Two plants, two problems

I am a first time grower but jumped right into hydroponics as I have a tendency to try the coolest stuff first. I have two straight forward DWC system with two 5 gallon buckets with two air stones each. I add frozen water bottles in the morning and evening and have been monitoring the temp with it varying between 21-24 C usually. The air temp is generally between 23-28 and the humidity is around 30-40% depending on the time of day. I have been keeping the ph around 5.9 or so but when I first noticed the color change in the cotton candy (bigger plant) I let it drift up a bit as calcium and magnesium absorb at 6.1 or so and now it rests between 6 and 6.3. My plants are in week 5 (though you wouldn't be able to tell looking at the small one XD) from being put in the root plugs and they both sprouted after maybe 3-4 days. I have one 600W LED light with both the bloom and veg switch on and I raised it from 14" to 28" in case it was causing light burn. I can't seem to figure out what is causing this issue and I really don't want it to worsen. I have been increasing the ppm from my taps resting 170 ppm to 800ppm over the course of 5 weeks and I have done two reservoir changes. I am using the general hydroponics flora trio and I have added a tbs of Epsom salt to see if that might help. Any responses would be greatly appreciated! Smaller plant is auto UK cheese and the larger plant is auto Candy Cane.

Hard to fully gauge under those lights, difficult pics. Your leaf structure indicates not enough O2 getting into roots. This is usually root rot or insufficient or clogged bubbler.

Bugeye said:

Hard to fully gauge under those lights, difficult pics. Your leaf structure indicates not enough O2 getting into roots. This is usually root rot or insufficient or clogged bubbler.

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Sorry about the lighting, I tried using a different colored light for these hopefully that helps! I had an issue with brown algae building up on my buckets walls and tubing but after I kept adding the ice bottles and the temps stayed cooler it seems to have cleared up. The roots are slightly brown however they seem to be fairly healthy, they are clumping though and I read that could be an indication of root rot. I have a 6watt pump but I don't know if that's good enough for two buckets. I included which model it is in the photos.

Mr. Biochem said:

Sorry about the lighting, I tried using a different colored light for these hopefully that helps! I had an issue with brown algae building up on my buckets walls and tubing but after I kept adding the ice bottles and the temps stayed cooler it seems to have cleared up. The roots are slightly brown however they seem to be fairly healthy, they are clumping though and I read that could be an indication of root rot. I have a 6watt pump but I don't know if that's good enough for two buckets. I included which model it is in the photos.

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Much better pics, leaves look pretty good. I'd read that splotchy yellow interveinal coloring on the lower leaves as a magnesium deficiency. Maybe a foliar spray with Epsom but sounds like you are already treating it.

I don't see as much of the curved leaf structures in latest photos so I may be wrong on the o2 issue. If those roots are not slimy, they are good.

Calcium and Mg 6.1 or so???? Sounds like you really don't have all the correct info. With DWC "OR SO" kills your plants. Try 5.8 and see if they respond B4 you dump anything else in. This is a good guide for a Newbie in DWC. http://www.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com/hydroponic-growing-schedule/

That's a great guide, thank you! I was thinking that Mg seemed to be the most likely so I added a bit of Epsom to see if that may help. I think I may invest in hydroponic specific stones too as these are just bubble bars from petsmart so they tend to make bigger bubbles than what may be ideal. I will update in a few days with what happens but I appreciate the second opinion. To clarify on the use of or so, I generally let the Ph wander between 5.5-6 throughout the week and avoid adding any adjusters to keep ppm more steady, I just meant it as a rough average as I keep a log of pH in the morning and at night, I also have a very cheap pen and have to calibrate like every other day XD. So I should try lowering the pH back to the 5.8 area? I will probably do that on my next res change on Wednesday just to see if they respond to the tbs of Epsom.

