Okay, so the only tiny thing I'm not swallowing completely about the ebb/flow system is how you get the top to drain completely. I understand that here are some pumps that will allow the water to drain back through the pump once it stops, solving my problem. However, I'm not sure if my pump will allow what. It's a submersible, so I assume it will. However, if it doesn't, how do you attack this problem?
Do you simply drill smaller holes at the base of your overflow so the water constantly drains while the pump is running, but not fast enough to render the main overflow useless?
Got a pic of the pump?
You'll need to think about the volumne of the flood tray and match it to the resv. I prefer a resv. 3 times the vol of the tray but that's just my preferences.
How big a pump do you have? Folks tend to go way too big on the pump.
Most pumps will allow back flow through them when not running, especially submersible pumps. Via-Aqua makes a decent pump and they are cheap. Since they are cheap and basically the heart of your flood/drain system I allways keep a spare on hand.
hydroguy
You'll need to think about the volumne of the flood tray and match it to the resv. I prefer a resv. 3 times the vol of the tray but that's just my preferences.
How big a pump do you have? Folks tend to go way too big on the pump.
Most pumps will allow back flow through them when not running, especially submersible pumps. Via-Aqua makes a decent pump and they are cheap. Since they are cheap and basically the heart of your flood/drain system I allways keep a spare on hand.
hydroguy
The pump is a Pond Master Model 3. I got it a while back when I was watering some plants on my balcony using a homemade automated system that wasn't really hydroponic, rather, it just watered the plants every couple days and I had to top off the reservoir bucket every 4th day or so.
I found a pic of it online:
[img]https://globalaquaria.com/images/products/RDF02740-2.jpg[/img]
The specs are as follows:
Includes Fractionating Impeller & Venturi Assembly w/ Tubing & Muffler
Flow rate @ 1 ft: 405 gph
Max head: 10.5 feet
Watts: 35. Amps: .29.
Dimensions: 5" X 3.8" X 4.2"
Connections: 1/2" FPT Inlet / 1/2" MPT Outlet
Includes removable Foam Pre-Filter. Easy to clean and replace.
10 foot grounded cord
For external or submersible use
There is a performance chart [url=https://www.marineandreef.com/Articles.asp?ID=124]HERE[/url] if you are interested in seeing these specs.
I found a pic of it online:
[img]https://globalaquaria.com/images/products/RDF02740-2.jpg[/img]
The specs are as follows:
Includes Fractionating Impeller & Venturi Assembly w/ Tubing & Muffler
Flow rate @ 1 ft: 405 gph
Max head: 10.5 feet
Watts: 35. Amps: .29.
Dimensions: 5" X 3.8" X 4.2"
Connections: 1/2" FPT Inlet / 1/2" MPT Outlet
Includes removable Foam Pre-Filter. Easy to clean and replace.
10 foot grounded cord
For external or submersible use
There is a performance chart [url=https://www.marineandreef.com/Articles.asp?ID=124]HERE[/url] if you are interested in seeing these specs.
Dandy pump you've got. It's gonna pump some water for sure. Some thoughts I might share with ya:
pour some water into the top port, if it drains out the bottom port then your good to go for a flood/drain system.
when the pump starts pumping into the empty flood tray your gonna need some way to keep the water from spraying straight up and out of the tray. Screens work great for this and come with most flood/drain assemblies. You can build your own but I've found these assemblies to be cheap enough and come with washers etc. to make them a great value.
The standard for the drain side of f/d systems is the drain is 150% the size of the fill line. In your case 1/2" fill would require a 3/4" drain.
I'll dig up some hardware pics that might give you some ideas:
[img]https://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/hydroguy/plumbing%20lights/0214111044-00.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/hydroguy/plumbing%20lights/0208111621-00.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/hydroguy/plumbing%20lights/0208111616-00.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/hydroguy/plumbing%20lights/0208111620-00.jpg[/img]
hydroguy
pour some water into the top port, if it drains out the bottom port then your good to go for a flood/drain system.
when the pump starts pumping into the empty flood tray your gonna need some way to keep the water from spraying straight up and out of the tray. Screens work great for this and come with most flood/drain assemblies. You can build your own but I've found these assemblies to be cheap enough and come with washers etc. to make them a great value.
The standard for the drain side of f/d systems is the drain is 150% the size of the fill line. In your case 1/2" fill would require a 3/4" drain.
I'll dig up some hardware pics that might give you some ideas:
[img]https://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/hydroguy/plumbing%20lights/0214111044-00.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/hydroguy/plumbing%20lights/0208111621-00.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/hydroguy/plumbing%20lights/0208111616-00.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/hydroguy/plumbing%20lights/0208111620-00.jpg[/img]
hydroguy
Thanks for the info.
I intend to buy the planting trays and reservoir when I get into the new house, but that won't be until June of 2012.
My plan to start off will be two racks, back to back, that will give me a 4' x 4' growing footprint. I thought I might get 4ea 2' x 2' planting trays and put them in an array that is 2 trays by 2 trays which would mean I would need 4 feeder hoses from a single reservoir on the flood end of the system. However, I may revise this to 2 trays that are 2' x 4" which would only require 2 fill lines. I presume that a flexible hose with a "Y" or "T" fitting would equalize the flow and provide equal water feed to each of two trays?
The reservoir would sit on a bottom shelf - about 4" off the floor of the room. The second shelf would be installed just above the top of the reservoir (as opposed to sitting right on top of it). The only issue I think I'll have with this scenario would be that a lot of the pre-manufactured growing trays come with frames to allow the sloping of the growing trays to the drain hole. I can accommodate this by simply cutting the legs off the tray support frame and sitting the frames on the shelf I have the trays on.
Hydroguy, I have a plan for my intended system. If you want to PM me your email, I'll send you a .pdf of it... Up to you. But I think your advice would be helpful if you don't mind taking a look at my plan.
I intend to buy the planting trays and reservoir when I get into the new house, but that won't be until June of 2012.
My plan to start off will be two racks, back to back, that will give me a 4' x 4' growing footprint. I thought I might get 4ea 2' x 2' planting trays and put them in an array that is 2 trays by 2 trays which would mean I would need 4 feeder hoses from a single reservoir on the flood end of the system. However, I may revise this to 2 trays that are 2' x 4" which would only require 2 fill lines. I presume that a flexible hose with a "Y" or "T" fitting would equalize the flow and provide equal water feed to each of two trays?
The reservoir would sit on a bottom shelf - about 4" off the floor of the room. The second shelf would be installed just above the top of the reservoir (as opposed to sitting right on top of it). The only issue I think I'll have with this scenario would be that a lot of the pre-manufactured growing trays come with frames to allow the sloping of the growing trays to the drain hole. I can accommodate this by simply cutting the legs off the tray support frame and sitting the frames on the shelf I have the trays on.
Hydroguy, I have a plan for my intended system. If you want to PM me your email, I'll send you a .pdf of it... Up to you. But I think your advice would be helpful if you don't mind taking a look at my plan.