SecretStoner
Member
Indoor grow. Came as a clone in some sort of rockwool alternative. He said it was recycled tree bark or something, but it doesnt break up in the system and is safe for DWC.
I just dont understand it! I've done three grows now, and have somehow made it to the end every time. Each grow has had this exact same problem, in two different grow buckets. this is getting so frustrating, i cant stand it anymore! I seem to have gotten some sort of slime or algae problem. I've done just about everything in the book to get rid of it, and I'm still plagued. I plead with you, anyone, PLEASE HELP ME. I'm using DWC. There must be something i havent thought of. Heres the info and attempted fixes so far:
It seems every few days, typically around rez change day (every monday), The plant grows some new healthy roots for a day or two. Around day three, it seems that whatever is in my tank is starting to take over. It seems to be brown in color. At first i thought it was just wash-off from the hydroton, but i soon realized its some sort of brown gunk thats certainly growing. When it comes time to change the water, there is certainly a whiteish-cloudiness to it. I'm fairly certain its a growing bacteria based on the fact that when checking my PPM's, i start the week at 400 (from distilled, reverse osmosis water at 0-1ppm). When it comes time for a top up, i refill with 0PPM water to its original water line. After checking, the PPM is typically 425, higher than the original starting point, even after diluted. Also, PH typically spikes within hours from 5.3 to 6.3 - give or take .2
Air temperatures are typically 75-85 degrees, and i've purchased a IceWorks water probe to keep my water temperatures at a steady, perfect, 68 degrees. Humidity ranges between 30 and 50% depending on the day. I have a top feed that runs 3 times per day for 15 minutes each time. I have an INSANELY huge loud commercial air pump, i believe its the 35W Eco Air Commercial, i cant remember, but it has 8 air outlets, and i'm running to 6 different micropore airstones sitting inside the tank. Bubbles for days.
The airstones seem to have a lot of the brown gunk on them, so i was thinking that whatever it is, its aerobic, seeing as it seems to clean to the walls just above the water line, and to the airstones. It also makes the airlines very slimy feeling, and it seems to want to get in the cracks of zip tied airlines (so perhaps it likes dark?)
I've attempted to do sterile tanks, and now i'm trying the bennie route. I've tried running physan 20 (without plant in) at 3Tablespoons per 3Gallons of water for 30+ minutes (the instructions say only 10 is needed) - still didnt beat the stuff. I've tried SM-90, smells good for a few days, and then the new roots die off, yet again, in the same vicious cycle. I've tried Subculture-B, same story. I've tried Hygrozyme, same story. I've tried brewing beneficial bacteria using the heisbenberg tea (mycogrow, zho, ancient forest, mollasses, 48hours, bubble and strain), same story!! As of two days ago, i had the bright idea to raise the temperatures for the bennies in my rez, so that the 68 degree water wouldnt slow the bennies down from beating the bacteria. I've since had the temps at 70-72, but it doesnt seem to be helping. Also to note, when brewing the bennies, there is certainly a large biofilm on top, maybe even 2 inches of bubbly brown suds, so i know they're working when being brewed. Also, when finishing a batch a brew, my stones in THAT tank are COMPLETELY covered in a brown slime. I assume these are the bennies that we want, but perhaps i'm brewing more of the slime on accident somehow (and consequently adding it to the rez?!). Should the airstones in the bennie brew be clear at the end of the 48hour cycle? if so, something is up from the get go.
As you can see in these photos, taken just now, the lower leaves are yellow and have brown spots. I think this is due to fluctuation of PH and not getting proper nutes. The stem is pumple, also in my opinion due to a bad roots not being able to uptake correct nutes. The plant is showing signs of overwatering, again, IMO from bad roots.
