around and don't see this subject broached yet, so I'll broach it.
I'm using the Ebb & Gro system.
I have been using 2 lt bottles filled 2/3 with ice for rez cooling. Keeps the rez around 65°F that way.
The problem is the the control bucket, which is closest to the plants, is a bit warmer (about 72°F). Should I be cooling the control bucket as well, or just it?
Sorry if I sound a bit confused on this but I'm a bit blurry eyed from looking for an answer.

Also I have read about using peltier cooling but I would like to know if anyone is using this on a Ebb & Gro and how many I would need.

I am thinking of building a chiller myself but I am mechanically declined.

Thanks as always,
Buz

[keylime]

I have the same system. I think 65 is a bit on the cold side, they say 68 is the ideal temperature. 72 is nothing to worry about, as long as you don't go much above that you will be alright. You can buy this reflective "quilted" insulation often used to wrap heating vents etc, and I have a piece cut that covers the top of each plant. It reflects the heat as well as insulates the pot from the heat coming from the lights. Its not too expensive and it also helps keep old leaves and debris out of your hydroton.

keylime

[LOC NAR on probation]

We also are looking into ebb and flow. Most of what I find is the large rez is kept outside the room. It seems in an e&b system a large body of water stay fairly cool at room temps if no heat source like lights are present. 68 degrees it best for oxy in the water but again the way these sytems work a little higher temp is ok. Your plants do not sit in water all the time like DWC so it doesn't mean as much at the buckets but you need it cool to help keep algea and cyanobacteria blooms to a minimum.
your temp in the control rez is no problem as the water is quickly divided between all your buckets during the EBB and cooler waters mix with it. Think about your hydroton in the bucket at room temp with the lights on. Must be warm. Then mix cool water, now you got luke warm ? I would like to know what the water temp is at the bucket at the moment it reaches full ?

I like this system because moving water has less problems.

[tinytoon]

I missed my flood by an hour and 10 mins or I could answer that for ya Loc. The only thing I find that needs direct attention on this Ebb&Grow system is make sure you have a small sump pump to empty that 55 gallon rez or you will be bailing for quite some time :cursing:

[Buzkill]

Thanks as always guys,
I actually have to keep the res in the grow room, but i have wrapped it in panda to help with the heat issue. If I don't keep an eye on it the temp can reach 75°F or so. Any idea what the top end is? You know, "Always keep it below...."
I also missed my flood by about 10 minutes and will be changing nutes today so I can't tell you either, the res temp was 69°F at that time though if that helps. I'll try to check it when they feed at noon and post a good res and bucket temp. I'll let you know if I can.
Another silly question though...
I need to lower my babies, ... sniff, they grow up so fast... and am going to be setting them just off the concrete floor, I will be placing them on a piece of 3/4" wood to maintain height off the floor. Will this be enough? I have heard placing the pots directly on a concrete floor could cause issues.
I had them on a sheet of OSB held up by concrete blocks for the beginning but have to spread them out due to the nice bushy growth on most of them.
I'll try to post some pics as they seem to be happy.
Once again, thanks for the info and happy growing and even happier harvesting.
Can you say harvest festival ;)
We'll all meet at tiny's and go on a tour of grow rooms from east to west.
Maybe end up in Stinky's attic for the finale.
Buz

[Buzkill]

OK, Just got the nutes changed out and forgot to unplug the dang control bucket, pissed all over me like baby, only a LOT more juice lol.
Anyway, as promised some new pics of the kids. Don't ya just love baby pictures?
I know I have a bit of heat stress on the tall ones but don't want to stretch the smaller ones too much.
Any questions or comments are welcome,
Buz

[caligrown82807]

hey great job those look great:pimp:

[keylime]

I should mention I also keep a couple of air stones in the barrel to keep the water aerated.

keylime

[scottcc5s]

I am running the same ebb/flow and my 50 gallon rez is in the grow room also. Not sure what part of U.S. you are in but my grow room temp does not get too bad (75 to 78... 80 to 85 when hot outside) so rez water temp stays in 70 to 73 range and 75 when hot in the room. I have a couple of air stones so my water circulates pretty well. I use the frozen plastic liter bottle trick Tiny told me about. Like Keylime said, get a couple of air stones.

Your girls are looking good. :)

[supchaka]

75 is the "top end" ideally being between 68-72

[Buzkill]

OK so during their noon feeding i took the temp in the buckets directly. 77.2°F Res temp was 67.4. Sooooo that being said, any ideas, thoughts, or maybe pie?
Do I need to work the res temp lower?
A few more things to know, i have some extra (not much) black hose for each bucket for expansion, grow baby grow, Control bucket temp was about the same as it was mid-feed.
It just finished feeding a minute ago and res temp was 68.9°F so I would assume (yeah I know) that the bucket temp had to be close to that as it just filled and drained.
They are beginning to spread a bit so what can I say but YIPEEE!!
So far so good. Thanks to all for the info and help.
Buz
PS any one got a good recipe for Pot Pie????

[supchaka]

If outdoor temps affect your grow room temp you can shift your light cycles to be off during the hotter times of the day. I'm using 14 hour light cycles from 9pm to 11am so the plants are dark in the hotter times of the day