How to maintain a sterile reservoir

hydroScript.js

hydroScript.js

Well-Known Member
So I'm not an expert but I KNOE why i got root rot...because I kept the Rockwool too wet...not even sure if it was root rot as opposed to just drowning them....because my plants recovered "super" fast once i put them into dirt...then a week later I lowered the water level and tried again and BAM!! looks amazing....But I keep my rez temp at 60 (accidentally got to 55 this morning) and I let it heat up to 70 through-out the day and then I start all over...I have 2 much Air AND HydroGuard...if I get Root Rot it might be a good thing....It'll be the last DWC I do...which honestly is more expensive and labor-intensive than dirt...But I'll be honest WOAH...you really see hourly growth in DWC...but i think my final deciding factor will be taste...not even yield...I mean maybe a little bit but if the two are even remotely close....say 15-20% larger either way..Im going with the one that tastes better.....I'ma flush da fawk out of them and I'm not a nutrient hog anyway so it shouldn't be an issue
 
STLbudz

STLbudz

Well-Known Member
Rockwool is the shit ! Never liked any recirculating systems for the very reason your explaining . I love drain to wast with drippers on slabs you still get those hourly improvements/growth ! Should try a drain to waste less worry of sitting water going bad .
 

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lusidghost

lusidghost

Well-Known Member
STLbudz said:
Rockwool is the shit ! Never liked any recirculating systems for the very reason your explaining . I love drain to wast with drippers on slabs you still get those hourly improvements/growth ! Should try a drain to waste less worry of sitting water going bad .
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Why don't you just flood to waste? All of those feeder tubes have to be a headache.
 
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Aero Grow

Member
hydroScript.js said:
Why do people add beneficial bacteria in the first place if being sterile is the way to go?? Likewise I wonder why people grow n soil as opposed to hydro if it's better or vice-versa. I'm just curious has anybody done a side by side comparison....im doing hydro and soil with the same strain and growing conditions on my first grow just too see which taste better, ect.
Check out my first grow in my signature walk thru my mistake with me!
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My first hydro grow was a RDWC system with 2 plants (White Widow and Sour Diesel). I had the same two seeds in soil at the exact same time and the hydro blew it out of the water. Plants were way bigger, grew faster, and bigger yield. The soil did take the cup for the better flavor/smell tho so that is definitely something to consider.
 
hydroScript.js

hydroScript.js

Well-Known Member
Aero Grow said:
My first hydro grow was a RDWC system with 2 plants (White Widow and Sour Diesel). I had the same two seeds in soil at the exact same time and the hydro blew it out of the water. Plants were way bigger, grew faster, and bigger yield. The soil did take the cup for the better flavor/smell tho so that is definitely something to consider.
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Wait you mean two of each...because two separate strains would grow differently i would assume...I think the true test would be clones from the same plant one grown in soil and one in hydro...then compare, speed and taste...im kinda doing that now..but one plant has a little head start...about 10 days so we will l see if it catches up and if it taste better...I mean if we are talking about 20% or more I can't wait...I know one think next time I'm just going to use a tub and buy a chiller instead of a portable ac...
 
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Aero Grow

Member
hydroScript.js said:
Wait you mean two of each...because two separate strains would grow differently i would assume...I think the true test would be clones from the same plant one grown in soil and one in hydro...then compare, speed and taste...im kinda doing that now..but one plant has a little head start...about 10 days so we will l see if it catches up and if it taste better...I mean if we are talking about 20% or more I can't wait...I know one think next time I'm just going to use a tub and buy a chiller instead of a portable ac...
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Yes the exact same genetic seeds one in soil one in hydro. It was pretty cool seeing the differences but I agree with the clones. That would be a better constant than two seeds. Hope they crush it, I'm predicting you may not want to go back to soil after
 
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BigStilton

Member
xtsho said:
I used bleach for years. It does not kill the root system. Bleach has been used in hydroponics for decades. There is nothing special about cannabis roots. Cannabis will grow just fine in hydroponics when sodium hypochlorite is used for a sterile reservoir. If you had issues when using bleach it was from something else.

There are other options than sodium hypochlorite but bleach can be used and many people use it.
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Bleach?? Like household toilet bleach?
 
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BigStilton

Member
xtsho said:
Clorox. Just a couple drops per gallon. It's just sodium hypochlorite.
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So this stuff should keep the reservoir sterile not having to use anything else? How long will it keep it sterile for would you say? I found this on amazon.
Clorox Commercial Solutions Urine Remover for Stains and Odors - 32 Ounce Pull Top Bottle (31415) - would this do?

Cheers xtsho for the info :)
 
rkymtnman

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
BigStilton said:
So this stuff should keep the reservoir sterile not having to use anything else? How long will it keep it sterile for would you say? I found this on amazon.
Clorox Commercial Solutions Urine Remover for Stains and Odors - 32 Ounce Pull Top Bottle (31415) - would this do?

Cheers xtsho for the info :)
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dollar store unscented cheap laundry bleach.
 
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Applesauceisgood

Well-Known Member
How long do you think sodium hypochlorite stays active in a res with nitrogen before being converted to chloramine.. not long! Secondly, fusarium oxysporum and rhizoctonia solani require over 8 ppm of active chlorine with a contact time of 10 minutes to achieve 90% mortality. It's more like 10 ppm of active chlorine to kill all pathogens. Chlorine is going to be phytotoxic to most crops over 2 ppm free chlorine. What about biofilms? At levels high enough to kill fusarium oxysporum hydrogen perioxide is also phytotoxic. Res ph is not appropriate for sterilization using oxidizers.
 
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Applesauceisgood

Well-Known Member
In a reservoir with fertilizer, hypochlorous acid and h202 ppm are not going to remain stable without active monitoring and dosing. That is what I am saying. A greenhouse can use calcium hypochlorite to treat incoming water after physical filtration but they are using systems to maintain a specific dosage into irrigation lines. A hobby grower is shocking their reservoir and active chlorine levels are swiftly depleted. Add chlorine to your res with fertilizer inside and test the chlorine level in timed intervals. Your question is generic. "Does chlorine and peroxide work to prevent rot in hydro". Yes and no. What are you trying to kill? What ppm free chlorine are you dosing your irrigation system with and for how long? For example, if my system is infected with fusarium oxysporum conidia and I am dosing my res with 5 ppm of free chlorine, I am not eliminating "the rot".
 
rkymtnman

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
Applesauceisgood said:
In a reservoir with fertilizer, hypochlorous acid and h202 ppm are not going to remain stable without active monitoring and dosing. That is what I am saying. A greenhouse can use calcium hypochlorite to treat incoming water after physical filtration but they are using systems to maintain a specific dosage into irrigation lines. A hobby grower is shocking their reservoir and active chlorine levels are swiftly depleted. Add chlorine to your res with fertilizer inside and test the chlorine level in timed intervals. Your question is generic. "Does chlorine and peroxide work to prevent rot in hydro". Yes and no. What are you trying to kill? What ppm free chlorine are you dosing your irrigation system with and for how long? For example, if my system is infected with fusarium oxysporum conidia and I am dosing my res with 5 ppm of free chlorine, I am not eliminating "the rot".
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so then you suggest what?
 
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EKG Cal Canna

Well-Known Member
Pool shock mized 1 gram per gallon of distilled or ro water, administered at 4 to 6 ml per gallon of feed.Keeps rootborne disease at bay. In my 750 gal ro tank i use 2 uv lights & a chiller & make feed daily.If it doesnt sit long not much can bloom in it
 
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