I see a root poking out of the netpot (a few, here and there) and they look great, and clear, and brand new. Then, a day later, the root dampens off. Please, suggestions! It's AK47. :'(
edit: growing using a Advance LED Diamond DS200
edit2: Currently the only thing in my res is 3gallons of water, 400PPM (Dutch Master Gold Veg A + B), 3 cups of bennie tea, little to no PH down (but as time goes on..MUCH ph down is needed)
I just dont understand it! I've done three grows now, and have somehow made it to the end every time. Each grow has had this exact same problem, in two different grow buckets. this is getting so frustrating, i cant stand it anymore! I seem to have gotten some sort of slime or algae problem. I've done just about everything in the book to get rid of it, and I'm still plagued. I plead with you, anyone, PLEASE HELP ME. I'm using DWC. There must be something i havent thought of. Heres the info and attempted fixes so far:
It seems every few days, typically around rez change day (every monday), The plant grows some new healthy roots for a day or two. Around day three, it seems that whatever is in my tank is starting to take over. It seems to be brown in color. At first i thought it was just wash-off from the hydroton, but i soon realized its some sort of brown gunk thats certainly growing. When it comes time to change the water, there is certainly a whiteish-cloudiness to it. I'm fairly certain its a growing bacteria based on the fact that when checking my PPM's, i start the week at 400 (from distilled, reverse osmosis water at 0-1ppm). When it comes time for a top up, i refill with 0PPM water to its original water line. After checking, the PPM is typically 425, higher than the original starting point, even after diluted. Also, PH typically spikes within hours from 5.3 to 6.3 - give or take .2
Air temperatures are typically 75-85 degrees, and i've purchased a IceWorks water probe to keep my water temperatures at a steady, perfect, 68 degrees. Humidity ranges between 30 and 50% depending on the day. I have a top feed that runs 3 times per day for 15 minutes each time. I have an INSANELY huge loud commercial air pump, i believe its the 35W Eco Air Commercial, i cant remember, but it has 8 air outlets, and i'm running to 6 different micropore airstones sitting inside the tank. Bubbles for days.
The airstones seem to have a lot of the brown gunk on them, so i was thinking that whatever it is, its aerobic, seeing as it seems to clean to the walls just above the water line, and to the airstones. It also makes the airlines very slimy feeling, and it seems to want to get in the cracks of zip tied airlines (so perhaps it likes dark?)
I've attempted to do sterile tanks, and now i'm trying the bennie route. I've tried running physan 20 (without plant in) at 3Tablespoons per 3Gallons of water for 30+ minutes (the instructions say only 10 is needed) - still didnt beat the stuff. I've tried SM-90, smells good for a few days, and then the new roots die off, yet again, in the same vicious cycle. I've tried Subculture-B, same story. I've tried Hygrozyme, same story. I've tried brewing beneficial bacteria using the heisbenberg tea (mycogrow, zho, ancient forest, mollasses, 48hours, bubble and strain), same story!! As of two days ago, i had the bright idea to raise the temperatures for the bennies in my rez, so that the 68 degree water wouldnt slow the bennies down from beating the bacteria. I've since had the temps at 70-72, but it doesnt seem to be helping. Also to note, when brewing the bennies, there is certainly a large biofilm on top, maybe even 2 inches of bubbly brown suds, so i know they're working when being brewed. Also, when finishing a batch a brew, my stones in THAT tank are COMPLETELY covered in a brown slime. I assume these are the bennies that we want, but perhaps i'm brewing more of the slime on accident somehow (and consequently adding it to the rez?!). Should the airstones in the bennie brew be clear at the end of the 48hour cycle? if so, something is up from the get go.
As you can see in these photos, taken just now, the lower leaves are yellow and have brown spots. I think this is due to fluctuation of PH and not getting proper nutes. The stem is pumple, also in my opinion due to a bad roots not being able to uptake correct nutes. The plant is showing signs of overwatering, again, IMO from bad roots.
I see a root poking out of the netpot (a few, here and there) and they look great, and clear, and brand new. Then, a day later, the root dampens off. Please, suggestions! It's AK47. :'(
edit: growing using a Advance LED Diamond DS200
edit2: Currently the only thing in my res is 3gallons of water, 400PPM (Dutch Master Gold Veg A + B), 3 cups of bennie tea, little to no PH down (but as time goes on..MUCH ph down is needed)
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