Small Hydro Issue... or not?

[grandvapor]

On a side note, is it typical for the plants to droop more at the end of the light cycle, and perk up in the dark? My first grow of photoperiod plants were the exact opposite. They looked like they were reaching for the light with all their might, but these little guys are like, ho hum.. light. Who cares...

 

[grandvapor]

Good evening everyone!

Went over to see the plants in person tonight. Unfortunately, it was a little worse than I thought, but they certainly don't look like they are dying or anything.

The problems are all in the lower growth, whereas the new top growth looks pretty good to me. I looked at many photos and troubleshooting pictures while I was there, and the closest comparisons I could find were:

Manganese Deficiency - Likely due to PH drifting too high between visiting the grow
-and/or-
Nitrogen Deficiency - This would surprise me a little, but it's possible I suppose.

Here is what I did tonight:
*All are modifications to the existing reservoir water. I wanted to learn what I did wrong rather than start over with fresh water*

1.) Added about another gallon or so to each tub.
2.) Added 30 ml of Cal-Mag to each tub (this is the first time I've added cal-mag to these ladies).
3.) Added the following Trio Nutes: 15 ml Micro, 15 ml of Bloom, and 30 ml of Grow.
4.) Added 15 ml of HydroGuard to each tub.
5.) PH'd the water to 5.1 (I know it's a little acidic, but it drifts up so fast I can't always get over to add more acid).
6.) Placed my security camera right next to one of the bad looking plants, to take photos over time and observe the reactions.

I will update in 24-48 hours and see if I made it better, or worse.

Thanks guys!

 

[Terry385]

can see the water line on roots today don't think plants going to like that tap water

 

[grandvapor]

can see the water line on roots today don't think plants going to like that tap water

I hope I get it figured out. I was able to use this same water for my first grow, but that was a Coco/Perlite blend using the Fox Farms Trio and Cali-Magic the whole time.

Should the roots be white from top to bottom?



Edit: These GH nutes have a lot of color, especially the purple Micro solution. Could the root color just be stained from the nutrients?

 

[Terry385]

I hope I get it figured out. I was able to use this same water for my first grow, but that was a Coco/Perlite blend using the Fox Farms Trio and Cali-Magic the whole time.

Should the roots be white from top to bottom?

View attachment 3551044

Edit: These GH nutes have a lot of color, especially the purple Micro solution. Could the root color just be stained from the nutrients?

can't say if nutrient stain or start of roots going south on you that tap water really high on ppm's

 

[grandvapor]

can't say if nutrient stain or start of roots going south on you that tap water really high on ppm's

Yeah unfortunately my TDS meter won't be here for a few days. Holiday shipping is slow... I guess if it doesn't improve, I'll just flush and clean everything and go back to square one on the nutrients.

I honestly have no idea how good or bad the city water is here, but I can say that its city tap from a major city in the Midwest. But of course, that means almost nothing.

I could always buy a home RO system, but it's not my home, and I really don't have the extra cash unless it's an absolute must, you know?

After reading about all the root problems people have in hydro, I'm worried that I didn't buy large enough air pumps. Maybe I'll buy a much larger air pump, and put like 4 air stones in each tub for awesome oxygenation.

Edit: In retrospect, running autoflower in my first DWC was probably a silly idea. Only have so much time to correct problems.

 

[Terry385]

mine happen alot first thing ph go's up within hours things get nasty

 

[grandvapor]

mine happen alot first thing ph go's up within hours things get nasty
View attachment 3551053

If I'm reading all this material correctly, have more air in your system is almost always better for the roots. Maybe my little EcoPlus 728360 3W 2 Outlet Eco Air Pump, 126 GPH in each tank aren't enough for 10 gallons of water... maybe something insane like...

Hydrofarm AAPA70L 60-Watt 70-LPM Active Aqua Commercial Air Pump with 8 Outlets

 

[Terry385]

what i use have two one in veg tent and one in flower tent 951 gal 6 outlet

you use alot of water in totes i use 5 gal. buckets only 4 gal. of water have 6 going now i use this hooks to bathroom sink don't use bathroom tho
http://www.ebay.com/itm/380210084591?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
i fill two 5 gal. buckets for watering and res. changes

 

[grandvapor]

what i use have two one in veg tent and one in flower tent 951 gal 6 outlet

you use alot of water in totes i use 5 gal. buckets only 4 gal. of water have 6 going now i use this hooks to bathroom sink don't use bathroom tho
http://www.ebay.com/itm/380210084591?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
i fill two 5 gal. buckets for watering and res. changes

That portable RO system is sweet! I might buy that... and that massive air pump. I want to get this system awesome.

 

[Terry385]

my pump on floor found out if you unplug pump... the hard way also pick up one way check valves now

 

[Terry385]

if it the roots don't screw around with crap that won't work go right to the tea
http://www.ebay.com/itm/191226121309?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
have to run ro water
http://www.skunklabshc.com/microbe-tea-info.html
i run their whole line up now no fucking around with root rot ppm and ph on the money every time done res, change
just follow feed chart look at it on their site... haven't let me down yet
and it stays green all the way thew flower too...