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Mr. Biochem said:

Sorry about the lighting, I tried using a different colored light for these hopefully that helps! I had an issue with brown algae building up on my buckets walls and tubing but after I kept adding the ice bottles and the temps stayed cooler it seems to have cleared up. The roots are slightly brown however they seem to be fairly healthy, they are clumping though and I read that could be an indication of root rot. I have a 6watt pump but I don't know if that's good enough for two buckets. I included which model it is in the photos.

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Nice plant. Set it off now into bloom.
Bring your PPM up to a grand, keep your PPM @ 6.0 (fuck 5. and your good.
I would do a complete change of your buckets though every week and a half, and don't forget too focus on root enzymes (use dechlorinated water)
Use CalMag+(exta N), and fuck the Epsom salts, unless you go with a kelp based nutrient, like AN B-52, or something similar like Dark Energy by American Hydroponics.
I like sea weed to supply my. essential minerals personally.
Make sure your water level is high enough to contact ALL your roots though, in other words, just to the bottom of your pots.
Yes, your air pump is OK, I use the same one.
Good luck

Mr. Biochem said:

That's a great guide, thank you! I was thinking that Mg seemed to be the most likely so I added a bit of Epsom to see if that may help. I think I may invest in hydroponic specific stones too as these are just bubble bars from petsmart so they tend to make bigger bubbles than what may be ideal. I will update in a few days with what happens but I appreciate the second opinion. To clarify on the use of or so, I generally let the Ph wander between 5.5-6 throughout the week and avoid adding any adjusters to keep ppm more steady, I just meant it as a rough average as I keep a log of pH in the morning and at night, I also have a very cheap pen and have to calibrate like every other day XD. So I should try lowering the pH back to the 5.8 area? I will probably do that on my next res change on Wednesday just to see if they respond to the tbs of Epsom.

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You'll get it dialed in. That guide is good to see if your plants are keeping on track. Wish it was around back when I started killing Bag Seed!. I have the best results starting @ 5.8 and not correcting until it drifts to 6.2. Seems to make everything available. A good pH pen is a must. Find one you want and keep surfing until you find a good deal. I have a HM pH 200 I caught on Ebay for 45 bucks. http://hmdigital.com/product/ph-200/

That's a pretty snazzy looking pH probe, I work in a lab and always want to just take one of the probes home with me since I can really tell what a POS I have back at home. Thanks for the help though guys I will post some follow up photos as things come along and hopefully changing the pH a bit and playing around with some Cal Mag will clear stuff up!

So here are some updates, I got rid of my one airstone that was clogged and made it so the tube bubbles directly into the water, I adjusted the pH so it stays at 5.8 religiously rather than drifting to 6.2 then get put down and I started foliage misting with a little Epsom salt. Both plants are looking healthier but now the roots are showing some weird and troubling things. Two leaves are showing dark brown spots and the roots have this white gunk on them and I have no idea what it is, I might try making Heiseinberg's tea since weekly res changes with bleach and adding small amounts of H202 seem to be doing nothing.

How warm is your res?

Id stick some h202 in there. Be careful on which type you get. Obviously if you get thr 30% You need a lot less than the 3%.

Get another member to confirm this though, dont take my word for anything lol.

budsugar said:

How warm is your res?

Id stick some h202 in there. Be careful on which type you get. Obviously if you get thr 30% You need a lot less than the 3%.

Get another member to confirm this though, dont take my word for anything lol.

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I put frozen water bottles in the res twice a day, the temps usually around 21 but sometimes gets up to 24 by the time I put in the new bottle. I have done the peroxide route for a bit now but don't seem to be having much luck unfortunately, the tea sounds promising but I didn't really want to have to buy a bunch of new items to make it as h202 at my local drug store is 2$ a bottle.

I know it's been a bit but I figured I would post an update of sorts. The stubby plant on the right has blown up into a monster, and at 3 months it still in veg which is very odd for an auto. The other plant was harvested with 50 grams net dry so it was probably stunted by the root rot. I've been adding a solution of pool shock chlorine to my reservoir and it's kept them squeaky clean.

I think @ 3 month you can drop the word "Auto."
Maybe you should switch the lights to 12's and get it to flower??? Just a thought.