EBB & FLOW system - (flood and drain)

EBB & FLOW system

The Ebb and Flow system works by temporarily flooding the grow tray with nutrient solution and then draining the solution back into the reservoir. This action is normally done with a submerged pump that is connected to a timer.

When the timer turns the pump on nutrient solution is pumped into the grow tray. When the timer shuts the pump off the nutrient solution flows back into the reservoir. The Timer is set to come on several times a day, depending on the size and type of plants, temperature and humidity and the type of growing medium used.

The Ebb & Flow is a versatile system that can be used with a variety of growing mediums. The entire grow tray can be filled with Grow Rocks, gravel or granular Rockwool. Many people like to use individual pots filled with growing medium, this makes it easier to move plants around or even move them in or out of the system. The main disadvantage of this type of system is that with some types of growing medium (Gravel, Growrocks, Perlite), there is a vulnerability to power outages as well as pump and timer failures. The roots can dry out quickly when the watering cycles are interrupted. This problem can be relieved somewhat by using growing media that retains more water (Rockwool, Vermiculite, coconut fiber or a good soiless mix like Pro-mix or Faffard's).

Aquaponics system

For those who are interested, there are many sites that provide good information regarding this technique of having fish, and also growing your own plants.

However I will endeavour to break it down into a simplified way for the beginner to understand. I do not profess to be a guru on this subject and am quite prepared to stand corrected should I be wrong.

If you have ever had aquariums or small fish tanks, then you will be aware that there was/is a need to change at least a third of the water every couple of weeks. This is due to the build up of ammonia in the water from the fish excretia. Too much ammonia in the water becomes toxic to the fish and they die, so by removing a third and replenishing it with fresh water you are creating a balance for the fish to survive.

Aquaponics works on the same principle. I have created a life cycle diagram to try and simplify the basic concept of how aquaponics work without getting too technical.

The fish having been fed, in due course give off excrement which eventually builds up in the water as ammonia.
There are two types of bacteria required to convert the ammonia. The first; converts the ammonia into nitrites and the 2nd converting the nitrites into nitrates (nitrogen) which is a source required by plants.
The plants take up the water and nutrients within it. What is not taken up by the plants is returned back to the tank via a bio-filter. This filter removes any unused solids and cleans the water before it returns back into the fish tank.


source: geelonghydroponicgardening.com



"Aquaponics Made Easy" - the video will be watched how to be growing plants and to farmed fish. System what use in video is "EBB & FLOW system"