Hydroponic Water Tempatures?

I have read:

-Lower Temps are good to keep a sterile system 62-69F
-But certain temps in 70's or 80's are optimal for max growth.

I'd like to talk about:

1 What temp do you use?
2 Why?
3 What is the Low end optimal sterile temp?
4 What is the the higher optimal max growth temp?
5 Anything else?
6 Tips? Other Approaches?

not over 72, brown algae is a bitch. I like to keep mine 65 to 68.

You want it around 66 give or take like Wiseguy says. To be consistent you more or less need to get a chiller depending on where you live


Dub

I keep mine as cool as possible.. At night the A/C cools the room and the juice down to the 60s.. Hopefully the juice stays cool enough during the day..

I use a 5 gallon sport cooler from Lowe's .. Keeps my temps 62 degrees - 70 degrees... Yeah root rot is a bitch if you dont contain water temps and you will spend some dough on beneficial bacterias too, not me though..

I basically try to keep my temp the same temp the soil temp outside would be during the respective growing condition. So during veg, around 75 degrees (up to 80 sometimes), and flower I start to put frozen 2 liters in (I change them out twice a day) and it tends to stay around 70. I never have algae growing in my Rez, and I really dont understand where most people get it from (I'm not referring to DWC, as I'm sure it's more important for those guys). Algae doesn't naturally occur indoors, and your not introducing it from your nutes...so how are you getting it? Anytime you ever go into your Rez or growing area always have clean clothes on (nothing you have been outdoors in yet...which is why I do it first thing in the morning.) and always wash your hands. Also, in between every grow, I spray the walls, floor, and ceiling with Lysol (this way you don't have to fight mold or mildew either). Too me, water temp isn't that important in aero...well not nearly as much as everyone let's on like.

I have never seen algae on the roots other than dwc

wiseguy316 said:

I have never seen algae in other than dwc

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Me either...which is why I don't really see why people purchase chillers to keep temps down in the 60's. Also, the whole thing with white roots being a sign of good plant health. My roots are a dull white/brownish color the entire time they grow (granted I use some filtered organics in my aero system).

PeaceFarmer said:

I basically try to keep my temp the same temp the soil temp outside would be during the respective growing condition. So during veg, around 75 degrees (up to 80 sometimes), and flower I start to put frozen 2 liters in (I change them out twice a day) and it tends to stay around 70. I never have algae growing in my Rez, and I really dont understand where most people get it from (I'm not referring to DWC, as I'm sure it's more important for those guys). Algae doesn't naturally occur indoors, and your not introducing it from your nutes...so how are you getting it? Anytime you ever go into your Rez or growing area always have clean clothes on (nothing you have been outdoors in yet...which is why I do it first thing in the morning.) and always wash your hands. Also, in between every grow, I spray the walls, floor, and ceiling with Lysol (this way you don't have to fight mold or mildew either).

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I have algae come in through well water.. They grow in my Stealth RO filter.
People with city water should not get algae because of the chlorine in the water..

I use bleach in my hydro reservoirs to keep them sterile.. .5PPM chlorine residual will keep everything clean..

I have done aero with no chiller the roots seem to get enough O2 to stay healthy, and res temps were around 85 to 90. I was adding h202 also.

tommyo3000 said:

I have algae come in through well water.. They grow in my Stealth RO filter.
People with city water should not get algae because of the chlorine in the water..

I use bleach in my hydro reservoirs to keep them sterile.. .5PPM chlorine residual will keep everything clean..

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I live in the city and have had algae several times.

ya have to figure the chlorine only last about 16 to 18 hrs . So an additional dose is required daily for higher temps.

tommyo3000 said:

I have algae come in through well water.. They grow in my Stealth RO filter.
People with city water should not get algae because of the chlorine in the water..

I use bleach in my hydro reservoirs to keep them sterile.. .5PPM chlorine residual will keep everything clean..

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Good point...I did forget about well water users!! Perhaps copper sulfate would work...it is a natural algaecide...works wonders!

typing without doing my homework isn't copper bad for plants it interferes with photosynthesis?

just did some reading i think it is more for soil grows. and will only harm plant if used in excess.

wiseguy316 said:

ya have to figure the chlorine only last about 16 to 18 hrs . So an additional dose is required daily for higher temps.

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Yes, the Cl does dissipate from the water...but that's means your water is algae free when you put it in...so where is your algae coming from? Heat and light doesn't grow algae, you have to bring it in from somewhere. It's kind of like that old saying, go out in the cold barefoot and you will catch a cold. Well, common sense tells us, that you CAN'T get sick from being in the cold barefoot...you have to contract the virus to actually get sick. Granted, the cold lowers your immune system function which can allow you to catch a cold you would normally fight off.

This comparison works for this discussion, because your rez can't just get algae, and the warm rez temps, lowers your defenses to it. All I'm saying is that it's a lot easier and cheaper to make sure you are clean when messing with your plants than to shell out several hundred dollars for a chiller.

light and nutrients creates algae, and after further review copper sulfate is suitable for hydro. I need time to read..lol

wiseguy316 said:

just did some reading i think it is more for soil grows. and will only harm plant if used in excess.

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2 out of the 3 bottles of my fox farms nutes contain copper as 0.05% chelated copper for a total of .10% at any given time. I have also heard of using iodine, though I have no experience with plants...as we just used it in reservoirs in the military for potable water. I do know that a few years ago there was a big fiasco about large farms spraying iodine onto the leaves to prevent fungus based problems, but that's about it.

interesting read

http://www.hydroponics-at-home.com/hydroponics-garden.html

wiseguy316 said:

light and nutrients creates algae, and after further review copper sulfate is suitable for hydro. I need time to read..lol

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Those things feed the algae, but the algae bloom has to be introduced to your system from somewhere else.I suppose organic nutes could cause algae, but a chemical based fertilizer simply couldn't.