Root ROT in ebb n FLOW

GregNak

Well-Known Member
So i went to go check on my buddys ebb and flow setup... Its the 12 bucket setup that comes with a resevoir and controller. I noticed last night that the roots sticking out of the innner bucket have rotted roots coming out of it, I think this might be happening because it is sitting in stagnant water. I was also thinkin about putting the buckets on 2x4s so they are higher than the controller to drain out a little more water. I dunno what else to do about it... The roots are a light brownish color but they appear to be very week and they break and tear when you just try to wipe the sludge off the roots. The plants look EXCELLENT and have drank 20 gallons of water in the last 6 days, Any helpful hints would be Great... thanks guys
 

NLXSK1

Well-Known Member
So i went to go check on my buddys ebb and flow setup... Its the 12 bucket setup that comes with a resevoir and controller. I noticed last night that the roots sticking out of the innner bucket have rotted roots coming out of it, I think this might be happening because it is sitting in stagnant water. I was also thinkin about putting the buckets on 2x4s so they are higher than the controller to drain out a little more water. I dunno what else to do about it... The roots are a light brownish color but they appear to be very week and they break and tear when you just try to wipe the sludge off the roots. The plants look EXCELLENT and have drank 20 gallons of water in the last 6 days, Any helpful hints would be Great... thanks guys
What are you using for nutes and pathogen control?
 

GregNak

Well-Known Member
nothing for pathogen control i am using the three part GH with kool bloom and the bloom floralicious
 

GregNak

Well-Known Member
It just seems like its rotting because the roots are sitting in stagnant water, i plan to put 2x4s under each bucket to make it higher than the controller
 

SomeGuy

Well-Known Member
It just seems like its rotting because the roots are sitting in stagnant water, i plan to put 2x4s under each bucket to make it higher than the controller
What about adding a few air pumps & stones to aerate the water and keep it moving. A small stone in each bucket and a cheap pump for every two would probably do it.
 

GregNak

Well-Known Member
What about adding a few air pumps & stones to aerate the water and keep it moving. A small stone in each bucket and a cheap pump for every two would probably do it.
Thats true but i have never heard of anyone else having to do something like this, im also going to cut back my feeding schedule i have been feeding 6 times during lights on i am going to cut it back to 4 feeds every 12 hours on
 

Styl!st07

Well-Known Member
Thats true but i have never heard of anyone else having to do something like this, im also going to cut back my feeding schedule i have been feeding 6 times during lights on i am going to cut it back to 4 feeds every 12 hours on

Whats up budy sounds like u have sum rotting issues.

The first thing u need to do is go buy u a 1gal bottle of H202 and put it in ur water ASAP on u will lose every thing that on that system. Ur water needs this is ur water at all times to kill pathogens in ur water. The water in thee buckets are in the for a reason cuz the roots that are that far down need more water. The H202 will kill any pathogens in that are where they like to live. When useing water to grow its a must to use H202 in ur rez to keep ur roots nice and clean.

Try this first and I shure this will fix ur root problems

Go get 35% H202 in a 1gal bottle and mix 1.7ml to every 1L of water :lol:
 

fitzyno1

Well-Known Member
If you going use H202 make sure you're not using any organic nutrients. But as st07 says, it will fix your problem.
 

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society
This is something I wrote on another site:

