How to Build a Compact Flood & Drain Hydroponic System

To bring hydroponic farming to the home Hoocho creates a compact flood and drain, ebb and flow hydroponic system that anyone can use in whatever space they have available.
Flood and Drain Kit:
www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=U...
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Hoochos explores the worlds of Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Permaculture, Homesteading, Fermentation, Technology Vanlife and DIY Builds to look at the world through a larger lens that can incorporate the best of everything into a rich and rewarding lifestyle.
Through self sufficiency we can reduce consumption and increase our hyperlocal household production.
Merch:
A way to support the channel and get some cool stuff too.
There are two stores because dependant on where you live in the world one will be cheaper than the other (shipping) and it gives a range of design flexibility.
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If you have personal queries about hydroponics or other matters please join me on Patreon for limited individual support or post in the Hoocho Reddit community and there are a lot of friendly helpful likeminded people that may have answers for you.
Happy Hydroponicing!

[@paulaandreaherreracamargo7272]

You have been the only one who has explained that the solution drains through the inlet pipe. This was so helpful beacause in my country there's any development in this kind of systems. Thank you man

[@nickmorse4972]

I was confused prior to his explanation as well! I thought the overflow pipe was the waters only exit, and was worried all the water below the overflow remained in the tub, which didn't make sense...

[@SmithGunnellsBDASAB]

I know right. he is great teacher. and if you don't want to build he is more than happy to make it for you. so yea I'm learning alot.

[@shaunussy]

I have to say thanks very much!! I have set one up today following your guidance, and I can happily say, all is perfecto! Thanks so much.

[@sanderschat]

and yesterday i thought how to make a F&D system.... and there you are. thanks!!

[@L4DYam3nd]

Really well explained, thanks for the level of detail!!

[@GEOsustainable]

The tip about reversing the drill is key info.

[@barbarastefani254]

Thank you for showing me a drain off shelf lifting for 12 rolls has been very tough thank you so much

[@MyBackyardGarden]

Nice tutorial. Thanks for sharing!

[@growingheart8039]

Great video! 🌞

[@eliasmangi7593]

Uppppah!!! Cheers mate. Great content!!!

[@rommelrivera8956]

you are the best.. detailed explanation..

[@insanecomicdude]

Great video. This helps a lot!

[@UnitBeerMonsta]

Awesome details mate subbed!

[@AquariumPlantLab]

Love your content! 🌱

[@sweetness6048]

Good job mate

[@dansouthcott6599]

unreal sounded scary yrs ago when lads used to talk about having one in there house they are really a basic system.indoor for winter outdoors 4 summer good job.

[@eastcoastgrower420]

Very interesting video. I want to try and develop a multi bed setup using your concept.

[@markhiggins2158]

Really help full matr love from 🇬🇧

[@Lyndon1015]

You're like the Macguyver of hydroponics!

[@blackberryhillfarm941]

Fortunately, he DOESN’T use duct tape! Hoocho rules.

[@robertchen4673]

Genius design, let the gravity take its course

[@everlastingfrost]

Finally someone from Aus! Subbed and I'm gonna watch all your others too. Whats the benefit of Flood and drain vs DWC? I'm growing in living soil atm but I might run a side-by-side with clones to compare.

[@innocentbystander2673]

Bursts out laughing. Looks at link for the pipes, i was there on Friday. Lol.

[@Hoocho]

Nice, glad they are a brick and mortar retailer. I just found the cheapest Australia based one for quick delivery... (considering the covid situation)

[@azoreancakeboutique]

Great video, going to build this system to try and grow some strawberries. Wondering tho what your pump capacity is? looks like a fairly simple fountain pump

[@torrencekrepps757]

I've seen a lot of your work and maybe an idea if you want to center upper your drain plug in the center of your tub

[@whyu3864]

Hi mate, thank you for making a very practical video. I will try to make one and put in my laundry. Can I replace the outlet with a bell siphon system? Is it practical?

[@Steve_makes_stuff]

so the perlite based systems working off solar, about to make this exact one with clayballs, once I locate the holesaws after my house move!!!

[@kevinjaves1758]

Wanna know how come you not dead amount of work you do on that lovely table my Mrs would kill me, great channel by the way love the way you also show your failures

[@mikec3820]

gonna build a similar one for my veg area to feed my 5x5 tent and ebb and grow C.A.P system. way cheaper then a real tray table and res.

[@jnkfishing9274]

I like the kegerator

[@mfrederikson]

I miss the old videos with that bad soundquality, so authentic

[@asifalam6846]

Nicely done. Its very pleasant to have some one who is from Australia. Which part of Au are you in?

[@Hoocho]

Cheers mate, Qld

[@flatout5815]

What you think about 7gal smart pots(fabric) filled with supersoil in a ebb system?

[@kingjezer4688]

Hey boss! I live in an apartment and am very limited to space. I was wondering if you could possibly revisit this video? I would love to see what you would love to add or change being 3 years old!

