A couple of aero questions....

[flannelanvil]

Hey,
I've looked for answers to a couple of questions and just can't seem to find them so I was hoping for some advice.
I built an aero system and now have 2 week old plants in it. At first, I attempted to murder them with nutes, although they are now recovered and really starting to look good, just maybe a week behind or so. Questions:
I have them on a 1 min on/4 min off water cycle and the lights 18/6. I've been shutting the pump down when the lights are off. Should I leave the pump on its cycle at sleepy time?
Now that my babies have recovered, and yes I'm feeling pretty bad about it, their roots are going crazy, like 12" long and the plants are like 4" high. I don't have them in net pots, just suspended in my system. Now that the roots are going to town, do I need to worry about them laying in any moisture at the bottom of my system? Should I corral the roots with net pots?
Lastly.....Am I ready to start adding nutes again? But like, not enough to kill 'em. A quarter mix? Eighth?
I know these are newbie questions, but I am what I am. The last time I grew was way back when, before scales were invented and we measured with our fingers.
Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[nbroadhu]

1)Should you leave the pump on at night?
-Yes definitely, the plants dont just need water and nutes when the lights are on... Also I suggest a 1 min on/ 5 min off water cycle..
2)Should you worry about your roots reaching the moisture level at the bottom?
No, they should be fine unless its not like a puddle that drowns the roots in which case it wouldn't really be an aeroponic system...
4)Do you need to wrangle your roots?
-No, just make sure the aeroponic system is draining properly back into the res. chamber so the roots arent drowned by a puddle of water..
3)Can you start adding Nutes again?
-Yes, I would just make sure the nutes never get above 2000 PPM to be safe... I would start your nutes at 1500 PPM in the 3rd week of veg and get it to 2000 PPM by the 4th week of veg... Some straines can handle more than 2000 PPM but 2000 PPM is a safe zone for most strains.. PPM stands for parts per million and can be measured by a ppm meter

All my info came from reading this thread here https://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-aeroponics/116859-harvest-pound-every-three-weeks.html... Give it a look see, hes an expert aero grower...

 

[dinobelly]

Don't interrupt the pump cycling - you'll starve your plants. Keep that shit running 24/7. As far as the nutes go, you'll know when the time is right. Another great aspect of aero is that you get almost immediate feedback from the plants - start out at 1/4 strength and watch your ph (5.8 is optimal) - and keep an eye on them. You'll get your system dialed in eventually. And lastly, no you need not worry about those roots dangling wherever the hell they want to. LOL If they start to grow into the pump intake, cut them back, you won't hurt them - PROMISE. I don't use net cups either - believe it or not, I go to Wal-Mart, get a water noodle (the pool float toy - they're like 4 or 5 feet long - the ones with the hole in the middle) and slice them down and cut to fit. They're like 3 bucks and work like a charm. This aero shit is super-super easy. Best of luck.

 

[flannelanvil]

nbroadhu and dinobelly - Thanks much for taking the time to answer my questions. This is all new to me, but from what I've read and read, aero looked to be the best way to go, just got to maneuver around this learning curve thing without casualties. This forum is awesome. It's like having the all important question "are you cool?" answered automatically. Thanks again!

 

[Brainy]

So what kinda nutes do you use? And what is the scale on your tds meter? EC equivalent? 500 ppm to 1.o EC or 700 ppm to 1.0 EC? Important factor, I use a Hanna ppm meter at 500 ppm to 1.0 EC. I max out in flower about 1.5 EC = 750 ppm. Maybe just my grow but over that burns them, especially sativas. And if you don't have a meter yet 1/4 strength is good to start. Once you get a few harvests down you will like aero more and more. Good luck and best of yields to ya.

 

[mountaingirl2]

Brainy: I need your help about my Hanna meter. I use PPM readings instead of EC and the calibration solution calibrates at 1500 automatically. I don't really know what the EC reading should be. But the conversion factor is either 50 or 70 The Hanna tech told me that most hydro set-ups use a conversion factor of 70. Do you use the 50 or 70 conversion and could you explain the EC readings to me.