THE 8 STEP RECUPERATION AND RECOVERY REMEDY

1. Check the roots. If they are discolored, reddish or brown, or present an unpleasant odor, you have a problem. If they are weak, soft or mushy, you have a problem. Also while checking the roots, observe the temperature of the water. If it is warmer than "luke warm" you have a problem. This problem is probably what is referred to as "root rot" or a disease known as PYTHIUM. Remove the dead brown roots by trimming them away with sharp scissors. Do not leave them in the tank.
2. Check the humidity and temperature of the grow area below the lights in the "growing zone" when the lights are on. A temperature of above 82 degrees or below 67 degrees will slow growth, but it is not a serious problem that will kill your plants. Temperatures below 62 degrees or above 90 degrees will stop growth. An extremely high temperature in the upper 90s or below 58 degrees can slowly result in death of your plants. The most efficient temps for growth are between 72 to 80 degrees. Any Humidity between 40 and 60 percent is acceptable and desirable.
3. Check the "lights off, nighttime" temperature. Most desirable is ten to 15 degrees cooler than the daytime "lights on" temperature, averaging 66 to 70 degrees.
4. Check the distance between the tips of the plant and the tip of the light bulb. If you observe yellowing or leaf curling tips, then move the lights one inch further away. A good rule of thumb if you use HID lights, is hold the soft palm of your hand at the leaf tip and see if the bulb is too warm to your hand. If you use Stealth Hydro's compact fluorescent bulbs, we recommend a distance of three or four inches for the 65 and 85 watt bulbs and 4 inches to five inches for the 105 watt bulbs. More mature plants can handle the bulbs slightly closer.
5. Check the position of your fans. Air movement is very necessary for the health of your plants, but too strong of a fan can cause wind burn. Direct your fan toward the tops of the plants and toward the lights. Never position the fan blowing strongly downward on the leaves.
6. Add 1/4 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide to a quart of water and add it to the tank of six gallons already in the tank. Wait ten minutes and then turn the water and nutrition solution pump off to prepare to drain the tank. Poor at least a cup of clean water through each grow cup, onto each rockwool cube and through the hydroton rocks.
7. Drain or pump the tank empty as possible without damaging the pump by running it dry. Add two gallons of additional clean water with 1/4 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide again and then drain it away too. Again, empty the tank as empty as possible without burning up your pump.
8. Add fresh PH balanced water and nutritional packets as prescribed. PH test it again.
 

fitzyno1

Well-Known Member
I was also thinkin about putting the buckets on 2x4s so they are higher than the controller to drain out a little more water.
I could be wrong, but looking at that system, i think the pods need to be level with the controller. As gravity has alot to do with the level of nutrients.
 

d4twamp

Active Member
Greg,
I would have to agree w/ keeping the grow cells/buckets at the same level as the control bucket

How good is the drainage in the top bucket, if there isn't adequate drainage then the roots will mat up and block the holes from draining, leaving the roots to rot in stagnant water..if your not using net pots now try it in future grows you'll be glad you did...

h2o2 will help out, but if you've got the money check out House and Gardens Roots Excelurator it's expensive as hell but worth every penny

hope this helps... How bout posting some pix to better assess the problem

later, D:bigjoint:
 

Attachments

E S

New Member
The only thing raising the buckets will do is lower the flood level in said buckets. The standing water will always be there if the grommet/fitting allows it. You should get some SM-90.
 

Busmike

Well-Known Member
I don't understand why you need a "control Bucket". And you can buy 2 or 3 12 plant systems for a hel of a lot less than $400! The resivoir needs to be BELOW those 2 gallon buckets. All you do is put a competent pump (I buy mine on Ebay) IN the resivoir with hoses connecting with each 2 gallon Bucket The 2 gallon buckets must all be level and at the same heigth, and MUST ALL BE HIGHER THAN THE RESIVOIR.
 

fitzyno1

Well-Known Member
Ok, if i had that system, i make a few adjustments.

Firstly- i'd put an air curtain/defusier or a few air stone in the main reservoir to keep the nutrients arrogated and to help with the nutrients from binding.

Secondly- i'd use a digital timer, instead of the 15 minute one. Run the system and time how long it take the pods to fill up. 15 minutes sounds a bit too long to have the roots submerged in unoxygenated nutrients.

Thirdly- i'd use Canna (or another inorganic) nutrients which would be compatible with Hydropgen Peroxide (H202).
 

GregNak

Well-Known Member
I have been using 2 airstones in the res since day one... And have been using the 2 percent H202 that you can get over the counter, even though it probably doesnt do anything
 

fitzyno1

Well-Known Member
I have been using 2 airstones in the res since day one... And have been using the 2 percent H202 that you can get over the counter, even though it probably doesnt do anything
That reservoir should hold around 200ltrs, i presume you use 180ltrs for nutrients. If you are using the 2% H202, you need to use 25ml/L of 2%, thats 45ltrs of 2% for a 180L tank of nutrients :-(. You'll get rid of root problems if you invest in 35% or 50% H202, and use inorganic nutrients.
 
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