Some newb questions.......

1

123smoke

Member
I have a 35 gal. tote set-up, with eight 6" net pots. Im running a nice sized koi pond air pump, and a small aquarium water pump, for the feeding tubes. Im starting for a sprouted seed, in rockwool/hydroton.

My tote uses 20 gal of water, to get the level where I need it. I initially filled the tote (20gal), and adjusted the ph with ph down powder. Now, ..its time to change the water for the first time.

Heres the questions:

How in the heck do I mix the ph down in the 20gal of water, without mixing it in the tote? Should this be done with 5 gal buckets?

Also, I dont have access to hot water, in my room. The water thats coming out of my water hose is 40 degrees right now. How can I warm this up, before I start the feeding tubes back up?

Thirdly, ....as the water level has evaporated over the last few days, ...theres residue stuck to the sides of the tote. I inmagine this is from the ph down powder, ...because I havent added nutes, yet.. Is this normal?
 
SIV3L

SIV3L

Well-Known Member
Make sure your water levels are 1 to 2 inches from the bottom of the netting cup I would go with one for seedlings. 20 Gal is a lot of water and just to be safe make sure your rez/bucket/tank is light proof funky stuff grows when too much light is penetrating.

As for the 40 D water just let it sit overnight or until it reaches room temp.
 
1

123smoke

Member
Okay, ...NOW I have problems!

I havent checked on the tote in the last four days. My setup is out at a friend's property. He's my partner in this, and has SUPPOSED to be keeping an eye on things. Trouble is, ...he's slow, ...and cant even use the freakin ph meter! :-(

I get there today, and bring with me some Swiss Cheese seedling sprouts, to plant in the rest of the tote. (for the past week Ive only had one net pot in the tote).

First thing I see, ...my one little plant has two small leeves, about 1/2" long, but looks yellowish green.

I lift the lid, and theres brown slimey algae covering EVERYTHING! Its a total mess!

I check the ph, ...its at 8.08! (was at 5.9 when I left it 4 days ago). The temperture was at 70 degrees.

The pumps, lights both run 24/7, ....so does the light (600w mh). Is that a problem?

So, what I did for now is completely replaced everything, ...new pump, hoses, airstones, everything. Filled with fresh water (70 degrees), added a crap load of ph down untill I got 6.0.

How am I going to keep this from reocurring? What whould cause the drastic change in ph? How do you stop algae (besides using a dark tote, and making little covers for the net pots)?
 
1

123smoke

Member


These are pics after I cleaned up everything, and set it all back up. I shouldve got a pic of the algae. I just wasnt thinking about taking pics, right then.
 
UNICRONLIVES

UNICRONLIVES

Well-Known Member
is this a DWC or aero? cover the tote with paint or x-mas gift wrap....anything to keep light out!! tap? distilled?..... nutes/ no nutes? You must tend to your girls EVERYDAY if you want OPTIMAL growth!!
 
UNICRONLIVES

UNICRONLIVES

Well-Known Member
DWC= 24/7 air pump... AERO=1-3 min on and 3-5 min. off aqua pump and 24/7 air pump....DRIP=24/7 air pump and 24/7 aqua pump
 
1

123smoke

Member
DWC (hense the 20gal of water, air stones, feeder tubes, ect...)

Im using tap water. I read that it's just fine. I'll definatly wrap my totes in something like aluminum foil, to prevent light from getting in.

I do have covers for the pots, btw. Just not in the pics.

The totes are dark blue. I saw some black ones at home depot. Maybe I should switch to those?
 
UNICRONLIVES

UNICRONLIVES

Well-Known Member
you MUST let the tap water sit 24 hrs. at minimum in an open container..i.e milk jug cap off!! this lets the chlor. evaporate!! very bad for plants!! and as it evaps. it will change the Ph!! and so you know that its fine to feed in 24/7 and always leave the air pump/s on
 
LEDZEP

LEDZEP

Active Member
I put foil tape all over my res, its smaller than yours, but I could tell the light was getting through, net covers help. Keep the res temps down 65-68 degrees is optimum. You can also use hydrogen peroxide on a regular basis to help with the algae. I use Tap water that is about 100ppm and ph 7.2 so I have to Ph down every other day or so, but i am only running 1/4 nute strength right now.
 
