Hydroponics · Flood and drain
Ebb and flow hydroponic system
Flood and drain tables that feed potted plants and nursery trays, then return the solution to the tank. A simple, water-saving way to grow potted plants and vegetable and flower nurseries, designed, made and installed by Kryzen inside your polyhouse.
350+farms built by Kryzen across India
8 ft × 4 ft benches
Pots sit on a 2.3 ft high bench whose tray fills with nutrient solution, then drains back to the tank.
Water is reused
The solution returns to the same tank after every flood, so very little is wasted.
Nursery and potted plants
Built for potted plants, vegetable nurseries and flower nurseries.
What is ebb and flow?
Flood the table, drain it back, repeat
Quick answer
Ebb and flow, also called flood and drain, is a hydroponic system where pots or trays sit on a shallow table. A pump on a timer floods the bench with nutrient solution during the on time. In the off time the solution drains back to the tank and is used again.
Each flood feeds the roots, and each drain pulls fresh air into the media. That makes it a good fit for potted plants and for vegetable and flower nurseries.
How it works
From tank to table and back
Six parts flood every bench evenly and return the solution to the tank.
01Nutrient tank and pump
Each bench has its own 300 L covered nutrient tank. A pump on a timer floods the bench during the on time and lets it drain during the off time.
02ABS flood tray
A shallow ABS tray with a grid base, held in an aluminium border, holds the pots. A frame above can carry crop supports.
03Rolling bench frame
A galvanised steel stand with cross braces carries the tray. A handwheel rolls the tray sideways, so one aisle serves several tables.
04Inlet, overflow and drain fittings
The overflow fitting sets the highest water level; its height can be raised for bigger pots. When the pump stops, the tray drains back to the tank.
05Pots with drainage holes
Plants grow in pots with holes in the base, filled with clay balls, so water enters from below and drains fast.
06Daily monitoring
Kryzen hydroBUILD automation reads EC and pH and shows them on your phone, so doses can be adjusted every day. See IoT and automation.
The flood cycle
Four steps, run by a timer
The timer sets an on time to flood and an off time to drain. Our agronomy team sets them for your crop, pot size and season.
- 01
Flood
At the start of the on time, the timer starts the pump and the bench fills with nutrient solution.
- 02
Soak
Water stays at the set level for a short time while the media soaks up the feed.
- 03
Drain
When the off time starts, the pump stops and the solution flows back to the tank by gravity.
- 04
Breathe
As the media drains, fresh air is pulled down to the roots until the next flood.
Choose your system
Ebb and flow vs NFT
Both reuse the nutrient solution. The difference is a table that floods now and then versus a film that flows all the time.
| Point | Ebb and flow | NFT |
|---|---|---|
| Water flow | Floods and drains on a timer (on and off times) | Thin film flows all the time |
| Plants held in | Pots or trays with media on a table | Net cups in channels |
| Media | Clay balls in pots | Little or none |
| Power cuts | Wet media protects roots for a while | Channels dry fast; backup needed |
| Best for | Potted plants, vegetable and flower nurseries | Large leafy-green farms |
Why build one
Advantages of ebb and flow
Water is reused, roots get air, and one table suits many crops.
Water is reused
Solution drains back to the tank after every flood, so little water or fertiliser is lost.
More area under crop
Rolling benches slide sideways, so one moving aisle replaces fixed paths between every table.
Air reaches the roots
Every drain pulls fresh air into the media, which keeps roots white and healthy.
Even nursery growth
Every tray on a table gets the same water at the same time, giving even seedlings.
Simple to run
A tank, a pump and a timer. Change pot sizes or crops on the same table without changing the plumbing.
No soil diseases or weeds
Plants grow in clean, inert media on raised tables, away from soil.
Clean, saleable plants
Pots stay off the ground, clean and ready to grade and dispatch.
Climate-proof agriculture
Inside a polyhouse, heat, rain and pests stay out and harvests stay steady all year.
