Ebb and Flow Hydroponics DIY: Flooding Tray Build
Ebb and Flow Hydroponics DIY, also known as Flood and Drain systems are easier to build than you think. An ebb and flow system works by flooding an upper container or reservoir with nutrients and water and then allowing it to drain for a timed duration, only to repeat. This system is one of the easiest and most common Ebb and Flow Hydroponics DIY projects to build.
So how does it work? Nutrient water is pumped from a reservoir up into the tray. The water fills the tray until it reaches the height of an overflow drain pipe and continues to flood the tray until the pump timer turns off. While the tray is flooded all of the buckets or nursery pots will get flooded with nutrient water. Then the nutrient water drains through the supply line tubing and back through the pump back into the reservoir.
Need more info? Take a step back and learn more about the system or check out some other Ebb and Flow designs before you jump in to start your build.
Materials
Main System Components
- You will first need to Build or Buy a table for your System.
- Select the proper Tray for your table.
- Reservoir – Choose 1 of the following options
- Non-transparent storage container or hydroponic Reservoir tank. The Size will depend on what is available, how much room you have, and your garden plan. You need a container large enough to fill the tray at least 2/3 of the way up, by volume. Not sure? Use this nifty tank volume calculator to confirm your size.
- You will always want to select a none transparent reservoir in order to limit light getting to your nutrient solution as this will cause algae growth.
- Bucket options – to place on the tray
- Nursery Pots
- 3.5 gallon Buckets– food grade
- 5-Gallon Buckets with Lids– food grade
- Hydroton expanded clay pebbles – to fill each of the Nursery Pots, Net cups, or buckets
- Submersible Water Pump
- Repeat Timer to turn the water pump on and off
- Aeration system (optional) The water draining back to the reservoir will add some oxygen to the water. However, if you choose you can add even more with an aeration system. More oxygen in the water will make for healthier happier plants!
- Air pump (aquarium or other) This one comes with 2 air hoses, check valves, and air stones
- Air hose (Usually comes with the air pump)
- Check valve (Comes with better quality air pumps)
- Airstone (Comes with some air pumps. Get the biggest one your reservoir and air pump can handle)
General Plumbing
You can use either vinyl tubing or schedule 40 PVC here. Flexible tubing will be easier to cut, handle and set up.
- Return line
- (1) 3’ – 4′ section of 3/4″ black flexible vinyl tubing (not clear hose)
- Supply line
- (1) 3’ – 4′ section of 1/2″ black flexible vinyl tubing (not clear hose)
- Fittings
- (1) GROW1 Ebb & Flow Kit, Fill & Drain Set 1/2″ Fitting & 3/4″ Complete Kit BulkHead Flood Table
- Teflon tape or Teflon Paste to seal threads on all fittings
Tools
- Power drill To drill holes in the tray
- 1/2″ and 3/4″ Drill bits for wood or plastic. To drill holes in the tray. The size of this hole will depend upon the diameter of the air tubing you have purchased.
- Razer or Exacto knife To cut pipe
- Multibit Screwdriver To assemble the table
- Adjustable wrench or Socket set To assemble the table
- Plyers To push and pull tubing on and off fittings
Instructions
Table
- Assemble the table as per manufacture instructions.
Reservoir
- Clean the selected reservoir. Be careful with your cleaning solution here. Don’t use anything you would not use to clean your own drinking glass. We like to use clean water with a little Hydrogen peroxide. It’s best to follow the manufactures instructions as each bottle is sold with different strength percentages.
Tray
- Clean and place the selected tray on the table
Cut
Most manufactures will label where to make the holes for the supply, overflow, and return line holes. There will be 2 holes drilled into the tray. 1 for the nutrient water supply line that fills the tray. 1 for the overflow pipe that will return excess water from the supply line back to the reservoir until the timer turns off
- Layout, Measure, and cut or drill
- (1) hole for the supply line fitting into the tray (The hole size will depend predominantly on the size of the supply line fitting that comes with the GROW1 Ebb & Flow Kit, Fill & Drain Set 1/2″ Fitting & 3/4″ Complete Kit BulkHead Flood Table kit.)
- (1) hole for the overflow drain line fitting into the tray. This is usually indicated to be at the lowest point of the tray. (Check the overflow fitting size from the kit)
- Drill 2 holes in the reservoir lid. 1 for the 1/2″ supply line tubing and 1 for the 3/4″ overflow tubing (Check the size of each piece of tubing)
- Layout, Measure and Drill a 1/4″ Hole for the air hose in the reservoir lid (Optional)
Place
- Place the reservoir in its permanent location
- Push the 1/2″ supply line tubing through the 1/2″ hole in the reservoir lid.
- Push the 3/4″ supply line tubing through the 3/4″ hole in the reservoir lid. make sure the hose hovers over the waterline and leaves an air gap for proper drainage.
- Push the 1/4″ air hose through the 1/4″ hole in the reservoir lid.
Connect
At the Reservoir
- Connect the end of the 1/2″ tubing to the water pump.
- Connect the 1/4″ air hose to the airstone (Optional)
At the Tray
- Apply Teflon tape or paste to the threads on all of the fittings
- Feed the supply line fitting through the supply line fitting hole in the tray and attach with supplied seal and nut. Tighten until the seal is squished tight but do not overtighten.
- Feed the overflow drain fitting through the overflow drain line fitting hole in the tray and attach with supplied seal and nut. Tighten until the seal is squished tight but do not overtighten.
- Connect the other end of the 1/2″ tubing to the supply line fitting
- Connect the other end of the 3/4″ tubing to the overflow drain line fitting
Fill
- Fill the reservoir with filtered water
- Check for leaks
- Add nutrients
- Check pH
Ebb and Flow Hydroponics DIY: Surge Tank Build
When it comes to Ebb and flow Hydroponics DIY, the Surge Tank Build offers an immense amount of flexibility and portability. Plants can be changed from system to system with ease. This system requires a lot of effort. if you don’t feel up to the task perhaps you should research one of the other easier hydroponic systems or you can just buy one.
Materials
Main System Components
- Depending on where you place your system, you may need to Build or Buy a table.
- Reservoir (Choose 1 of the following options)
- 25 Gallon Garbage can or similar Non-transparent or translucent storage container (Size will depend on what is locally available, how much room you have, and your garden plan)
- 50 Gallon Drum
- Buckets (Choose 1 of the following options)
- (6) Dutch buckets
- (6) 5-gallon buckets with lids
General Plumbing
- Return line
- (1) 3’ section of 1″ flexible hose (not clear hose)
- (4) Botanicare Ebb & Flow 1″ with Barbed Fitting
- Supply line
- (1) 3’ section of 1″ flexible hose (not clear hose)
- (1) Botanicare Ebb & Flow Fitting Kit w/ 2 Extensions
Tools
- Power drill
- Hole saw (Match the Botanicare Ebb & Flow Fitting size)
- 1″
- 1/4″ Drill bit (for wood or plastic)
Instructions
Build this system