SIV3L

SIV3L

Well-Known Member
lol my bucket is wrapped in pretty red Christmas paper, but hey it works keeping light out. You should start the seedlings with cfl's about 1/2 inch off the tops of the seedlings. I let my lights run @ 24/7 for the first 6 weeks of veg.
 
SIV3L

SIV3L

Well-Known Member
123smoke said:
Okay, ...NOW I have problems!

I havent checked on the tote in the last four days. My setup is out at a friend's property. He's my partner in this, and has SUPPOSED to be keeping an eye on things. Trouble is, ...he's slow, ...and cant even use the freakin ph meter! :-(

Get a new partner

I get there today, and bring with me some Swiss Cheese seedling sprouts, to plant in the rest of the tote. (for the past week Ive only had one net pot in the tote).

:neutral:

First thing I see, ...my one little plant has two small leeves, about 1/2" long, but looks yellowish green.

Make sure the water is UNDER the net pots and not soaking the rock wool. You only need the bubbles to feed the roots in bubbleponics/dwc not the standing water.

I lift the lid, and theres brown slimey algae covering EVERYTHING! Its a total mess!

CHANGE THE WATER ASAP! Get some H202 this will help kill unwanted algae. 3% Hydrogen Peroxide 1 Tablespoon PER GALLON a day (Thanks Illegal) if you can or 1/2 cup for a few days, but you must change the rez once you do this after a week.

I check the ph, ...its at 8.08! (was at 5.9 when I left it 4 days ago). The temperture was at 70 degrees.

RockWool/Hydroton other nutes will affect PH daily you must be able to check in on it at least every 2-3 days. Which is why you want water lower than netcups.

The pumps, lights both run 24/7, ....so does the light (600w mh). Is that a problem?

pumps are good 24/7 MH might stretch seedlings which is why you should place a CFL or two CLOSE to the new seedling.

So, what I did for now is completely replaced everything, ...new pump, hoses, airstones, everything. Filled with fresh water (70 degrees), added a crap load of ph down untill I got 6.0.

Keep an eye on your PH. A "crap load" might mean the PH will just keep pushing down past 5.0 and you do not want that. If it gets closer to 5 add PH UP one drop at a time till things level out.

How am I going to keep this from reocurring? What whould cause the drastic change in ph? How do you stop algae (besides using a dark tote, and making little covers for the net pots)?
Click to expand...
Like said before H202 will help prevent algae and help kill things that you do not want while not harming the plant, but heed caution as too MUCH H202 can be bad.
 
1

123smoke

Member
Thanks guys! I'll definatly add the h2o2 today, and wrap my tote in aluminum foil and foil tape.

Question about adjusting ph: When I check the ph in the tote, I first put some in a glass, and test that, ...right? I then fill a gallon jug, and add the ph down powder to that. Wont it need to be mixed very acidic (something like 4.0), to affect the 20 gal.'s of water in the tote?

Question about the distilled water: When I add water every couple days, ...the day before, I'll fill a gallon jug and let it sit overnite. Thats fine. BUT, ..what the hell do I do when its time to change the water? Do I need to fill another tote, and let it sit overnite?

I read somewhere on here that you can simply aerate the water as you fill the tote, ....and the chlorine willl evaporate. Is this not so?
 
SIV3L

SIV3L

Well-Known Member
123smoke said:
Thanks guys! I'll definatly add the h2o2 today, and wrap my tote in aluminum foil and foil tape.

Question about adjusting ph: When I check the ph in the tote, I first put some in a glass, and test that, ...right? I then fill a gallon jug, and add the ph down powder to that. Wont it need to be mixed very acidic (something like 4.0), to affect the 20 gal.'s of water in the tote?