Technical details
Ebb and flow specifications
Table size, layout and flood times are planned for your area and crop after a site inspection. Every value goes in writing in your quotation.
| Specification | Kryzen ebb and flow system |
|---|---|
| System | Ebb and flow (flood and drain), recirculating |
| Bench size | 8 ft long × 4 ft wide × 2.3 ft high |
| Bench base | Expanded metal, welded wire mesh or bar grating, by pot size and load |
| Flood tray | ABS tray with a grid base, in an aluminium border |
| Stand | Galvanised steel supporting frame with cross braces |
| Rolling bench | Handwheel rolls the tray sideways to open an aisle where it is needed |
| Crop support | Optional overhead frame for strings and supports |
| Tank | 300 L covered nutrient tank per bench |
| Pump and timer | Pump on a timer with set on and off times, adjusted by crop and season |
| Fittings | Water inlet and outlet in the tray; height-adjustable overflow sets the water level |
| Pots and media | Pots with holes in the base, filled with expanded clay balls (LECA) |
| Monitoring | hydroBUILD EC and pH readings; doses planned with the Kryzen nutrient calculator |
Bench base
Three base options under the bench
The base carries the weight of the tray, pots and water. We choose it by pot size and load.
Expanded metal
One steel sheet cut and stretched into diamond openings. Strong and light, with no welds to break, and the open pattern lets water and air pass.
Welded wire mesh
Steel wires welded in a square grid. Light and low in cost, and a good base for trays and lighter pots.
Bar grating
Flat steel bars set on edge with cross bars. The strongest base, for heavy pots and large containers.
Made by Kryzen
Our own factory. Our own build team.
We cut, shape and quality-test the steel at our factory in Satara, Maharashtra, and our own construction team builds it on your land. You can follow every step live on your client portal at alpha.kryzen.com.
What it is used for
Potted plants and nurseries
Raise seedlings and young plants here, then grow fruiting crops to harvest in grow bags or Dutch buckets.
Potted plants
Potted roses, anthurium, orchids, kalanchoe, succulents and ornamental plants grown to sale size.
Vegetable nursery
Even seedlings of tomato, capsicum, chilli, cucumber and other vegetables, ready to transplant.
Flower nursery
Young plants of gerbera, rose, chrysanthemum and other flowers, raised before they go to the polyhouse.
Raised as seedlings, young plants or potted plants
Cost and running
What an ebb and flow farm needs
Your quotation lists every item, and our team prepares a crop-wise projection for your farm before you build.
Steady power
The pump runs on a timer. Wet media covers short cuts; we connect your generator or solar backup for longer ones.
Good water
A water test before you start tells us how to plan the nutrient solution.
Daily EC and pH checks
Check the tank every day. The solution is reused, so top it up and correct EC and pH.
A polyhouse
Ebb and flow tables are set up inside a naturally ventilated or fan and pad polyhouse.
Plan your doses and your sales
Use the nutrient calculator to plan feeds for each crop. Current prices from Price Watcher go into your project report, and Buyers Connect helps you sell after harvest.
Included free
- 6 months of virtual agronomy
- 4-day training for your farm team
- Hydroponic Masterclass logins
- Farm management software
- Buyers Connect
Worth ₹1.08 lakh
Compare
Ebb and flow vs soil farming
Soil farming costs less to start. Ebb and flow reuses water and fertiliser, avoids soil disease and gives even seedlings and healthy potted plants.
| Point | Soil farming | Ebb and flow |
|---|---|---|
| Water use | High; flood or open irrigation | Very low; solution is reused |
| Nursery quality | Uneven; soil-borne disease | Even, healthy seedlings |
| Soil diseases and weeds | Common | None; clean inert media |
| Plant quality | Mixed; soil splash | Clean and uniform |
| Fertiliser use | Broadcast; much is lost | Exact doses, recirculated |
| Setup cost | Low | Higher; see your quotation |
Subsidy and finance
Subsidy for your ebb and flow farm
Polyhouses for hydroponic farms built to National Horticulture Board (NHB) and National Horticulture Mission (NHM) norms can apply for government subsidy. A bank loan is usually part of the project, and the subsidy is paid after the project is checked.