[@corneliuscorcoran9900]

GREAT video. Thank you. Can I use perlite, instead of hydroton? I'm planning on setting up a grow space, about the size of the one in this video. I'm hoping to grow some tomatoes (very compact strain, 'Minibel')and Bhut Jalokia chilli peppers. I have an air pump and stones, an aquarium water pump- 2200 L/min and a Senelux P450 LED light. Apart from some extra net-cups and pipe fittings, I think, I have the choice to build, Kratky, DWC, or 'Flood and Drain'. Any suggestions, as to which is best for the Toms and Peppers? Minimum depth of perlite, or Hydroton, to support these plants, which I expect to grow to about 75 cms (30") tall? I'd really appreciate any help/advice/links from anyone with some knowledge.

[@dongleseon8785]

Hi, which would be more growth/space efficient solution? This one or the 3d printed NFT solution you've made? I only have balcony for plants yet I have many plants (mostly bushy herbs) to grow.

[@TNRVG]

What size bin is the grow bed? I can’t find anything like it in stores.

[@arjayUU]

Simple and effective system. Would have loved to see the inlet on the other side of the outlet of the container for better circulation.

[@alanhunold7546]

Great idea, I think I will use this when I finally get my indoor hydroponics set up going. Do you think having one bed flow into another before going back to the reservoir would work?

[@user-ij2pl6zp6m]

good afternoon. please advise how many times per day to do flood/dry cycles when growing herbs like basil. at the stages of germination, and a set of green mass. what your experience says. Thanks

[@bongandablitze]

Does it eventually drain it completely with them valve tho or does it leave a say a centimetre of water on there all the time that the roots would just sit in and go bad

[@brannonwilson100]

Try sticking a air tube and Stone into your Inlet for your grow tank to help oxygen eyes your water coming out

[@macsmith2092]

I would love a follow video! How's it working? What are you growing? Great video! Thanks for sharing!

[@Hoocho]

Mac Smith Secret Garden in Stealth Wardrobe Grows Under Artificial Sun kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5qZl3pmhtOgbpI

[@Sierrarosemorton]

What about pulling the plant out to transplant, wouldn’t the roots get ripped? Or not enough to damage them

[@christopherjuarez7039]

Is there a need for aeration or chilling?

[@rafiq24032mh17]

What size are both of your containers?

[@johngodwin3828]

How often do you need to change the nutrients.

[@donnapeitz8737]

I have old jacuzzi I want to fill pea gravel to plant potatoes I want to know how to run water system in it?

[@joeri9759]

So the media bed , it just keeps flooding and emptying itself with the bell filter all day long without any timer? what should the flow be in the media bed? Or in other words, how many times in 24hrs should it fill and empty itself? Is there some sort of golden ratio for that? thx in advance

[@grahambate3384]

How do U know when you change the solution, cheers Graham

[@robertmihalyfi4901]

Is a small universal pump (650l/min, for indoor fountains) suitable for this application. Can I drain the water through any pump. Or you use something special.

[@alexanderbubnov4762]

please tell me the link of fittings on aliexpress?

[@ABUFARAH22]

can i germinate a seed using that? cause i don't have a soil.

[@quietspacearts]

can you just have flood n drain say 2 to 4 times a day?

[@chriswalport2979]

What size is the pump?

[@IQWorkshop]

What are the considerations between ebb and flow vs a bell siphon? Why choose one over another?

[@charlesfield9286]

Bell siphons are a major pain to make/keep working. The pump has to be right, the outer and inner diameters have to be just right, etc. Timers are cheap and dependable.

[@uberdogsequoia]

What is this system good for growing im looking into Marijuana

[@Freedomone153]

Where's the ebay link?

[@torrencekrepps757]

Just bye using PVC and just space each slot on the PVC with cuts for draining to be able to hold up the center so no splitting

[@CarnageChaosCustoms]

I'm wanting to do a small scale on like this, but with a bell siphon. just not sure it's small system compatible though.

[@Hoocho]

Check out this implementation of the system. instagram.com/threefamiliesfarm?igshid=gu6weu6jq3vt

[@denesszabo5007]

Should people living in the northern hamisphere (not australian gravity condition) turn the pump upside down?

[@Hoocho]

Dénes Szabó if you watch the video in a mirror it should fix the problem you’re having.

[@scotto5548]

Hey Hoocho. Been watchin all your vids mate and learning heaps so thanks for that. I want to start some hydro myself with some basic greens and herbs that I use for cooking. Would flood and drain be better than Kratky? Also, could I sit my plants In Individual net pots within the top container and flood and drain them like that? Cheers mate :)

[@Hoocho]

Flood and drain is great, either that or a coco perlite wicking setup. Best to keep the roots in media to stop them drying out too much

[@scotto5548]

@@Hoocho Thanks for replying mate. My Idea was to cut holes In the lid, sit net pots with plants and media In lid and flood and drain them. I'm thinking this may achieve two things.. 1. Save on the amount of clay balls used and 2. As the plants mature at different rates you can just remove them with the whole pot. OR.. Maybe I'm just overthinking It..haha.

[@Hoocho]

@@scotto5548 give it a go, never know till you try.

