First Time Bubbleponics Grow Problems

This is almost my third week working with the bubbleponics system. The grow speeds are pretty nice, but I have several problems and I'm not sure how to fix them.

1) mold/fungus on the grow medium.
2) burned yellow leaves.
3) not sure if this is a problem, but the roots have grown into the resevoir and I notice a kind of film over them.

I'm using the nutrient mix that came with the system and recently added thrive alive. after first 10 days water turned brown. I cleaned out the resevoir with alcohol. Any suggestions appreciated.
 

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Bauks

Well-Known Member
It appears to be a bad mold problem maybe cut the mold off the rockwool bury it a lil deeper in the hydroton and add a lil h202 to the water for a bit that's ugly :( and maybe netty pot covers
 

Dystopia

Active Member
This is almost my third week working with the bubbleponics system. The grow speeds are pretty nice, but I have several problems and I'm not sure how to fix them.

1) mold/fungus on the grow medium.

The green stuff on the rockwool is algae. The best way to prevent this is to cover your netpots as best as possible, and to not let the top of the rockwool/grow medium stay wet. This is not a big problem in my opinion



2) burned yellow leaves.

This could be due to pH fluxuations or pH related nutrient build-up/toxicity (burn) in my opinion. Notice how the new growth has reverted back to three-bladed leaves, and some of the leaves are twisted. These are indications to me that the plants went through rapid pH fluxuations and more-or-less went into shock.


3) not sure if this is a problem, but the roots have grown into the resevoir and I notice a kind of film over them.
You have a bacterial pathogen attacking your roots. The water turned brown and started foaming because you have dead organic material and bacterial waste in your reservoir. I'd bet a dollar for a dime that your pH is way out of whack as well; the dead organic material and pathogens typically make the pH rise drastically.

Look up Roseman's 8-step recovery, that's where you should start. While you are cleaning out the reservoir, I would recommend soaking the pots and roots in a solution of 6.0 pH water and 6 tablespoons of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (available at any drug store) per gallon of water. See this link, post 8 under over-watering, for an example of what I'm talking about:

https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/1469-marijuana-plant-problems-cures.html

Once you have the reservoir cleaned and are ready to put the nutrient solution back in, add 2 tablespoons of 3% H2O2 per gallon to the nutrient mix. This will help kill the nasties and keep the water clean and aerated.

I would also completely cover the top of the reservoir with foil or something to light-proof it. And try to keep the reservoir water temperature below 76* F; below 70* F is better.

And don't make rapid or drastic changes to the pH...

Hope this helps...
 
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