“Bleach” in hydro systems

lusidghost

Well-Known Member
While I’m sure x appreciates your sycophantic emotions, he appears to have joined RIU approximately 4 1/2 years ago. Hardly equates to the time when I was “cuddling a cabbage patch.” Does he have grow logs I’m unaware of?
I just made a dope rhyme even doper. If you want to communicate with me, put it wax.
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
While I’m sure x appreciates your sycophantic emotions, he appears to have joined RIU approximately 4 1/2 years ago. Hardly equates to the time when I was “cuddling a cabbage patch.” Does he have grow logs I’m unaware of?
Use the same investigative technique to find the answers to your stupid questions.
 

Thundercat

Well-Known Member
I see numerous posts recommending the use of “bleach “ as a preventative/cure for pythium. This thread is for them. A couple questions:
Assuming you mean Sodium hypochlorite, when you say “bleach”;
What are your application ratios (“bleach”to water)?
What is your schedule for dosing your reservoir?
Do you have a method of measuring the chlorine ppms?
Same questions for users of “pool shock”.
Ok I'll bite.

I used shock for years in an ebb and flow system. It worked great to keep things clean in a simple manner. I was skeptical at first even to use tap water because of chlorine and spent a few years bubbling my water to get it out. Then I read about using it to keep a sterile res and decided to try it out. That was one of the best choices I ever made. I stopped bubbling tons of water every week and never had another rez or root issue again.

I used basic HTH pool shock. The one I had came in a pink tub, and cost me $9 at the time. I used that same bottle for 6ish years and still had about 1/3 of it left when I threw it out when I moved. I would mix 1/2 tsp into a gallon of water to create a concentrate solution. then add that solution at roughly 1 oz per gallon in my reservoir. I did this about every 3-4 days because the chlorine seems to evaporate out pretty uickly. I have not actually done chlorine content tests, but it can be done. I just followed instructions laid out by another grower and had great results, hopefully this helps someone else out the same way.
 
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zzyx

Well-Known Member
Ok I'll bite.

I used shock for years in an ebb and flow system. It worked great to keep things clean in a simple manner. I was skeptical at first even to use tap water because of chlorine and spent a few years bubbling my water to get it out. Then I read about using it to keep a sterile res and decided to try it out. That was one of the best choices I ever made. I stopped bubbling tons of water every week and never had another rez or root issue again.

I used basic HTH pool shock. The one I had came in a pink tub, and cost me $9 at the time. I used that same bottle for 6ish years and still had about 1/3 of it left when I threw it out when I moved. I would mix 1/2 tsp into a gallon of water to create a concentrate solution. then add that solution at roughly 1 oz per gallon in my reservoir. I did this about every 3-4 days because the chlorine seems to evaporate out pretty uickly. I have not actually done chlorine content tests, but it can be done. I just followed instructions laid out by another grower and had great results .
Finally.
Pop Quiz Score:
A
:clap:
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
Ok I'll bite.

I used shock for years in an ebb and flow system. It worked great to keep things clean in a simple manner. I was skeptical at first even to use tap water because of chlorine and spent a few years bubbling my water to get it out. Then I read about using it to keep a sterile res and decided to try it out. That was one of the best choices I ever made. I stopped bubbling tons of water every week and never had another rez or root issue again.

I used basic HTH pool shock. The one I had came in a pink tub, and cost me $9 at the time. I used that same bottle for 6ish years and still had about 1/3 of it left when I threw it out when I moved. I would mix 1/2 tsp into a gallon of water to create a concentrate solution. then add that solution at roughly 1 oz per gallon in my reservoir. I did this about every 3-4 days because the chlorine seems to evaporate out pretty uickly. I have not actually done chlorine content tests, but it can be done. I just followed instructions laid out by another grower and had great results, hopefully this helps someone else out the same way.
Show off. Lol
 

xtsho

Well-Known Member
The bottom line is that when used properly in a sterile hydroponic system sodium hypochlorite is effective at preventing pathogens such as pythium. It's used by many for that purpose. As with anything, lack of knowledge or ignorance can have negative effects. Used properly sodium hypochlorite is an effective solution to problems that can arise when growing hydroponically.

Both chlorine and sodium are used by the plant. But both can be detrimental when concentrations are too high. Chlorine dissipates over time but sodium can build up. When running a sterile hydroponic system the nutrient solution can be topped off for 10-14 days before being drained and replenished with a fresh nutrient solution. In that time frame there would not be enough sodium from the use of sodium chlorite to have accumulated to the point of nearing potential toxicity levels. There is likely a higher content in most soils which doesn't cause any adverse effects on plant growth.

In conclusion. Sodium hypochlorite is one of many options for controlling pathogens in a sterile hydroponic system.


Chloride as a Beneficial Macronutrient in Higher Plants: New Roles and Regulation


The Effects of Sodium Chloride on Higher Plants.
 

zzyx

Well-Known Member
“Chlorine dissipates over time but sodium can build up. When running a sterile hydroponic system the nutrient solution can be topped off for 10-14 days before being drained and replenished with a fresh nutrient solution.”
That’s one of the important and often overlooked points. Sodium build up, and I damn sure don’t want to do rez changes every 2 weeks. Good article.
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
“Chlorine dissipates over time but sodium can build up. When running a sterile hydroponic system the nutrient solution can be topped off for 10-14 days before being drained and replenished with a fresh nutrient solution.”
That’s one of the important and often overlooked points. Sodium build up, and I damn sure don’t want to do rez changes every 2 weeks. Good article.
:wall:
 

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
“Chlorine dissipates over time but sodium can build up. When running a sterile hydroponic system the nutrient solution can be topped off for 10-14 days before being drained and replenished with a fresh nutrient solution.”
That’s one of the important and often overlooked points. Sodium build up, and I damn sure don’t want to do rez changes every 2 weeks. Good article.
a bit of bleach in your gene pool is recommended. 50ppm should be good.
 

xtsho

Well-Known Member
A couple more threads related to using sodium hypochlorite in hydro. Lots of people use it because it works.


 

PopAndSonGrows

Well-Known Member
This is actually a VERY interesting read, upon some sifting.

I was given Athena Blended nutrients a while ago & finally just cracked them .. ... I'm weird, i always "smell" things and the Cleanse product was a blast of bleach to the face!! YIKES. So it's pretty much chlorine-water. And clearly I don't need to explain that product here. . ... Anyways thanks for the info, Happy Thanksgiving!!!
 
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