🧰 Free Tools Suite

Ebb & Flow Resource Hub

Everything you need to plan, build, and calibrate your ebb and flow system — all in one place. Select a tool below to get started.

💸 Bill of Materials

Under‑$100 Hardware Checklist

Current Total $0.00 ✅ Under Budget

Check off items as you source them to track your exact project costs.

0 of 5 items

✓

Rigid Grow Tray & Reservoir Tubs 2×3 ft boot tray + 25‑gal reservoir. ($20.00)

$20.00 ✓

Submersible Pump (250 GPH) High‑head pump with 4 ft lift capacity. ($22.50)

$22.50 ✓

15‑Minute Interval Timer Short, repeatable flood bursts. ($12.50)

$12.50 ✓

Bulkhead Plumbing Kit 1/2″ fill + 3/4″ drain bulkheads. ($15.00)

$15.00 ✓

Hydroton Clay Pebbles (Bag) Reusable, porous aggregate. ($20.00)

$20.00

🎉 You're fully equipped! All items checked — ready to build your system.

Step

1 2 3 4

🛠️ Step 1: Drilling Plastic Grow Trays

Select the absolute lowest end of your grow tray to host the drain. Using a standard hole saw matched to your bulkhead size, drill your drain hole. Use a medium‑low drill torque speed; pushing too fast or hard with high pressure will heat the plastic, causing brittle storage tubs to violently fracture. Buff away raw burrs with sandpaper before installing hardware.

Step 1 of 4

🎉 Build Sequence Complete!

🔴 Hydroton BEST ALL‑ROUNDER

Hydrology: Zero water retention. Immediate drainage.
Dosing: 4–6 floods/day. Pre‑rinsing mandatory.

Drainage98%

Retention15%

Aeration95%

CECVery Low

Reusable5+ cycles

pH StabilityExcellent

▼ Click to expand

🥥 Perlite / Coco HIGH RETENTION

Hydrology: High capillary water retention.
Dosing: 2–3 floods/day. Avoid waterlogging.

Drainage60%

Retention85%

Aeration70%

CECModerate

Reusable2–3 cycles

pH StabilityGood

▼ Click to expand

🪨 Rockwool ZERO CEC

Hydrology: Zero chemical ion retention.
Dosing: 3–5 floods/day. Needs pre‑buffering.

Drainage50%

Retention90%

Aeration60%

CECZero

ReusableNo

pH StabilityNeeds Buffering

▼ Click to expand

💡 Selection Principle: Fast‑draining media need frequent, short floods. Water‑holding media need fewer, longer floods.

🔴 Hydroton FAST DRAIN

Schedule: 4–6 floods/day · 10 mins/cycle

5Cycles / Day

10Mins / Cycle

50Total Mins

⚪ Perlite / Coco MODERATE HOLD

Schedule: 2–3 floods/day · 5–10 mins/cycle

3Cycles / Day

8Mins / Cycle

24Total Mins

💡 Feeding Principle: Fast‑draining media need more frequent, shorter cycles. Water‑holding media need fewer, longer cycles.

⏱️ Fill Time (flood)

⏱️ Drain Time (gravity)

$ System idle. Press the button to initiate test.