 

[flannelanvil]

Hey Brainy.
I'm using Humboldt nutes. Man, I apparently juiced my babies up pretty good at first, but they currently aren't holding it against me and are doing fine. I did go for the gusto and bought a Hanna ph/ppm/ec meter, figured it was worth the money to monitor things, including things I could do. I thought it was weird though, when I check my water before adding nutes it shows a ppm of like 760, so I guess I'd add to get a reading +760?
I flushed my reservoir and cleaned everything today. Added fresh water and a touch of nutes, prolly about 1/8 strength, and ph balanced. I guess I'm kind of a nutephobe now, but hopefully that will fade if I stick to a non-nute burn policy and take baby steps. I'm in week 3 of veg, with a base ppm of 760 before nutes, what do you think my ppm should be to make my babies happy to be alive? And, should I up that at week 4?
I've already learned so many things, and in usual fashion, the hard way. I have a long way to go but I am determined to get this thing down. It seems to be harder and harder to find stuff out there, and generally it's all brownish, so I say NO FREAKIN' MORE! Anyway, that's my motivation, to be self contained and maybe help a Bud out that is in need.
Thanks much, Brainy, for your reply.

 

[Brainy]

Brainy: I need your help about my Hanna meter. I use PPM readings instead of EC and the calibration solution calibrates at 1500 automatically. I don't really know what the EC reading should be. But the conversion factor is either 50 or 70 The Hanna tech told me that most hydro set-ups use a conversion factor of 70. Do you use the 50 or 70 conversion and could you explain the EC readings to me.

Different manufacturers use different factors. Hanna uses 500ppm =1.0 EC. And the nutrient manufacturer may go by another factor for their feeding schedule. EC measures the total concentrates of salts in the nutrient solution. But keep in mind only the inorganic nutrients. I am using organics so I run a little light to be safe. Hope this helps.

 

[Brainy]

Hey Brainy.
I'm using Humboldt nutes. Man, I apparently juiced my babies up pretty good at first, but they currently aren't holding it against me and are doing fine. I did go for the gusto and bought a Hanna ph/ppm/ec meter, figured it was worth the money to monitor things, including things I could do. I thought it was weird though, when I check my water before adding nutes it shows a ppm of like 760, so I guess I'd add to get a reading +760?
I flushed my reservoir and cleaned everything today. Added fresh water and a touch of nutes, prolly about 1/8 strength, and ph balanced. I guess I'm kind of a nutephobe now, but hopefully that will fade if I stick to a non-nute burn policy and take baby steps. I'm in week 3 of veg, with a base ppm of 760 before nutes, what do you think my ppm should be to make my babies happy to be alive? And, should I up that at week 4?
I've already learned so many things, and in usual fashion, the hard way. I have a long way to go but I am determined to get this thing down. It seems to be harder and harder to find stuff out there, and generally it's all brownish, so I say NO FREAKIN' MORE! Anyway, that's my motivation, to be self contained and maybe help a Bud out that is in need.
Thanks much, Brainy, for your reply.

Sounds like you need an RO system or some distilled water with a base ppm that high. Anything over 200 ppm should be RO'd for max yield. Humbolts schedule says you should be at 500 ppm in week 3. and 600 in week 4.

 

[UrbanAerO]

Wow I can't believe someone would say leave the pump on at night. 7 years experience of aeroponics with no basket, hydroton, never had I left the pump on at night. This will make your roots brown after you start adding nutes, this is bad and soon you get root rot. Second to prevent root rot in aeroponics you want the roots to almost dry up and be extra thirsty when you do spray full nutes, also prevents this moldy brown root build up. I use 15 min on 30 min off after I start week 1 nutrient schedule. This will force the roots to search/strive for water. Also if nutrient burn occurs all I do is swap the reservoir with straight RO water for a day or two. never run the sprayers at night. If I'm wrong then all the pics and post ive made are completely bogus. What's the point of running water at night. No light= no photosynthesis. The roots do not absorb water at night

 

[flannelanvil]

I left my pump on last night for the first time, it also coincided with the first day of light nutes. When I checked my roots today I noticed they have brown stains on them. Is that from leaving the water on overnight for just one night? Or just too much water? I'm running 1min on/4min off. If I were of the persuasion to freak out, I'd be doing so right about now. My plants finally recovered from near death at my own hand and seem to be growing by the hour, but now this brown root thing. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[zephyrfoxy]

Just because your roots are brown does not mean that they are rotting. It could possibly be that they are just dyed from the nutrients you are using. One way to avoid root rot is to use H202 in your system. The only problem, though, is it will kill any beneficial microbes or bacteria that you might be using with your nutes, but it will limit chances of algae building up. Here's an awesome article that any beginner should read when it comes to aeroponics:

http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/articles/1378.html

 

[mountaingirl2]

I use Botaincare nutes and they have an additive called Liquid Karma that totally stains roots. See if your roots smell or are slimy. But I suspect since you just started nutes its from them. Regarding the pump at night. I run my pump from an 18 gal. res 1 min. on/5 off all day long. I have a long post with sprayers inside and the post is slightly tilted so the water is running downhill back to the res. I use the Stinkbud system. I've been doing this system for about 5 months and no problems with root rot. My roots look very healthy when I harvest.

