White Foam, week prior was brown sludge.

[Skittlez12]

I have a 3 bucket DWC set up. I'm new and this is my first grow so I am open to all questions and concerns.

2 Granddaddy purp Fem (1 Gdp seedling, one 3 week old veg gdp), and one Zkittlez Auto (3week old veg stage)

The 3 week old GDP has around 800-1200ppms on nutrient change day.

The 3 week old Zkittles Auto has around 800-1200ppms as well.

The Seedling is around 400-600ppms.

I adjust my ph regularly. If need be. I take them down to 5.5-5.8 when I check every other day and they climb up to 7-7.2. They don't fluctuate that often but some days its every morning sometimes they run 2 days at 5.8-6.2ph before jumping up to 7.0.

I have no reservoir to run a rwdc to circulate and chill the water (no chiller yet) my bucket temps when checked periodically read 75-78°F.

Basement setup
-5x5 Ac infinity Tent
-78° Ambient temp in tent.
-RH 60-70%
-4" Ac infinity inline fan with 4" carbon filter. (Should of went with a 6", hard to cool down at times)
-600w Sunleaves ballast/air-cooled hood (6") w -600w Vivosun MH conversion bulb.
-Light is 16" away from plants.
-2 fans. One pushing under the light directly over the plants, 1 pushing air out (vents on tent are opened as well).


Nutrients per bucket once a week change on 3week old veg gdp/zkittles:
3.5gal distilled water
8ml Miicrobial Mass
6ml of hydrogaurd
30ml of biothrive grow
15mg of cal mag
30ml of bioroot
12-15ml of bioweed
Liquid seaweed for defoliation spray 10ml per gallon, into spray bottle.

Just started the seedling gdp on first weeks nutes.

My questions:
-Are these "organic" nutes my problem?
Am I fighting an uphill battle on temps (no matter the beneficial bacterial usage)?








Currently running a 2 gdps and 1 Zkittlez Auto.

 

[rkymtnman]

Are these "organic" nutes my problem?

yep

 

[Skittlez12]

Any good nutrients you recommend switching to? I've got a great hydroponic store with a diverse selection.

Is it ok to switch nutrients during veg?

 

[rkymtnman]

I love Jack's 1 part dry nutes. they make an RO or Tap version depending on your water source

that and hydroguard should be all you need.

GH flora series 3 part are good nutes. maxibloom is a good 1 part dry nute too.

 

[Skittlez12]

Thanks! I will check them out.

 

[rkymtnman]

and after your hydroguard runs out, switch over to southern ag garden friendly fungicide (off ebay or amazon). million times more concentrated and way cheaper than HG.

 

[Skittlez12]

Very true. Hydrogaurd was a little pricey. Like $45-50.00 for that little bottle. Ironically, the miicrobial mass and hydrogaurd together decrease my foam, I tried just hydrogaurd for a few days and the gunk/foam started to get out of hand. Through in 8ml of mm and it got it to what the photos show. I will be getting new nutrients next week for sure. Way too much adjusting with these nutes.

 

[Skittlez12]

Switch over to House and Garden Aqua Flakes A & B tonight.

 

[MustGro]

Hi @Skittlez12 . @rkymtnman is right, those nutes aren’t so hydro friendly. I think I remember something about not using aeration with them, but it’s 3-4 years since I used the Bio line. It’s good in soilless, so you can use it there. I don’t know your new nutes, but I love the ease and $ of powders.
I never let my PH swing that much. Going up to 7 is a big jump. It’s a good habit to keep that range smaller. I keep mine to .5 a ph point.
Your min temp is right around my max, but it could work. I’ve seen posts on here with res temps like yours before and they were ok.
Cool to see the old school air cooled light, it takes me back…

 

[Herb & Suds]

WELCOME to RIU

 

[Skittlez12]

@MustGro I agree, I'm really wanting to go towards powders and making my own batches of tea. I haven't quite did my due diligence on dry amended substances yet. The temps are/were really giving me trouble. I double-insulated the buckets tonight, changed new nutes, washed roots off and threw in 2 frozen gel ice packs in each 5 gal res. Temps went from 78° to 65° and the juice in the buckets looked & smelled much happier. I will implement that into my routine every morning, til I drop $350-500.00 on a chiller.
Right! Lol I got the light from my gf's dad, things like 10 years old I was surprised to see it kick on. It gets really hot and the room temps hard to control with all the vents on the tent closed.. jumps to 80°-82°. LED's will be my next upgrade.

