Root problem AGAIN? *PICS*

Florida Girl said:

I have no help to offer... only a stupid question to ask. Why do you have your water on a timer? I'm planning on starting a bubble system myself and I didn't know the water had to be on a timer. I thought I was just suppose to turn on the water pump and let it continuously flow into the net pots.... Do I have it wrong?

Click to expand...

lol, no such thing as a stupid question, but odd location to ask about this i guess. NEwho i don't mind at all... hydroton (clay pebbles) seems to hold water for a good amount of time. It is not necessary to flood your media constantly, however several people do and have no problems. I have found that a schedule of 4 minutes off and 1 minute on reduces electricity costs (when using larger pumps) and also keeps your reservoir temperature down. If you run a beefy pump all day it can get a little warm and will therefor warm the water it is pumping through it. My roots are especially sensitive for some reason lately and I need to be sure not to over water them.

For your application it sounds like you probably don't want to buy a timer anyways ($85 on ebay CAP recycle timer) You should be fine, but remember the factors above if you ever upgrade.

gvega187 said:

lol, no such thing as a stupid question, but odd location to ask about this i guess. NEwho i don't mind at all... hydroton (clay pebbles) seems to hold water for a good amount of time. It is not necessary to flood your media constantly, however several people do and have no problems. I have found that a schedule of 4 minutes off and 1 minute on reduces electricity costs (when using larger pumps) and also keeps your reservoir temperature down. If you run a beefy pump all day it can get a little warm and will therefor warm the water it is pumping through it. My roots are especially sensitive for some reason lately and I need to be sure not to over water them.

Click to expand...

Ahh ok that makes perfect sense... thanks for the help and sorry for the thread hijack....

gvega187 said:

hey, thanks for being patient with me DND, and I appreciate your advice as well. I also realize that his thread is getting a bit lengthy to keep up with, but note on the 2nd or 3rd page I had completed a spray down of the dwc tub. It is covered in a "rubber spray paint" that is flat black. Since then I have flushed twice in order to eliminate algal growth problems. Above is a 400w teklight

Here are some pictures today of the roots:

They are still growing vigorously, but are fading a bit to brown as seen.

Click to expand...

Shit, I did reread the thread last night, but I didn't catch that you sprayed the tub...good for you man. Also, I know someone else suggested to spray the top, but you couldn't because of the plants. I know what your saying, but if you have a spare top sitting around that you can cut some quick holes in and use while your spraying the top, do so. If you are certain there is no light as is...cool, but I would eventually do it.

The roots look very good as of now. I do see some very light rust color, but nothing alarming. Some people have roots that are bright white and others (me included) have light brownish roots. Mine is due to the Floranova grow nutrient I use, stuff is thick as snot and dookie brown, lol. I got discouraged when saw at first, but then realized that it wasn't root rot or algae. The other thing I noticed is that when my roots grew the fastest and healthiest is when I dropped the water level. Have you tried to drop yours? I was skurred at first and dropped it a little bit, then I noticed that they loved it so I dropped it even more. Right now, in a 10gl DWC I have a total of 5 gallons in there and it's doing great.

how are things going today man?

DND said:

Shit, I did reread the thread last night, but I didn't catch that you sprayed the tub...good for you man. Also, I know someone else suggested to spray the top, but you couldn't because of the plants. I know what your saying, but if you have a spare top sitting around that you can cut some quick holes in and use while your spraying the top, do so. If you are certain there is no light as is...cool, but I would eventually do it.

The roots look very good as of now. I do see some very light rust color, but nothing alarming. Some people have roots that are bright white and others (me included) have light brownish roots. Mine is due to the Floranova grow nutrient I use, stuff is thick as snot and dookie brown, lol. I got discouraged when saw at first, but then realized that it wasn't root rot or algae. The other thing I noticed is that when my roots grew the fastest and healthiest is when I dropped the water level. Have you tried to drop yours? I was skurred at first and dropped it a little bit, then I noticed that they loved it so I dropped it even more. Right now, in a 10gl DWC I have a total of 5 gallons in there and it's doing great.

Click to expand...

I have had manya sets of healthy roots before my recent struggles. I also had a rusty tinge when using floranova, however now I am using GH nutes. They probably should not add much of a brown shade to the roots...yet at least.

Thanks for the dwc tips...i will be lowering the water level if root growth picks back up.

bwinn27 said:

how are things going today man?

Click to expand...

so glad you guys are as interested as I am to get to the bottom of my mystery.

