There are diverse hydroponics methods on the market, such as aeroponics, nutrient film technique, drip system, and wick system. We will focus on EBB And Flow vs. DWC, the 2 most popular tools, in this article.
The systems can reduce the hassle of checking for crop growing seasons, plowing, or soil rotation, etc., because they promote soil-less plant growth at a constant rate for different types of plants.
It is time to become hydroponics growers with these cost-effective tools of minimal maintenance. Hydroponic systems reviews below will compare DWC vs. EBB And Flow to decide which one is better.
Ebb & Flow System
What is the EBB & Flow System?
A hydroponics EBB And Flow system run with a similar mechanism as sea tides. EBB indicates how the water retreats and Flow represents how it comes. Also, this is widely known as a Flood & Drain system.
It requires a suitable water ratio in the container for plant roots. After the flooding process occurs, the system removes excess water and nutrients to avoid various plant diseases, especially root rot.
Out of many hydroponics planting systems, this method is the easiest to operate, low-maintenance, and budget-friendly so far to support inexperienced growers in their soil-less plant growth option.
How Does It Work?
Ebb n Flow systems will include 2 containers of a water reservoir and a separate grow tray for plants. An overflow regulator and a pump for water in this device, with an automatic timer to run it.
As soon as the timer begins to automate, the reservoir will produce different nutrient solutions (nitrogen, calcium, sulfur, phosphorus, etc.) and pump them into a single tray full of ready plants.
The flooding occurs quickly between 5 to 10 minutes, with the overflow outlet preventing it from submerging the entire plant. Once the timer turns off, this pump is automatically off as well.
Nutrient and water drainage occurs after each cycle of flooding to avoid constant watering without limit. The act of gravity will pull excess materials back to the water reservoir for continuous re-usage.
A system of EBB And Flow hydroponics is more simplified than other models as it takes a single flooding action. It also eliminates oxygen depletion due to these plants’ complete submergence in water.
The roots will receive an excellent plant exposure level and absorb more oxygen after the drainage happens. Thanks to its automatic function, you can set up a watering schedule to save planting time and effort.
Deep Water Culture (DWC)
What is Deep Water Culture?
In contrast to EBB And Flow, Deepwater Culture hydroponics (also called a raft system) put plant roots in a complete submersion of nutrient water. In this raft-like system, the plants float on top of the water.
The water depth in its tank should vary between 8 – 10 inches deep for a complete plant root suspension in a high water level and nutrient solution. This depth also varies with the different plant sizes you are growing.
When fully submerged in a DWC bucket filled with well-oxygenated and nutrient-rich water all day long, the plants rarely, if ever, endure nutrient deficiency or the lack of appropriate oxygen for growing.
How Does It Work?
Water Culture hydroponic systems allow small and large plant roots to thrive on nutrient water. There is a stone and pump for air below the tank to supply them with oxygenated water for a regular intake.
It requires a simple hydroponics setup to obtain this time-efficient method. As these roots stay underwater their entire lifetime, they will constantly feed on the DWC stable nutrient flow system.
Remember to fill a sufficient amount of water into the reservoir that contains these plants. The water capacity in the container directly corresponds to the stability of nutrient solution plants will receive.
The best thing about a Deep Water Culture system is that minimal monitoring can still maintain healthy roots. All you need to do is keep an eye on any accidental pump failure to avoid unwanted plant death.
EBB & Flow vs.onEbb Deep Water Culture
Space requirements
Ebb And Flow – Your growth requirement will determine either a small or large scale for space utilization. A large scale takes up significant space for the system installation, whether on a farm or indoor grow.
The grow tray in such a Flood & Drain system can provide a maximum width of 1,200mm to allow all-around access from every side. You can place its reservoir under the flow table to reduce space usage.
With this type of hydroponics technology, moving the plant tray to another position is much easier because the entire setup can go without disassembling. Its space choices are also relatively flexible.
DWC – A limited space is nowhere near ideal for building a DWC hydro system since it will take up more room than growing plants in EBB And Flow. Rather than only one grow tray, it requires multiple control tanks at once.
As a result, the occupied space of 5 – 6 bubble buckets is far greater than a compact tray. DWC plant counts can vary in the grow tent, but it will cost you effort to relocate the system with a water pump air.
Costs of setting up and maintenance
Ebb And Flow – The water pump, an essential part of an EBB And Flow hydroponic system, is one of the rare and costly factors. Besides that, there is no other high-end accessory that is necessary to install.
You can grow a large plant count in one tray, depending on the tray size and reservoir, to reduce the money for individual containers. Its water pump’s regular running also helps lower the electricity use.
When it comes to hydro system maintenance, it has always been a major concern for organic growers. Most technologies use electrical tools to run nutrient solutions, so you need to monitor them constantly.
If any failures happen with its EBB drainage process, the tray will flood and cut down on oxygen. The water pump may also fail and overflow the plants in EBB with nutrients, leading to ultimate death.
DWC – On the other hand, DWC plants need an air pump to oxygenate them throughout different stages in the lifetime of plants. Moreover, each plant will be placed inside an individual grow bucket.
Therefore, the Deep Water Culture system will cost multiple buckets and air stones in its header tank. Your electricity bill may also rise due to the continuous air pump operation to keep plants growing.
The excellent news is equipment failures in DWC result in a slower death than EBB And Flow due to a timely deficiency in oxygen. However, you will have to check each unit for optimal maintenance carefully.
In summary, both flow setups are easy and highly time-efficient to do on your own without spending on labor costs. There will be different pros and cons in each model, so opt for the most suitable.
Pests and Diseases
Ebb And Flow – Sick plants are always a significant issue for gardeners since an infected one can infect others rapidly. Signs such as a defoliation issue likely relate to an increasing root rot below.
If a plant in EBB is sick, it is easier to remove this individual unit and isolate it for later spraying. Plants growing in the same tray may entangle roots with each other and makes it tedious to move one.
Another risk is root disease spreading as the system feeds oxygen and nutrient water to all plants at once. It is highly recommended to chill the water reservoir to block the growth of bacterial and fungi.
DWC – Separate growing trays in this method of hydroponics become a valuable advantage in preventing infections. DWC plants flourish in individual trays, so there are fewer risks of spreading root diseases or root entanglement.
Crop yield
Ebb And Flow – As you grow plants in EBB, it is essential to account for the yield from crop production. People use an EBB system mainly for plant propagation and move them to the main device to cultivate.
DWC – Between EBB And Flow vs. DWC, the latter system enables better yield. DWC plants always have their roots in nutrient solutions and individually benefit from this to grow faster.
Conclusion
These two methods of hydroponic plant cultivation promote an impressive growth rate through a continuous supply of nutrients and water for a plant root mass. That is why many gardeners have begun using them.
However, which hydro planting system between EBB And Flow vs. DWC that you find more beneficial for your situation? As long as it lives up to your expectation and personal needs, each tool will bring you excellent planting results.