NHB subsidy provider
Kryzen is a registered National Horticulture Board subsidy provider for all states.
NHM state subsidy provider
Enrolled with the National Horticulture Mission in Maharashtra and Karnataka for state horticulture schemes.
Project report for your bank
We prepare the detailed project report (DPR) your bank and subsidy file need, with cost, finance and profit projections.
Subsidy amounts depend on the scheme, your state and current government guidelines. The final decision is made by the government department.
Other hydroponic systems
Not only ebb and flow
Mix systems in one polyhouse to grow leafy greens and fruiting crops together.
How we build
From first call to first harvest
Ten steps, one team. Most projects are built in 45 to 90 days after material reaches the site.
1Free online consultation
We discuss your land, water, budget and goals on a video or phone call.
2Site inspection
Our team checks level, slope, sunlight, soil, water, power and road access.
3Design and quotation
We design for your climate and crops, and share a detailed quotation.
4Project report and finance
We prepare the DPR for your bank loan and subsidy file.
5Subsidy and loan
We help you apply for NHB or NHM subsidy and your bank loan, with the documents each office needs.
6Manufacturing
We cut, shape and quality-test the material at our factory in Satara.
7Construction
Our team builds the foundations, structure and growing systems on your land.
8Testing and handover
We test every system and hand over a working farm.
9Training and agronomy
Hands-on training for your team and 6 months of virtual agronomy support.
10Harvest management
We help you plan harvests, grading and sales, with market prices from Price Watcher and buyers through Buyers Connect.
What is an ebb and flow system?
Ebb and flow, also called flood and drain, is a hydroponic system where plants in pots or trays sit on a shallow table. A pump on a timer floods the table with nutrient solution during the on time, then the solution drains back to the tank.
What is ebb and flow used for?
Kryzen ebb and flow benches are used for potted plants, vegetable nurseries and flower nurseries: seedlings of tomato, capsicum and chilli, young gerbera, rose and chrysanthemum plants, and potted roses, anthurium, orchids and succulents.
What size is an ebb and flow bench?
A standard Kryzen bench is 8 ft long, 4 ft wide and 2.3 ft high. Benches are set in rows to fill your polyhouse.
Which bench base should I choose?
Expanded metal suits most pots and trays, welded wire mesh is a lighter, lower-cost option, and bar grating is the strongest, for heavy pots. We suggest the right base for your pots in the quotation.
What is a rolling bench?
The flood tray sits on rollers on its stand. Turning the handwheel slides the tray sideways to open an aisle, so a few moving aisles replace fixed paths between every table.
How is flooding controlled?
A timer runs the pump with an on time and an off time. During the on time the bench floods; during the off time it drains back to the tank. Our agronomy team sets the times for your crop, pot size and season.
What size is the tank?
Each bench has its own 300 L nutrient tank.
Which growing media is used?
Expanded clay balls (LECA) in pots. They drain fast, so air reaches the roots between floods, and they can be washed and reused.
How is ebb and flow different from NFT?
NFT runs a thin film of water through channels all the time. Ebb and flow floods a table now and then and drains it, and plants grow in pots with media.
What happens if the power fails?
Wet media keeps roots moist for some time. For longer cuts, Kryzen connects the pump to your generator or solar backup.
How long does installation take?
Most projects are built in 45 to 90 days after material reaches the site.
Is there a subsidy for ebb and flow farming?
The polyhouse can get NHB or NHM subsidy, and the project can use a bank loan. Our team prepares the project report and subsidy file.
Talk to our team
Plan your ebb and flow farm with us
Tell us your land, crop and budget. We’ll tell you honestly whether ebb and flow, NFT or another system suits you, then share a detailed quotation.