Hello everyone, I currently have a 3ft X 2ft X 6in tray that I use for ebb and flow with a 14 gallon reservoir underneath it. I built the system with rubbermaid containers, and did not put much consideration into complete drainage. The fill/drain fittings are right in the middle, causing a small layer of water to remain for most of the day, every day. In the future i will place the fittings on one end of the tray, and have the other end slightly elevated, to force all water to drain to one side.

The fact of the matter is I would like to experiment with some different methods, as my current ebb and flow setup seems to be inefficient because the roots are either sitting in a layer of water or on dry plastic all day. I know I can change this with a coco-mat or something similar, however I would still like to try different techniques.

I have several 18 gallon rubbermaid containers that are almost completely opaque. They are roughly 24" X 16" X 17" (L x W x H), and fit six separate 3" net cups on top of them with adequate spacing.

What I want to know is: Would having 6 plants in an 18 gallon reservoir drain it too quickly and cause pH problems?

I do not have a pH meter and will have to use PH paper. I am hoping to only have to check/adjust pH once per day.

Additionally, is the EC/PPM testing absolutely necessary? If so, I will have to experiment with a different method.

The last question:

Is a 600GPH air pump sufficient for an 18 gallon DWC? I plan on building a PVC grid with the dimensions of the bottom of the reservoir, and drilling small holes at even intervals, then suspending one or more layers of fine screen above the PVC to evenly disperse/further break down the air bubbles.

I apologize for the long post, I am aware that thousands of questions about DWC have been posted, the only reason I am troubling you is to ask for experienced advice on my specific setup plan.

I greatly appreciate any help I receive.
khazoth Reviewed by khazoth on . Six Plant Rubbermaid DWC Hello everyone, I currently have a 3ft X 2ft X 6in tray that I use for ebb and flow with a 14 gallon reservoir underneath it. I built the system with rubbermaid containers, and did not put much consideration into complete drainage. The fill/drain fittings are right in the middle, causing a small layer of water to remain for most of the day, every day. In the future i will place the fittings on one end of the tray, and have the other end slightly elevated, to force all water to drain to one Rating: 5