 

[UrbanAerO]

I know what the brown is.... root rot, and I have been battling it for a while, cut back your water cycles, I run 15 on, 30 off but you want the roots to dry out just before you spray them again. The brown will half your total yield and once I see it I have not been able to rid it except but cutting the roots off. Its like a disease but you can try drying the roots out more. Do not leave the water running at all while the light is off! Thats exactly how you got root rot in the first place.. not sure you have root rot? try pulling some off the root with your hand, do the roots just fall off in a brown puddle of goop? thats the root rot I expierenced. good luck with that, heres a pic of what roots should look like with no root rot.

 

[dinobelly]

Bulshit to the root rot - if they're not slimy, they're not rotting - lots of nute programs will stain the roots - don't freak out. Seriously. IF you're still not convinced, skip the H2O2 - save yourself some time, trouble, worry and cold hard cash and go to your local pet store, petsmart etc etc and get some stress zyme - it's wiked cheap and does the same thing that expensive shit hydrozyme. It's like 6 bucks, follow the instructions on the bottle as if you're treating a freshwater aquarium - it'll insure that you don't have to worry about any root rot AND it contains beneficial bacteria. Once again, stay on the path with running your pumps 24 hours a day, one min on 4 min off - I'm pretty sure I know which timer you're using - the cap nft one - and it's FLAWLESS - you're just fine, chill out, don't worry.

 

[flannelanvil]

I appreciate your replies, dudes and dudettes. Some of the nutes I added looked like brown dye or something, and today, the new root growth doesn't seem to have it, so I'm thinking the brown was from the nutes. Plus, I don't feel any slime at all. My plants look awesome. After adding the nutes on Saturday, they went from 4" to 7" today and they are all happy looking with major new growth. This is my first grow not in dirt in like 25 years, I am freakin' amazed by the root growth, have never seen anything like it. Because of power issues I went with LED's, and was a bit apprehensive, but the plants sure seem to like the strange glow and I'm sure eventually my sight will return to normal.

 

[zephyrfoxy]

I use the GrowPanel Pro, and I think it's amazing. A lot of people put down the LED technology, but most of them have never used it. The only complaint I have is that it didn't provide the actual coverage it claimed. I'm on an 18 site GH system, and my guys on the left were stretching entirely way too far. I put up one of the GlowPanel 45s to add a little extra light, but I think I need to get a UFO up there for next time around. When you don't have central AC and live in my climate, these lights are staight awesome.

 

[OregonMeds]

Can you describe your aero setup for us, what pump, misters, reservoir, is it drain to waste or recycling nutrients?

It is best to do what you can to keep your roots from sitting in any water in the bottom. It really will lead to root rot. Even if your drain has a little lip on it that doesn't allow 1/8" of water to drain, there are ways around that by making your own drain fittings like what the aquarium guys do. Some of the hp aero guys are also using cheesecloth or something like that as a root barrier. Roots won't grow through it but it drains ok, so you can rig up something like that to keep them out of the water in the bottom if you prefer. Check the thread to see what it was, I'm not sure it was cheesecloth it was some kind of material though.


I'm just going off what I've read from the pro's in treefarmers hp aero plug and play pods thread... Go check that thread out.

I know you said you don't have root rot or slime now, but seriously still do all you can to avoid it.

 

[cantoke]

I guess every one runs areos different i run like NBROADHU and STINKBUD pumps 5 min off 1 min on 24/7 and get massive fast growth tried running less an got wimpy runts that almost died. To each his own But the standard if heard is 5 off 1 on 24/7 works for me and i also run a couple airstones in res. to keep my organic nutes stired up and nicely areated.

 

[flannelanvil]

Thanks you guys for your input. I put this system together from info I found online: 1 each bigass tub, about 27 gal size, with 8 sites in the lid, but I only have 6 plants going. I used 1/2" pvc for the manifold that has 24 nozzles. There is a drain in the bottom of this tub going back to the reservoir, through a cheesecloth filter. I'm using a 396gpm pump. The reservoir is 8 gal. Running a total of 250watts of LED 18/6. My pump runs 1 on/4 off, non adjustable, duh, so shopping for an adjustable type. I have a fan running on the plants, the temp stays around 80 degrees. My water sucks ass, my mighty fine meter reads 760ppm before adding anything. I've been flushing/cleaning the reservoir, pump and stuff weekly, so this week I think I'll check out some decent water, and ultimately into an ro system or something. What do you guys use? Anyway, that's my story. No experience, but I learn fast. Thanks for all of your help.