Aerocloner question

I have a 36 site Clone King. Love it so far, I haven't had a single clone die. I am wondering though, do I have to switch the water in the res or just keep adding to it? It's only a mixture of pH 6.5 RO water and the recommended dosage of CloneX solution. The clones I have in there right now, although not dead, are exhibiting some weird growth? The roots are like these giant clusters, almost looks like some sort of almond candy? haha. Hard to describe. Looks like it'd be crunchy. No hairs or traditional roots yet, just these giant white chunks that look like the start of roots. My last batch, which was my first, had a similar look but eventually grew roots, these have been in the cloner 2 weeks and just look like rock candy, except white obv lol. Not sure if this is related.

tldr;
Do I empty and refill the aerocloner or just keep adding water when it gets low? Cuttings have been in there about 2 weeks and plan to leave them in for another 2 until they have big healthy roots. No rush in taking them out.

Thanks.

I went ahead and changed the water. I noticed some shit collecting in the rez. Here are some photos of the roots...

Either empty out and clean and/or use a oxidizer like chlorine to remove biofilm/algae growth.

Wastei said:

Either empty out and clean and/or use a oxidizer like chlorine to remove biofilm/algae growth.

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I emptied it, cleaned with some alcohol and then a good rinse, then I ran a solution of water and hydrogen peroxide to clean pump/sprayers. Afterward I refilled with 6.5 pH RO water and added back in some CloneX nutes. Thanks for chiming in!

vitalsine said:

I emptied it, cleaned with some alcohol and then a good rinse, then I ran a solution of water and hydrogen peroxide to clean pump/sprayers. Afterward I refilled with 6.5 pH RO water and added back in some CloneX nutes. Thanks for chiming in!

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No problem, didn't do much though. You already knew what to do!

Wastei said:

No problem, didn't do much though. You already knew what to do!

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Always trying to be proactive... still learning. This site has been a great resource, I always like to ask questions when I'm not 100% sure... sometimes I end up going with my gut but it's still nice to have a place where we can learn, bounce ideas around and hear others opinions!

vitalsine said:

Always trying to be proactive... still learning. This site has been a great resource, I always like to ask questions when I'm not 100% sure... sometimes I end up going with my gut but it's still nice to have a place where we can learn, bounce ideas around and hear others opinions!

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That's hopefully why we are all here. To give something back to the community. There's a lot of good people on this site and a few trolls. You learn who's what after spending some time on the forum

I've learned everything I know on this site and icmag. There's not a more developing/giving hobby than this, you practically learn something about everything. Welcome to RIU!

Wastei said:

That's hopefully why we are all here. To give something back to the community. There's a lot of good people on this site and a few trolls. You learn who's what after spending some time on the forum

I've learned everything I know on this site and icmag. There's not a more developing/giving hobby than this, you practically learn something about everything. Welcome to RIU!

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Thanks bub! Yea man, I can't tell you how much this has improved my life. I love it. So many skills you can apply to other areas of life... you learn patience and structure, how to be an electrician, carpenter, farmer, scientist lol... Very rewarding! Honestly can't wait to start a veggie garden next year. Never really grew one, but I'm on one after finally getting into growing my own cannabis!

Hi, I change my cloner water every 4 days. I live in a hot weather environment. When I’m lazy and let the water a little over a week, I just rub my hand inside the cloner walls and if it is a tiny bit slimy It’s time to change the water.

I just use tap water with no pH. pH is for the plants to eat so no need to pH.

The problem with cloners, growers sometimes keep the same water for weeks without realizing that algae, slime or bacteria it’s growing up in there. After the round of clones are done, I run bleach for 24-48 hours to sterilize the cloner.

just my 2 cents.

Good luck and happy growing

vitalsine said:

Afterward I refilled with 6.5 pH RO water and added back in some CloneX nutes.

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Drop the CloneX nutes, Tap water is usually all that's needed to root cuts. I would guess thats why your roots have a brown hue.

BobBitchen said:

Drop the CloneX nutes, Tap water is usually all that's needed to root cuts. I would guess thats why your roots have a brown hue.

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If any miniscule amount of bloom nutrients maybe 50ppm. The extra P will help promoting early root growth but is like you said not necessary.

Auxins moving from new growth to the freshly cut end is how rooting works. Im not sure adding bloom nutes will do any good.
But if it works for you, then do what works.

vitalsine said:

Do I empty and refill the aerocloner or just keep adding water when it gets low? Cuttings have been in there about 2 weeks and plan to leave them in for another 2 until they have big healthy roots. No rush in taking them out.

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IMO, as long as the roots stay a healthy white, I would just top off the rez. But If you're going to go longer than 10 - 14 days, changing out the rez may be a good idea. I'd do a quick rinse with some H2O2 between fillings also.

BobBitchen said:

Auxins moving from new growth to the freshly cut end is how rooting works. Im not sure adding bloom nutes will do any good.
But if it works for you, then do what works.

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It will buffer my RO water if anything. A little P is good for promoting root growth IMO. The clone can still uptake nutrient from the cut.

Wastei said:

It will buffer my RO water if anything. A little P is good for promoting root growth IMO. The clone can still uptake nutrient from the cut.

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You want them rooting, not growing

Also tap water over RO, the chloramine/chlorine helps prevent pathogens

BobBitchen said:

You want them rooting, not growing

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So the plant doesn't GROW roots you say? Elemental P is necessary for root growth either if it's from the plant tissue or in the nutrient water, end of story.

Wastei said:

end of story.

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Okay

@vitalsine good choice on the CloneKing, I've been getting pretty much 100% success for years with mine.
good luck

it really just depends on what you put in it and how stable it is.
I dont really change mine at all during cloning a set. I even let mine veg in it a couple weeks to get them big before transplant and just top it off. Has gone like 2 months like that.