 

[grandvapor]

if it the roots don't screw around with crap that won't work go right to the tea
http://www.ebay.com/itm/191226121309?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
have to run ro water
http://www.skunklabshc.com/microbe-tea-info.html
i run their whole line up now no fucking around with root rot ppm and ph on the money every time done res, change
just follow feed chart look at it on their site... haven't let me down yet
View attachment 3551063 View attachment 3551065 and it stays green all the way thew flower too...

Will definitely check that out. I really feel that hydro is worth learning and getting right. I think I'm actually going to move the air pumps outside the tent so they aren't pumping in 83 degree air into my water. Even with hydroguard 80 degree water can't be easy on the roots.

Plus it's only going to get hotter in there when I put in the HPS bulb.

 

[Terry385]

don;t think your water is that warm is it that's not good I've used hydroguard before don't use if running tea
think used to much hydroguard on this one

 

[grandvapor]

don;t think your water is that warm is it that's not good I've used hydroguard before don't use if running tea
think used to much hydroguard on this one
View attachment 3551072

I've just been following the 2ml for every gallon per the HydroGuard label. Not sure if that's the best ratio or not.

After this Arizer full of Bubblelicious heats up not sure if anything will make sense.



Edit: no idea how warm the water is honestly. Will check with the tds meter when it gets here. It's 85 in the tent right now. Lamp has been on for about 6 hours now.

You grow some pretty plants...

 

[Terry385]

I've just been following the 2ml for every gallon per the HydroGuard label. Not sure if that's the best ratio or not.

After this Arizer full of Bubblelicious heats up not sure if anything will make sense.



Edit: no idea how warm the water is honestly. Will check with the tds meter when it gets here. It's 85 in the tent right now. Lamp has been on for about 6 hours now.

You grow some pretty plants...

took me almost a year of dwc change and used lots of things watch videos seen skunklab on youtube tried tea complete bingo what i been looking for easy and works for me
can't wait for this one week 8 day 1 it's in the light ( talk about heat ) bucket in corner little top heavy lol

 

[grandvapor]

took me almost a year of dwc change and used lots of things watch videos seen skunklab on youtube tried tea complete bingo what i been looking for easy and works for me
can't wait for this one week 8 day 1 it's in the light ( talk about heat ) bucket in corner little top heavy lol
View attachment 3551091 View attachment 3551092

Sad thing is, literally no one I know (except my grandmas), or have ever known could grow ANY kind of plants, fruits, vegetables, herbs...

This was very nearly a lost art of growing plants on earth. I'm really beginning to think cannabis might be saving the art and science of growing things.

It's the hobby I never knew I needed.

 

[Terry385]

Sad thing is, literally no one I know (except my grandmas), or have ever known could grow ANY kind of plants, fruits, vegetables, herbs...

This was very nearly a lost art of growing plants on earth. I'm really beginning to think cannabis might be saving the art and science of growing things.

It's the hobby I never knew I needed.

it's fun thing change have to be on top of it this is a great site for info
not having good luck with clones winter is here kinda.. planting seeds now next one Mozart white rhino soon as this one dwc is done
this one started October 21 amnesia lemon found out she loves the calmag

 

[grandvapor]

it's fun thing change have to be on top of it this is a great site for info
not having good luck with clones winter is here kinda.. planting seeds now next one Mozart white rhino soon as this one dwc is done
this one started October 21 amnesia lemon found out she loves the calmag
View attachment 3551097

Sounds awesome. I know I could do a lot better with temperatures if I switched to LED lamps, but it costs a fortune compared to a 600 watt hps and ventilation combined.

Then I could grow during summer too. Venting the lamp into the grow area at the moment. Had an odor problem during the summer venting outside in a condo complex. Had to wait till winter to start this grow. Helps with the furnace costs though. Just didn't get cold enough outside yet. Still fucking 60 degrees during the day.

 

[grandvapor]

Still not entirely sure what is going on, but the new growth is still looking good. Did the following tonight:

Added GH RapidStart (root booster) to the nutrient lineup.

1.) Swapped from MH to HPS as plants are now in pre-flower.
2.) Changed the reservoir water (even though it wasn't too bad looking/smelling).
3.) To the new 10 gallons of water (in each tub), added 30 ml/each of: FloraMicro, FloraBloom, FloraGrow, and Cali-Magic. Added 20 ml/each of HydroGuard and RapidStart.
4.) PH'd the water to 5.4 with approx. 3 oz of GH PH Down solution.
5.) Raised the lamp to 24" from canopy (my HPS bulb runs a lot hotter than my MH).

Additionally, I ordered:
1x Hydrofarm AAPA45L 20-Watt 45-LPM air pump
6x large air stones
50 feet of black air line tubing

This is really a little overkill for two 10-gallon tanks, but it's not so much that its going to be violently turbulent water. It's become pretty clear after reading many posts and forums that my air pumps simply aren't powerful enough to get my expected results with 10 gallons of water.

The new pumps and stones will make a massive difference I think. Not just in additional oxygenation, but also to help agitate the water and keep the nutrients well mixed.

I'm also very excited about this General Hydro Rapid Start product. It comes highly recommended from everyone I've talked to whose tried it. Downside, expensive at about 28 bucks per 275 ml bottle, but it only takes 1-2 ml per gallon, so it goes a long way.

Here are some new pics...