question about bucket ebb and flow

[BILL THICK]

With a bucket ebb and flow system, with air lines to each bucket and to main resevoir(55 gallon drum)what is the purpose of flooding the buckets and draining them three or four times during hours of light? Why not just flood them for the day? wouldn't that be the same concept as a bubbler or water culture grow? You don't drain the water in a bubbler except to change the water do you? And what level should you fill either the bucket ebb and flow or the bubbler?
plants took a real slow start I'm pretty sure because water level was too low , I've corrected that but want to make sure it isn't too high now either. which raised my question to the necessity of drain and fill, drain and fill? Also am dabbling in the bubbler method since they seem to be quite similar?
Any input would be appreciated

Thanks
Bill

BILL THICK Reviewed by BILL THICK on 07-07-2005. question about bucket ebb and flow With a bucket ebb and flow system, with air lines to each bucket and to main resevoir(55 gallon drum)what is the purpose of flooding the buckets and draining them three or four times during hours of light? Why not just flood them for the day? wouldn't that be the same concept as a bubbler or water culture grow? You don't drain the water in a bubbler except to change the water do you? And what level should you fill either the bucket ebb and flow or the bubbler? plants took a real slow start Rating: 5

[Zandor]

The roots still need air. If you keep them flooded they will not get oxygen to the roots. That's why you fill and drain for oxygen to get to the roots.

[BILL THICK]

How come the bubblers remain flooded or do they?

[Zandor]

Bubblers only keep water in the bottom of the bucket. There is an air gap between the water level and the bottom of the net pot. Ebb & Flow cover the whole net pot for a time then drain back into the reservoir. They get to take their breath of air in between fillings.

[BILL THICK]

wouldn't the buckets be the same as the bubbler if you kept the water level lower? Now I fully understand the advantage of the drip bucket system ! continuous oxygen and continous water (and nutes).

[Zandor]

Well a bubbler you keep water in the bucket and refill it from a reservoir when the level drops. Air stones oxygenate the water to the point the bubbles raise, pop soaking everything. Ebb & flow fill a bucket from a central reservoir then after a time they drain back into the reservoir and leave almost nothing in the bucket.

Now you know why I like drip systems.

[Zandor]

Oh and Hi bill how is your Brother doing?

[BILL THICK]

Hi Zandor I wish I could say he is doing better but he is not. he has to realize that its not going to get better. geez they want a couple grand for a wheel chair (he's a very large man ) another couple for a hoyer lift he has to have 24/7 care so I alone will not suffice. It's a difficult situation. All I can do is try and he , natureally is impatient. I'll find a way somehow giving it my best shot thats all I can do.
thanks for asking Zandor
Bill

[Zandor]

I feel your pain Bill, Iâ??m sure your brother knows how special you are for taking on the task. You have my email let me know if there is anything I can do. I have some clones you can have if you need some my friend.

I am trying to get my wife a motorized wheel chair now. After the car accident she can no longer work or even walk with out assistance. Thatâ??s not in the same league as you brother but I am just getting over stomach cancer my self so Iâ??m not up to par either.

Anyway how is that room going? Did you get the buckets worked out yet?

[Joel]

If you could post some pictures of your plants and your setup it would have possibly helped unless you did flood the roots =[. Sorry to hear man.