To sterilize or not to sterilize (cloner res I mean)...

I run a couple of small bubble cloners using aerated tap water + VERY light nutes + great white. I've noticed that my res water seems to acquire musty smell after a few days but rooting/growth seems relatively unaffected.

I was considering trying a regular schedule of small amounts of h202 in the res and ditching the great white. What's everyone else running? Do you maintain a sterile cloner res? Or just change frequently?

H202 is your best bet tested and proven to work!

If your asking the question I bet you already no the answer! Always sterilize your equipment.

I personally do that then spray my room once every 6 months from head to toe "a two day process"

It's a bitch but not near as bad as getting a fungus or a mite infestation.

I use plain Reverse Osmosis water for first week of clones. are your reservoir temps get too high because bacteria/fungus starts growing in nutrients, within a day if its above 70*F.

I use a beneficial microbe tea, similar to great white but cheaper, and it works great. But then, my grow environment is plagued with the brown slime algae, and EWC tea is the only thing that fights it off. I've tried all the sterilizers, sm-90, dutch master zone, h202, physan 20, none of them help me get roots like the EWC tea. I don't use any nutes in the clone water.

I keep an oxygen stone in my machine throughout the process, than once I pull my clones, I take 5 gallons of water, and a cup of bleach, and let it run for an hour. I scrub all parts, take whatever I can apart, scrub that, than let it run some more. I do 3 clean water flushes, and ready for the next batch.

Have you considered using a nebulizer. I heard they sterilize water. Slightly warm water is actually good for starting roots. Also, I know Heisenberg doesn't recommend it but I have to recommend the SM-90.

Peace,
IF

Sterilizing your equipment should always be your top priority. Using hydrogen peroxide is good since it can really disinfect and clean your reservoir very well.