New to hydro (I did search for the Answer)

I have a GH Water farm, 3X26w CFL and 2XLED for veg. I put the clones in the other day and the top of the rockwool is turing algae green, the tops of the rockwool are exposed, is this normal?, or even acceptable? I am using GH Flora Grow with Flora Mirco and GH Floralishious (sp). PH is good temp is good ppm is at 250.

Also I have the lights on 18/6 with the pump off with the lights. Should I have 2 timers one for the pump and one for the lights, or can the pump run 18 hrs with the lights.

THANK YOU FOR THE HELP

put covers on the tops of the RW

or black plastic bags...

and an air stone...should fix the problem


h202 as well!

i agree with LoudBlunts - make sure no light is reaching the reservoir/roots. air-stone pump should run 24x7 (no need for a timer). I use G.H. products and have never had an algae problem so i don't think it is the nutes.

serrated said:

I have a GH Water farm, 3X26w CFL and 2XLED for veg. I put the clones in the other day and the top of the rockwool is turing algae green, the tops of the rockwool are exposed, is this normal?, or even acceptable?

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Yep that is normal, give algae an evironment they can grow in and it will grow. It's not acceptable.

I am using GH Flora Grow with Flora Mirco and GH Floralishious (sp). PH is good temp is good ppm is at 250.

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What is the temp on the top of the rockwool?? It doesn't matter, you need to cover it, as they stated.

Also I have the lights on 18/6 with the pump off with the lights. Should I have 2 timers one for the pump and one for the lights, or can the pump run 18 hrs with the lights.

Click to expand...

The pump puts oxygen in the water, oxygen and water movement are needed. I hope you plugged the pump into its own receptacle after e-mail pointed that out.

THANK YOU FOR THE HELP

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When I first had this problem, I used a pump and a bucket, to top water, making sure I had flooded all of the medium with a mixture of 1/2 oz./ gallon of 3% h2o2 commonly avaiable. As it kills the algae it breaks down and releases more o2. My flood and drain system doesn't reach the exposed medium surface. Your system doesn't either.
I looked for covers for mine. I found something I think works well, polystyrene plates. Just buy them as close to the size you need and cut them to fit. I use them to keep track of the plant. Thats in my journal, just look at the pictures. VV