Large nute res lifespan?

diggabyte

Member

• Dec 18, 2015

• #1

55gal, lightproof, aerated drum which pumps nutrient solution to a top-drip system on regular schedule. None of the solution is being recirculated. Water temp is ~62F.

Does anyone have any idea how long the nutes will generally remain effective and stable in such an environment?

I know it's 1-2wks for typical hydro setups, but in this case, using a sealed, light-proof drum and zero contact with root system or outside environment, could one expect to get a slightly longer lifespan out of the nutrient res without using res clean / chlorine / h2o2?

I previously used the 55gal drum as a res for my RO water, continually topping off and it never got algae or anything, so that's not a concern. I'm more interested in knowing how the nutrients breakdown once mixed.

I would love to get 2-3wks between changes.

 

A

adower

Well-Known Member

• Dec 18, 2015

• #2

I always change my res weekly. However I think rule of thumb is to flush the res after you've filled it with the same amount of water. So once you've added back 55 gal if water flush your res and start fresh.

 

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member

• Dec 19, 2015

• #3

So if I understand correctly your doing drain to waste. Your solution will last as long as it takes to use it I would think. It would be nice to use another pump to keep it circulating on a timer. I cycle a mixing pump every hr for 15min, but I also use it to aerate the solution as its kind of a fountain .

 

A

Atomizer

Well-Known Member

• Dec 19, 2015

• #4

Its not easy to aerate a sealed drum. Aerating will, in itself, cause things to change.

 

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member

• Dec 20, 2015

• #5

It was more to keep the nutes mixed than aeration in his nutrient tank, drain to waste if that's what op is doing shouldn't need aeration I wouldn't think and I was referring to a water pump not air, sorry for any confusion.

 

A

Atomizer

Well-Known Member

• Dec 20, 2015

• #6

If the nutes are fully soluble they shouldnt need to be mixed again after you`ve made them up. If stuff falls out of suspension and settles at the bottom of the drum, its not a good candidate

 

S

snailwagon

Active Member

• Dec 20, 2015

• #7

General rule of thumb even for drain to waste applications is a week. A res in that situation will benefit from aeration, but only a little. Too much air is bad for a standing res. Aerating for 15 minutes every 4 hours is sufficient. There's no point of a recirculating pump; if you have precipitate that quick you should be using your nutrients fresh only.

 

A

Atomizer

Well-Known Member

• Dec 21, 2015

• #8

Nutes can go a month in a pressurised accumulator, not many situations where you could make use of it though.

 

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member

• Dec 21, 2015

• #9

What happens to synthetic nutrients after a week that they would need to be replaced? I don't store them and refill res every 5-10 days but just curious as to the science behind what changes?

 

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member

• Dec 26, 2015

• #10

Jeez been waiting patiently for some time for an explanation or is this just one of those "I know it's true so there" things lol. Also I've been wondering, if the OP is basically just diluting his nutes in a container of water, which is basically how it came in the first place, why the week time limit?

 

Grandpapy

Well-Known Member

• Dec 26, 2015

• #11

When I add microbes during veg they will start to die off after 3-4 days so I'll rinse out the tank.
My plants enjoy it. I rarely veg longer then 2 weeks.

I always recirculate/stir before feeding because of habit (new formed salts are heavier then water) jmo.

 

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member

• Dec 26, 2015

• #12

Yes agreed beanies every 3 days but not so sure about storing nutes.

 

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member

• Dec 26, 2015

• #13

Wo what rinse the tank? Can't you just add more beneficials?

 

Grandpapy

Well-Known Member

• Dec 26, 2015

• #14

Budley Doright said:

Wo what rinse the tank? Can't you just add more beneficials?

Click to expand...

Sure you can it's just easier to keep it clean.
The dead microbes are messy, plug lines, filters, stink and can stain and then you still have to rinse the tub after you unplug everything.

 

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member

• Dec 27, 2015

• #15

Grandpapy said:

Sure you can it's just easier to keep it clean.
The dead microbes are messy, plug lines, filters, stink and can stain and then you still have to rinse the tub after you unplug everything.

Click to expand...

Ya just got done cleaning the Res in my one setup to switch to flower. I typically don't do a cleanup until after a complete run but this tray has had some issues and it's been vegging for a while . Took a bit to scrape the crap off the interior. My water has doubled the EC this fall from spring.