@Herb & Suds glad to be here! Very knowledgeable information on these forums.

 

[Skittlez12]

They are looking much healthier and vibrant. Im between 500-700 on ppms now. The ph is much easier to adjust in this h&g nutrient solution when mixed. The GO line required 25ml more ph up to level out at 5.5 from 3.8-3.9. I'm going with less is more til I know what I'm doing.

Updated Nutrient solution: going into week 4.
3.5 gal of distilled h20
15ml Aqua A
15ml Aqua B
8ml Miicrobial Mass
6ml Hydrogaurd
1.50ml Root Excelurator

Are all those additives really worth it?

 

[rkymtnman]

8ml Miicrobial Mass

1.50ml Root Excelurator

any organics in these 2?

 

[Skittlez12]

From what I've gathered, Miicrobial mass is the only true organic compound I've got.
It consist of:


The Root Excelurator isn't 100% organic but does contain beneficial microbial inoculates, with Ammonium nitrate and potassium hydroxide being inorganic compounds. Their ingredients aren't too transparent.

• Cold Pressed Norwegian Sea Kelp
• Vitamin B complex
• A proprietary seed extraction
• Molasses and other ingredients
• Beneficial microbial inoculants

My assumption--because of my high temps that I use beneficial bacteria to counter balance the future root rot/ bacterial fungus. The 2 are fairly similar just different microbials.

 

[rkymtnman]

Molasses

put that bottle away

 

[Failmore]

From what I've gathered, Miicrobial mass is the only true organic compound I've got.
It consist of:
View attachment 5009450

The Root Excelurator isn't 100% organic but does contain beneficial microbial inoculates, with Ammonium nitrate and potassium hydroxide being inorganic compounds. Their ingredients aren't too transparent.

• Cold Pressed Norwegian Sea Kelp
• Vitamin B complex
• A proprietary seed extraction
• Molasses and other ingredients
• Beneficial microbial inoculants

My assumption--because of my high temps that I use beneficial bacteria to counter balance the future root rot/ bacterial fungus. The 2 are fairly similar just different microbials.

Its going to be a struggle trying to get the bennies working with temps that hi.

Going sterile works wonders.

Simple works best for hydro. The less you try to put in the easier and better your results will be.

Those roots are not looking so healthy.

I use jacks tap. Epsom. Ph down. Bleach. Drip clean. 10 gallon res.

600w hid should be more than 2 feet away also.

 

[Skittlez12]

Retire it already? I will say that, I've read some nasty things about root excelurator. The complaints mostly related too the protective slime coating that it creates. One complaint actually stated that it made his/her root rot worse. But come to find out he was killing all beneficial bacteria with h202. So in theory my hydrogaurd by botanicare isn't necessarily going to eat away at my beneficial living organisms. It consist of another bacillus bacteria--bacillus amyloliquefaciens.

 

[Skittlez12]

Man Jacks is popular amongst this crowd. You guys are going to make me see what the hypes all about after this grow.

 

[Skittlez12]

My ph in my tap is 7.2-7.3, the ppms read about 350-500 from what I remember when I tested it. Im buying Distilled water. Costing me more than what am RO filter would of been had I purchased one at the start. So this jacks will allow me to run my tap water for my buckets? I'm not too familiar on ph balancing nutrients and or powders yet, so I'm trying to keep this grow somewhat alive while I get more info/experience.

 

[rkymtnman]

molasses belongs in pies, not DWC