Ebb n flow basket size

I have a 12 site ebb n flow set up with square 4 gallon buckets and square 3 gallon mesh inserts. I'm using hydroton as a medium, and an air stone in each bucket that I run when the buckets are flooded. My roots look crappy brown, so I am considering using smaller mesh baskets, 4 or 6 inch, this would let the roots hang into the bucket. Would this allow the roots to get more air? Would I have to adjust my timer for more feedings to keep them moist, or is that my problem, too moist?

Trying to understand your set up, cant picture it. Wouldn't you have the whole root mass in hydroton? Fills with water then drains several times a day.
You shouldn't need an air stone either.

Is this a bought ready made system or something you made? Can you post a pic.

I'm confused buddy. It sounds like you have a lot of stuff going on there; A sort of amalgamation of what sounds like several different growing styles.

I'd really love to see picture or diagram. I think the space for an airstone in each threw me off the most. But it sounds sort of like you combined like... dwc bucket priciples with ebb and flow?

All I got out of that was roots look crappy brown? Think you should solve that issue first

Phat J said:

I have a 12 site ebb n flow set up with square 4 gallon buckets and square 3 gallon mesh inserts. I'm using hydroton as a medium, and an air stone in each bucket that I run when the buckets are flooded. My roots look crappy brown, so I am considering using smaller mesh baskets, 4 or 6 inch, this would let the roots hang into the bucket. Would this allow the roots to get more air? Would I have to adjust my timer for more feedings to keep them moist, or is that my problem, too moist?

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What are the nutrient temperatures running? Warm water holds less oxygen.

coreywebster said:

Trying to understand your set up, cant picture it. Wouldn't you have the whole root mass in hydroton? Fills with water then drains several times a day.
You shouldn't need an air stone either.

Is this a bought ready made system or something you made? Can you post a pic.

Click to expand...

Yes System was purchased, 12 site "Flo n gro" ebb and flow system. It comes with 4 gallon buckets and 3 gallon mesh inserts. The roots are almost completely in the hydroton(my medium). I already started using 10 inch round baskets instead of the original 3 gallon squares. So now the roots hang to the bottom of the bucket. I added air stones because there is standing water in the bottom of the buckets. Trying to keep away the brown roots. My thought was smaller baskets and run it more like a rdwc so the roots are not packed into hydroton. I will try to add a pic of baskets for reference.

I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIX THE BROWN ROOT PROBLEM! That's why I am here asking questions.
The whole system seems shitty. Been modifying it since I got it. Should I just switch to the smaller 6 inch baskets and let the roots hang in the air? Nutrient temps are perfect 65-72°F controlled. Also have air stone in 55 gallon reservoir for constant air and circulation of solution.

From my point of view the more hydroton the better and I imagine the idea of the mesh pots is just so the hydroton doesn't block the inlet/outlet.
I built my own years ago and had to come up with a way to make sure that didn't happen.

Try running something to keep the res sterile. Not familiar with all the products, hydrogaurd or some enzyme.

They should get plenty of o2 to the roots in the thin film over water hydroton/roots. Every time the pod fills it should be introducing new o2 laden water so the little bit that doesn't drain shouldn't be an issue.

I don't think it hurts to flood more times a day than less.

Do you run any boost products or kelp? Anything that would stain the roots?

A simple pump in the res creating waterfall will be better than an airstone.

Thanks for trying to help. I am using advanced nutrients ph perfect. It does have dark colors to it and some other additives. Do you think I may be trying to fix something that really isnt a problem? I have never lost a plant. I will put a small pump in the res on my next run. I actually had that planned. Lol.
You think I should go back to the larger baskets rather than smaller ones? Guy at the hydro shop said the hydroton should hardly get wet, maybe just the bottom inch or 2 of the basket in the water. Just the roots hang in the water.

I wouldn't flood more often that every 4 hours and no floods with the lights off. Flood just long enough to reach full depth. You should consider running something with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens in it. I like Tribus Original, SAG Garden Friendly Fungicide is another as is hydroguard.

Phat J said:

Thanks for trying to help. I am using advanced nutrients ph perfect. It does have dark colors to it and some other additives. Do you think I may be trying to fix something that really isnt a problem? I have never lost a plant. I will put a small pump in the res on my next run. I actually had that planned. Lol.
You think I should go back to the larger baskets rather than smaller ones? Guy at the hydro shop said the hydroton should hardly get wet, maybe just the bottom inch or 2 of the basket in the water. Just the roots hang in the water.

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I think the guy in the hydro shop doesn't know what he's selling.

Renfro said:

I wouldn't flood more often that every 4 hours and no floods with the lights off. Flood just long enough to reach full depth. You should consider running something with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens in it. I like Tribus Original, SAG Garden Friendly Fungicide is another as is hydroguard.

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I had to flood once in lights off thrice in lights on or roots would dry out. I cant see why it would be a negative, its replenishing the nutrients in the thin layer of water and pushing out old air and bringing in new.

As Corey said, you can try to run sterile. I had more luck with beneficial bacteria when I ran DWC. You can't do both obviously. So see what works for you.

I have been trying the beneficial bacteria route but have not had great yields. I think the "hydrogaurd" is a good idea. Now back to the original post. Basket size. Should I go back to the full 3 gallon mesh baskets with more hydroton? This would allow the roots to spread out more?
It sounds like if I down size to the 6 inch baskets the roots will dry out unless I run it like a rdwc with air stones.

Yeah, stick to the big basket.

The big basket also helps to hold up a big plant.

Thanks guys for all the advice. I will go back to the original large baskets and start using a hydrogaurd type product. I should use other people's experience more often.

I am on bored with the bigger baskets. I personally run sterile h202 or bleach (Clorox)

Hey guys . I've search for few weeks and try many tings and still 4 from 9 , don;'t have roots out ac i can see 2 of them have root burn somehow and short , but they look nice on top green and healty ... other 5 have nice roots white long look healty and bigger.
I run same system ,IWS flood drain but 6 gallon pot - 9 pot with inners and net pots with clay pebbles.
so when drain is complete there is still a bit of water in outer pot
water every 4 and half hours for 30 min , nothing in dark .
water get ALMOST under net pot . water temp 65 - 72 (max )
5.7 -5.8 ph
tap water 240 ppm - reservoir 600 ppm - also air pump with 2 big stone in reservoir
canna nutrient with superthrive and botanicare hydroguard
week 7 veg from seeds
2x 400w hps
there's no light at roots , i cover the pots on top.
Any recommendations ? THank you !

I couldn't get much out of your jiberish?