[@scotto5548]

@@Hoocho True story, cheers :)

[@user-px2sn8pr5t]

so...you don't actually need the overflow drain if the reservoir and the grow bed are in the right ratio?

[@Mach1Mike407]

Actually you do. Lets say your pump will run for 15 minutes every 2 hours but it will only take 2 min to fill the grow bed. This design is such that the nutrient level will fill the grow bed to the level of the overflow and start to run out, with the overflow having the capacity to flow OUT more than the pump is flowing IN. This way, the pump will fill to the overflow level in about 2 min then continue to pump while that level is maintained in the grow bed for the next 13 min (15 total) at which point the pump goes off, and the nutrient level drops (over the next 3-4 min) as it back-flushes through the pump into the reservoir. This is rather clever as it means you don't have to be continually topping up the reservoir level to account for the consumption by the plants and evaporation, and with the continued splash it will aerate the nutrient solution as well. Also, the "right ratio" technique sounds like it could have your pump run dry which is never a good idea.

[@domenicozagari2443]

You can use the same size container, just put some bricks to keep it up.

[@dchang466]

What type of pump would you recommend?

[@Hoocho]

Just a small pond pump from any hardware store. Just make sure the head height suits.

[@torrencekrepps757]

I hope that I made sense on what I said

[@SeamusHarper1234]

Hi, is it necessary to drain all the water, or is it preferable to leave some water at the base? Is a syphon actually superior? I've watched a video of a commercial grower, they said they flood two times a day, maybe three in the summer... Ty for the idea! Really simple design!

[@iheart3dprinting951]

I am having trouble, I built a very similar system to the one in the video and I live in a warmer climate. Sometimes I wake up to my biggest basil kinked over. I think there is some confusion on the flood and drain times and everyone is building ebb and flow systems but using wildly different variables and then using a one size fits all mindset on the flood times. I was flooding 4 to 6 times a day during daylight only for 5 minutes a flood. Its clearly not enough I am now moving to 1 hour off cycles and 2.5 minute floods 24 hours a day to see if that stops the morning droops and sags. My basil in my Kratky and my mint plants that are potted is not having this issue. I think 2-3 floods per day using clay ball may not be enough. Some people do 15 on and 15 off and are having great results so there is ALOT of wiggle room that is not being stated or understood.

[@uprsng44]

This is goddamned kitty's WC system

[@apple-on5pq]

those tubs are from bunnings

[@rdl3290]

make a bell siphon.. cheap as shit to make. more affective.

[@7356205]

So it doesn’t drain all the way? I dont get it. Don’t we want the water to drain completely?

[@Hoocho]

Yeah, we do, I was not aware at the time of filming.

[@johngodwin3828]

What plants can be used in this system

[@Hoocho]

I can’t think of many that can’t. You might have trouble with root vegetables.

[@stevo4442]

Why because its not deep enough for tomatoes?

[@Hoocho]

Personally speaking, my tomato’s love the system.

[@rw-xf4cb]

What I want is how to get the clay balls/growing media without taking out a home loan.

[@michaelmac8938]

Yes, that's a great question.....

[@L4DYam3nd]

I dunno where you live but this is in Melbourne: www.excelhydroponics.com.au/Excel-Hydroponics/Growing-Media/HYDROTON-Expanded-Clay-20L

[@christopherjuarez7039]

Hydroton is around 13 dollars for 10L

[@forjin]

Good idea, but where can I get the containers?

[@Hoocho]

Jin Park if you’re in Australia, Bunnings sell them “handy storage” brand. Other countries I don’t know. Major hardware stores would have something similar I’d imagine.

[@forjin]

@@Hoocho Yes, I am living in Melbourne. So I searched the almost same things on Bunnings. Thanks.

[@L4DYam3nd]

@@Hoocho It's so nice having someone from Australia doing this, I'm well over trying to find shit that Americans post about haha

[@xiam19]

Its compact, but very impractical

[@johndowd7010]

I run my 20 gal. System 5 min. On 25 min. Off..

[@VA_Grown]

Am I the only one that thinks the... white powdery residue in the tote at 06:59 looks like a scene from a war movie?

[@ThinkingBiblically]

Really? How about a pocket sized farm? Food production require area.

[@zamora3D]

..... isn't this simply a glorified automated sprinkler?

[@Hoocho]

It is not

[@zamora3D]

@@Hoocho I mean, the only difference is the water doesn't touch the foliage

[@Hoocho]

Zamora I don’t even know where to begin it’s that different. Have you even watched the video and listened to the explanation?

[@zamora3D]

@@Hoocho Haha sorry I don't know why I said that

[@Hoocho]

Zamora 🤙🏻

[@Sophie_519]

After using the kratky method, all other hydro/aqua ponics are far too complicated. Kratky will change your life … no offence to this video … thanks for sharing.

[@lucideye268]

THIS IS NOT A FLOOD AND DRAIN SYSTEM!!!! This is CONTINUOUS FLOW system.

[@Hoocho]

You’re allowed to be wrong.