The root set I usually take big pictures of appears to be dying. I flushed last night and added chlorine remover and kept ph and ppm levels the same. They are definitely dying and not just turning a bit brown. It is odd that my other two less mature plants are doing just fine. While they also have almost no new root growth...at least they are still pure white. My expert friend has confirmed through PM that my problem is not hard water or LOW temperatures. This friend is username-EARL and he knows everything


I read last night that temperatures AS LOW AS 55 DEGREES Fahrenheit are actually suitable for plants at least during flowering.

This is discouraging because I thought that one of my main problems was low temperature. (during night) So now I has an important questions.

1)why you guys think only 1 root set is trying to kill itself so readily when all 3 are in the same system?

2) Is it possible that since I look at the roots like 3 times a day that I am exposing them to near fatal lighting? Are all you guys resevoirs REALLY like straight pitch black 24-7... I MEAN this is not the first time I have grown..its like the billionth...and I have not had a problem so consistently.

Jeez i feel like i have tried to eliminate so many variables and stilll....my girls are crapin all over me. *takes break*

NEW THEORY:

The results came back from my EARLnalysis and I am going to have to agree. I cant see any other variable apart from light penetration and relatively high reservoir temperature. My res. on the dwc dances on the verge of oxygen deprivation (over 75 degrees) and I believe this is the reason why my roots live for a while very healthy and then slowly diminish into slime balls...For now I guess we can all consider this case closed until I can put together another round of clones to destroy...or hopefully not 1 day. please feel free to comment on my above questions and thanks for everything you guys! great feedback!

I've had the same problem repeatedly in the same setup. I duct taped the top but never did the sides. I think the drip system is tricky too. Are your clones in rock wool inside the hydroton? It holds a lot of water (too much!) especially up near the top of your roots which don't really need it, and dripping more than once or twice a DAY seems like too much to me. Once you have a bunch of roots coming out the bottom, let em hit the water in the tub and let it get dry up in the netpot. You could pull the drip tubes out of some of your netpots and see if it makes any difference.

I think you might be right about temps too. But what do I know? I've killed plenty of plants this winter in DWC and I'm currently growing in soil. If I can get clones from my current batch, I'll fire up the tanks again. What was the brand of that rubberized paint you used? I might as well start getting ready for another water campaign!

Good luck to you bud.

WHAT IS YOUR RESERVOIR TEMPERATURE AT RIGHT NOW!?!?! TAKING a survey and wondering

1)What is your reservoir temperature

2)what kind of system are you using. (aero, dwc etc)


ok, sorry ill stop replying to myself now...i'm going 2 the gym. brb

EARL knows his shit for sure. I read and take his advice when I'm looking for answers.

Answers to questions.

1) Right now, 65F and never go over 70F...if it does I use 20oz frozen water bottles.
2)1 site, 10gl DWC

DND said:

EARL knows his shit for sure. I read and take his advice when I'm looking for answers.

Answers to questions.

1) Right now, 65F and never go over 70F...if it does I use 20oz frozen water bottles.
2)1 site, 10gl DWC

Click to expand...

NEVER OVER 70 you say....interesting. My temperatures vary from 68-72. With the most common temperature being 70-71.

With optimum water temperature being 68, acoording to earl, is it possible that my water is severely oxygen deprived at 70 degrees....2 degrees above optimum?

btw update with pics tonight...hope you guys comes around...I have a curve ball for you.

ok,

Here is todays update.

The one plant that had the best roots now has the worst. The plant has stopped growth altogether, including the roots. It also is gaining a brown tinge like its about to die.

Plant number 2 in the dwc is doing descent with minor root growth and veg growth over the past 4 days. It still has more white colored roots.

Plant 3 I moved into an aeroponic system running 24/7 misters to see if i could get the same problem again. ph and ppm are the same in the aero system.

The 3 plants are finally pictured below along with the DWC roots only. also added a pic of one of my soil mothers...which is doing fantastic...ugg. (for reference soil and hydro clones have been in media for equal time.

Notice that the 2 plants with healthy roots are the ones getting that similar leaf burn/something. I think it might be time to kick up the nutes a bit? They have been on 220-240 for a few weeks now...yes those plants have been "growing" for a few weeks.

forgot to mention that the burn on anything but the top leaves is from stresses about a month ago.

ok, should have just listened to earl the first time. Apparently water temps can not exceed 68 degrees in hydro...and especially in aero. Also learned that light penetration is NOT as important as suggested in this thread.

p.s. algae is gay...and if u don't want it...increased dissolved oxygen, perfect water temps and little to no light penetration will destroy ur foe.

if your system reallly gets the algae ur probably fuct if they are to young, but able to survive if has healthy root system and old. Drop the peroxide bomb imejiatly.