Yellow roots in DWC

Does anyone know why the roots are yellow rather than white?

I'm still new to growing but as long as the plant is healthy and the roots don't turn brown I wouldn't worry too much. I'd suspect it's because you're nutrient solution isn't clear and that can stain the roots the color of the water.

Another possible cause that you should correct is if you're using tap water that hasn't been de-chlorinated the chlorine can cause damage to the roots.

I think its the nutrient solution. I use RO water.

Looks like a bath tub in there...Do you always have suds like that?

No it started happening when I added superthrive to the weekly nute feed.

There must be wetting agents in superthrive?..I've never used the stuff myself.

Apparently. The suds are normal until the superthrive is fully metabolized., Then, it returns to air bubbles.

Well what evers normal for you...your roots are not thriving. Are you running sterile or organic?

Your roots just need more oxygen. Try lowering the water level and nuking it h202 as well. Just incase there is any bullshit left. then maybe a hydroguard 3-4 days after the last h202 dose to clean up the actual dead left overs.

Also need to know if its organic, because if it is then I'm outta this club~

Not organic. Hydroton hydro with nutes and additives.

jensen71 said:

Not organic. Hydroton hydro with nutes and additives.

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Any air stones/pump? I don't see any in the picture. That's also a problem if you are relying on your waterfall to provide your DO then it needs to be a longer vertical drop for DO to be absorbed.

see pic of aqua vita commercial air pump 38lpm output (this is suspended in mid air by rope ratchets) at about 1 foot above the top of each bucket:

see pic of red frog 9.5 inch diffuser ring


the feed is pushing out 6-7 gallons of nutes at 250gph into each bucket from water spouting into the water from a hole at about 3 inches from the top of the bucket, the water line is about 6 inches from top of bucket which is 14 inches high. the feed is coming straight out the side and immediately falling down within a few tenths of an inch of the net pot so its coming in at 90 degree angle where there is no elbow. The feed is at about 11 inches and is coming through a 1/2 inch hose.

I went to a store to check out prices on peroxide and explained to the guy what I was seeing. He said it's probably residue sediment from the hydrotons. There is no slime on the roots, just sediment and the peroxide will bleach the yellow out of the roots. Can I run peroxide through hydrotons to get rid of all the excess coloring and dust? Can I run it through the entire system or will my filter continue to clog until all the sediment is wiped out individually at the bucket level? Also, whats the minimum strength of peroxide that I can use for the purchase of whitening the roots? I think the H2O2 oxidizer is diluted to 29% from 35% which still remains high and will burn skin if rubber gloves aren't used. I take it the local CVS or Walgreen's H2O2 isn't strong enough being diluted to 3% from 99%.

You will see clay sediment in your system if this is the case. You will see it floating in the water if you scoop some out or turn the water pump off and wait 5 minutes for the water to settle. Can you show more of the system other than the one small picture? I'm trying to help ya out. It could be the light leaks from the tubing and orange bucket. Any flavoring added (contains sugar which feeds bad pathogens)?

It looks like the roots are being suffocated AKA not enough DO/water level too high or the light leaks have slowly aided a pathogen. But you said it wasnt slimy so I doubt the pathogen/light leak theory at this point now. Does the water have an aquarium smell to it?

I know I've had clay dust from my pellets even collecting on the tin foil I have around my baskets if the nutrients solution stream is flowing across it. But it's never colored my roots. I use two large cylinder air stones and every time I change my res water once a week I add a tsp of Hydroguard to each gallon and Ph at 5.8. Haven't had a problem.

Vumar said:

It looks like the roots are being suffocated AKA not enough DO/water level too high or the light leaks have slowly aided a pathogen. But you said it wasnt slimy so I doubt the pathogen/light leak theory at this point now. Does the water have an aquarium smell to it?

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The water level was about an inch above where the bottom of the net pot is, ive lowered tank levels to bet a about where the net pot touches the water. Haven't but H2O2 in to the root zone yet, wont that kill bacteria? Is there a safer dilution % of H2O2 that can be used in lieu of the 29% (diluted from 35%)? I can't use cheap pharmaceutical 3% H2O2? I don't want to burn the roots by accident if the hydro strength of it as a cleaner is so caustic that I need gloves to handle it. Also, will this kill root zone bennies like microbes, bacteria, and fungi? The roots themselves look nice and stringy with mini branches but some have dirt/pellet clods stuck to them. Not sure what it could be, but before I go down the peroxide path, just want to make sure I'm using the right strength for the right purpose. No aquarium smell that I can tell of. Just smells like nutes.

Northofimjin said:

I know I've had clay dust from my pellets even collecting on the tin foil I have around my baskets if the nutrients solution stream is flowing across it. But it's never colored my roots. I use two large cylinder air stones and every time I change my res water once a week I add a tsp of Hydroguard to each gallon and Ph at 5.8. Haven't had a problem.

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Your tin foil doesn't reflect light but rather re-directs it. This re-directed light turns into heat spots on plants xD