First Home Made Bubbleponics System!

Hello,

First and foremost I want to thank Roseman, his threads have been invaluable. I just set up my first system. I tried my best to mimick the bucket set up Roseman built. Unfortunately I had no irrigation manifold at any of the Loews or other stores around so used a splitter and pinched the lines to make the stream uniform. I soaked my seeds, hooked everything up. PH balanced to 5.9. And started. Its in a tent in the closet and the temp stays at about 70-75 degrees. Im having trouble with the tubes staying put but I think I solved that with a ziptie. One thing I noticed today the second day its been running is that it is giving off a little bit of an odor, almost like an earthy sweet smell. One of my rockwools also had a bit of a slimy green corner. I think it got over wet because the tube pushed up into the corner. I am not using lights yet and I also used the Hygrozyme product so I hope its not mold or fungus. No sprouts yet but im keeping my fingers crossed. Any suggestions?

it looks good but your rockwool looks a little to wet. and why no lights on?

You might have mold on the rockwool like you suggest. I would pull the rockwool up just a bit, so it doesn't get so wet. I always keep the top of the rockwool just about the lip on my net pots. When I put my cups in the bucket, I fill with hydroton first, run my tubing, then set my pre soaked rockwool and germed seed right down on top of the feeding tube. Every 6 to 8 hours I will check the rockwool by touching the top for moisture. I like my rockwool to be just damp to the touch on the top. When did you put your seeds in the rockwool? Since the plant hasn't sprouted yet, and only if within the last 24 to 36 hours since you planted the seeds, I would very very carefully transplant that seed to another rockwool. Get rid of the algae now. It will haunt you later. Hope this helps

Lkmyblz said:

it looks good but your rockwool looks a little to wet. and why no lights on?

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Good question Lkmyblz...Typically the lights should be turned on when the first sprout comes up through the rockwool or growing medium.

ok,was just wandering,thanks, and be very careful transplanting to a new cube,if possible soak in hot water for a couple of seconds and scrape sides of cube and then dip in ph'ed water if you have to use the old cube,it will get rid of some of the algae, but not all, hope it helps and good luck. + rep for long horn

Thanks Longhorn! I must have misunderstood the setup thread. I thought I was supposed to stick the tubes into the sides of each cube. Instead I am supposed to fill with hydroton place the feeder tube on top of the hydroton then place the cube on top of that. So the cube just draws up the moisture instead of being fed it. Since it's been only about 36 hours I will transplant that seed. Do you think if I remove it the hygrozyme will keep the res ok or should I run some H202. Thanks again for all your help.

rasguedo said:

Thanks Longhorn! I must have misunderstood the setup thread. I thought I was supposed to stick the tubes into the sides of each cube. Instead I am supposed to fill with hydroton place the feeder tube on top of the hydroton then place the cube on top of that. So the cube just draws up the moisture instead of being fed it. Since it's been only about 36 hours I will transplant that seed. Do you think if I remove it the hygrozyme will keep the res ok or should I run some H202. Thanks again for all your help.

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You are correct! Put about 1" high of hydroton into the empty cup. Push the feeder tube thru the side of the cup about half way up. Make sure the tube is up against the rockwool cube. Fill the cup with more hydroton....

Lkmyblz said:

ok,was just wandering,thanks, and be very careful transplanting to a new cube,if possible soak in hot water for a couple of seconds and scrape sides of cube and then dip in ph'ed water if you have to use the old cube,it will get rid of some of the algae, but not all, hope it helps and good luck. + rep for long horn

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Thank you!!

rasguedo said:

Thanks Longhorn! I must have misunderstood the setup thread. I thought I was supposed to stick the tubes into the sides of each cube. Instead I am supposed to fill with hydroton place the feeder tube on top of the hydroton then place the cube on top of that. So the cube just draws up the moisture instead of being fed it. Since it's been only about 36 hours I will transplant that seed. Do you think if I remove it the hygrozyme will keep the res ok or should I run some H202. Thanks again for all your help.

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No need for H202 at this time, I would recommed keeping the res full with nothing but pure, clean water. No need for the H202 at this time. Keep up the good work, I am going to start a new journal in the next 48 hours or so. I have 3 Super Lemon Haze starting to sprout right now, I could see the top of the seeds just starting to reach the rockwool opening this morning. Keep an eye out!!

Hey all,

I think I see a little bit of white at the bottom of one of the seeds maybe its sprouting?.. Only issue though is the bucket still smells.. THe water is clear but I notice if I touch the side and top of the lid its really slippery almost like a rock in a creek with algae. Im not sure if this is normal or not.

Im wondering if it could be the Hygrozyme I added. Does it create a slight beneficial film?

Ok I started another seed with the paper towel method and then transplanted to a cube. It sprouted however I am a little bit nervous to transfer to the bucket with the slippery algae feeling I mentioned before. If anyone knows if its the Hygrozyme please let me know so I can have some piece of mind in putting it in the system. Thanks in advance.

Do a complete water change. Clean all that slimy stuff out of there, clean everything that includes the bucket and lid with some distilled white vinegar. Throw out all that hydroton if the feeder tubes have gotten any of that water on them. You are at a perfect point to start over. Has the seedling now sprouted any leaves yet? No more Hygrozyme...Sorry I left you hanging!!