What are you using to test PH?

Question about the distilled water: When I add water every couple days, ...the day before, I'll fill a gallon jug and let it sit overnite. Thats fine. BUT, ..what the hell do I do when its time to change the water? Do I need to fill another tote, and let it sit overnite?

Yes. Not everyone does it, but if you want a more steady/balanced PH you should.

I read somewhere on here that you can simply aerate the water as you fill the tote, ....and the chlorine willl evaporate. Is this not so?
Click to expand...
I derno.:eyesmoke:
 
HomeGrownHairy

HomeGrownHairy

Well-Known Member
123smoke said:
DWC (hense the 20gal of water, air stones, feeder tubes, ect...)

Im using tap water. I read that it's just fine. I'll definatly wrap my totes in something like aluminum foil, to prevent light from getting in.

I do have covers for the pots, btw. Just not in the pics.

The totes are dark blue. I saw some black ones at home depot. Maybe I should switch to those?
Click to expand...
You may be okay with black tubs but in smaller res, they absorb heat and raise the water temp. That's a BIG unit. I, and many here, use an 8-10 gal tub with 6 gals of water to grow up to 6 3'-4' plants to maturity. With a tub as bug as yours, nutes for the entire grow will cost you a small fortune as well!!!!!!!
 
1

123smoke

Member
HomeGrownHairy said:
You may be okay with black tubs but in smaller res, they absorb heat and raise the water temp. That's a BIG unit. I, and many here, use an 8-10 gal tub with 6 gals of water to grow up to 6 3'-4' plants to maturity. With a tub as bug as yours, nutes for the entire grow will cost you a small fortune as well!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Oh wow, ...I didnt know everyone was using much smaller totes. The 8 net pots take up the entire lid. If the liid was any smaller, it wouldnt hold all of em. Maybe I should downsize to 6 plants?

What are you using to test PH?

For meters, I have:

HM COM-100 tds/ec/temp meter

HM PH-200 ph/temp meter

I just got back from my grow room. I added the h2o2, and adjusted the ph.

My ph had risen to 7.3. I brought it down to 6.13. No nutes, yet.

The electricity had failed today, turning off my heater, ...so the room was 57degrees when I went in! The water was at 60 degrees.
 
1

123smoke

Member
I dont know what Im doing wrong! This is my first grow, and Im seriously losing confidence.

My ph rises everyday. Sometimes as much as 1.0. Is this normal? I havent even started any nutes, yet. Its just tap water with ph down powder and hydrogen peroxide.

Once again, Im getting brown colored algae. Its only a little bit on the tubes, so far, but wtf?! I have covers over the net pots, and Ive wrapped the sides of the tote in aluminum foil. What more can I do?

Heres what the ph and temp has been looking like since I cleaned everything out, and replaced the tote, tubes, ect..:

(day one)
2/12 - 6.2 ph, 69dF

2/13 - 6.75ph corrected to 6.01, 71dF

2/14 - 6.32 ph corrected to 6.03, 70dF

2/15 - 6.86 corrected to 6.5, 70dF

2/16 - 7.21 corrected to 6.2, 71dF

Whats causing this fluctuation? I soaked my rockwool overnite in 5.1ph water, and soaked the hydroton in 6.0ph water, ...before I even got started.

Any help is appreciated.

 
S

sympLED

Active Member
I think it just takes time for the reservoir to obtain a nice balance. My pH would flucuate with plain water as well. I use RO water rather than tap water and the results have been much better. I also practice mixing up my nutes in 5 gallon jugs the night before I change. Adding nutrients to the solution also helps maintain the pH. If you're using Fox Farms like I am, I'm going to start using the Big Bloom alone for seedlings for it's pH buffering then slowly add the Grow Big, etc. I think you're riding that pH roller coaster. All those adjustments do crazy things to your ppm and my plants have suffered from the same actions in the past.
 
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