[Bubbleponics] This can't be mold, can it?

Hey everyone,

This is my first grow and my first post on RIU. Before I get into my problem, I just want to say THANKS to everyone for all the info I've soaked up over the past several months. I could not and would not have tried this project had I not been able to use these forums as my main and practically only resource. I have been researching tons and plan on making a grow journal, but unfortunately, my problems have started nearly before my grow has!

I am using a pretty stock Stealth Hydro Bubbleponics system inside a Secret Jardin tent. For seeds, I have feminized Bubblicious from Nirvana.

Following Roseman's excellent starter guide, I placed my seeds directly into my rockwool cubes, touched the cubes with the tips of the water pump tubes, covered them with styrofoam plates, and turned the lights out for a few days. The first night, I added half a pack of SH grow + micro nutes, and the following night, I added another half pack.

After three days, I was overjoyed to see that all five of the seeds I had germinated were cracked, and one was already an inch tall! On the third day! However, my elation was soon overshadowed by despair when I noticed a white, slippery film coating the sides of the rockwool cubes where the water tubes were touching them. The film was also on the adjacent hydroton rocks and, upon further inspection, inside all the tubes and even coating the inner walls of my reservoir!!

I had a bit of a freak-out and instantly ran to my computer to research the problem. Most of the posts pertaining to this issue seem to be related to mold and algae. However, my problem occurred BEFORE my lights were ever on! Inside the tent, which is inside my closet, is pitch black. The temps have been around 70-75 with the lights off, and the humidity around 40-45%. Water pH was about 6.25, before and after the slime appeared. Also, I had read about someone else getting a weird coating that turned out to be caused by not rinsing his/her hydroton rocks thoroughly enough, so I rinsed mine VERY thoroughly.

From what I understand, mold and slime can be caused by light reaching the water, or high water temps, neither of which are a possibility in my case. I obviously screwed something up, but I have no idea what!

I will be cleaning everything out tomorrow after stores open, draining the water, and replacing it with less nutes (I'll start with 1/4 packet) along with a little H2O2. I am fairly confident that will clear things up, but I would still love to know what causes this so it can be avoided in the future. Also, should I cut off the sides of the rockwool cubes that have the slime on them? I'm guessing I should. My poor girls!

I have some pics to illustrate the problem as well.

Pic #1 was taken with an LED flash on my phone, the slime seemed to fluoresce under it. Don't know if that's relevant or not. Pic #2 is with no flash for comparison.

And in Pic #4, you can see Swift (my first sprout!) and the slimy tube/coating on the left side of the rockwool cube.

Any input would be greatly appreciated! I will clean everything out tomorrow and provide an update as well.

Thanks, and I look forward to being a productive and positive member of this community!

-Slide

EDIT: I forgot to add that I will be covering the tub and lid with black duct tape while I clean everything out, since the plastic is not quite opaque. But again, this happened BEFORE the lights came on!

that doesn't sound too fun.

chuck a mixture o the nutes and water (freshly made up) and whack em into a washing up bowl or something and see how they react. it could be that they need to be mixed in propperly or are volatile when mixed together or whatnot, nothing but loating ideas around here just to warn you, i've yet to innish lightrpoofing my tubs myself

tip top toker said:

that doesn't sound too fun.

chuck a mixture o the nutes and water (freshly made up) and whack em into a washing up bowl or something and see how they react. it could be that they need to be mixed in propperly or are volatile when mixed together or whatnot, nothing but loating ideas around here just to warn you, i've yet to innish

lightrpoofing my tubs myself

Click to expand...

Holy cow, that was a fast response!!

That is a great suggestion. I bought spring water from the grocery store because my tap water is....crappy, and I figured seedlings would be pretty sensitive. I will buy some more water tomorrow and try that. I mixed the nutes as much as possible and strained out the big chunks, but I agree that the symptoms seem to point toward the nutes. Maybe I will try distilled water instead of spring water this time.

Thanks Toker!

slidejamma said:

Holy cow, that was a fast response!!

That is a great suggestion. I bought spring water from the grocery store because my tap water is....crappy, and I figured seedlings would be pretty sensitive. I will buy some more water tomorrow and try that. I mixed the nutes as much as possible and strained out the big chunks, but I agree that the symptoms seem to point toward the nutes. Maybe I will try distilled water instead of spring water this time.

Thanks Toker!

Click to expand...

my seedlings have generally taken any kind of water, i just use out the tap and eaporate of whatever chlorine i can.

straining chunks out? not sure what nutes you use, i assume a powder, but that doesn't sound too good. were they added and mixed under running water?


edit: oh, and for when this is solved, is it not too early to be using nutes? rosemans guide sais to add 1/4 packet/feed after 6-7 days from germination when there are two set's of opposing nodes.

tip top toker said:

my seedlings have generally taken any kind of water, i just use out the tap and eaporate of whatever chlorine i can.

straining chunks out? not sure what nutes you use, i assume a powder, but that doesn't sound too good. were they added and mixed under running water?

Click to expand...

I'm using the nutes that come with the SH system, yep they're in powder form. They're not LARGE chunks, quite small really, but I don't want any to get caught in the water pump tubing. I mixed them for several minutes in a 1/2 gallon pitcher of warm water, in an attempt to increase solubility a little.

As far as I know, the chunks are unavoidable and nothing to worry about, at least according to Roseman.

Edit for your edit: Yes, I read that today as well, after I had already fed them. I think I misread it the first time. He said to mix half a pack of nutes with water and pour it over the rockwool cubes eough to wet them, but not to add all of it to the tank. I will flush it out, add H2O2, and try 1/4 pack of nutes, to see if that helps.
Thanks again for your help