How Do I get rid of Algae build up in my flood table and reservoir?

frogster

Active Member
Heisenberg didnt mention beneficial bacteria?... Im loving it since I switched... way better IMO... He has a great write up .. look it up, or check out my journal.. Im glad I ditched the h202...
 

Icannabis

Well-Known Member
I think I mentioned dutch master zone works great. I think if you look into it you'll agree. Take a look at it's main ingredients. I've used bleach, h2o2, sm-90...alot of stuff to keep it clean. I don't buy things because they say they work I buy them because they do. The shit is cheap and it last forever. Just like bleach and I don't have to use a formula to figure out how much to add. Just my 2 cents.
 

Lord Dangly Bits

Well-Known Member
Ok, I am confused here. If people freak when you use straight tap water with out allowing it to sit for 24 hours to get rid of the chlorine bleach, then why would you ever want to add it to your rez? I am truely asking here. Hell, I can not believe anything i have be taught unless I have proof of it. I have always been told, Do not let any light hit your roots!! it will kill them. Make sure your pots are a dark color so not one bit of light gets through. I have a little test going on in my little closet. Check these roots out. And they are out in the bright light 24/7, and they are healthy as anything. When they first started to pop out the bag, i thought Oh no!! Cut them off.. they are going to die. Pffft, then I thought screw it, that is the mother, lets just see what happens. Check this photo out. makes me wonder if i have been wasteing my time allowing my water to sit for 24 hours. I have always wondered how everyone grows all the other plants out there with straight public water, but MJ plants are so delicate that they can not handle it, even though they are just a dam WEED. Makes me go Hmmmmmmmmmm. ;-)

roots001.jpg
 
I noticed a alot of algae build up on my flood table mostly. It was like brown tanish color. The hydro rocks also have some white stuff on them. When the water drains sum of the water sits still on the table and it sits still for about 5hrs. Then the table floods again but more algae is built up and cloggs the water intake. THe lights stay on 24hrs. and the temps are always at 70-75f. I think that the water that doesnt go back down to the reservoir is creating the algae on the table due to the lights being on all day and I know that algae needs light to grows. I cleaned the table ready good with hot water and the pumps and drain worked normally again. I just want to know how to prevent this from happening. Plz help and always Thanx u For Reading..
I had algae problems in my res so i bought a small pump (150gph) to put in my res to keep the water moving around and never turn it off, never had a problem with algae since.
 

sparkafire

Well-Known Member
I noticed a alot of algae build up on my flood table mostly. It was like brown tanish color. The hydro rocks also have some white stuff on them. When the water drains sum of the water sits still on the table and it sits still for about 5hrs. Then the table floods again but more algae is built up and cloggs the water intake. THe lights stay on 24hrs. and the temps are always at 70-75f. I think that the water that doesnt go back down to the reservoir is creating the algae on the table due to the lights being on all day and I know that algae needs light to grows. I cleaned the table ready good with hot water and the pumps and drain worked normally again. I just want to know how to prevent this from happening. Plz help and always Thanx u For Reading..
The most frustrating thing about RIU is that EVERYONE has an oppinion and most everyone has NO idea WTF they are doing because they are growing 1 plant under their bed in their moms house. Growing commercially for 2 years now this is what I use PERIOD!!! http://www.earthcrew.com/genisis1.htm You will have to find out where a distrubuter is but if you are serious you will use it.

You will see a change in your plants and system in 24hrs. BLEACH!!!???? Really? This is Hydroponics not chemistry class.
 

Dirty Harry

Well-Known Member
I agree with your point. I am not commercial but I also am not growing in a micro computer case either.
Bleach and or chlorine goes into my swimming pool. It doesn't get anywhere near any plant I may or may not have. I manage algae by being light tight on the trays and res. That is the #1 start for control.
Your link seems perfect for those doing organics...Even H2O2 will jack up an organic grow. I don't do organic so I admit to H2O2 WHEN NEEDED but I know I am missing out on the good bacteria and enzymes. Bleach?!? NO WAY. That is only for cleaning and sterilizing, not for growing.

The most frustrating thing about RIU is that EVERYONE has an oppinion and most everyone has NO idea WTF they are doing because they are growing 1 plant under their bed in their moms house. Growing commercially for 2 years now this is what I use PERIOD!!! http://www.earthcrew.com/genisis1.htm You will have to find out where a distrubuter is but if you are serious you will use it.

You will see a change in your plants and system in 24hrs. BLEACH!!!???? Really? This is Hydroponics not chemistry class.
 

Lord Dangly Bits

Well-Known Member
I have never in years had a bad Algae problem. Algae can not and will not grow with out light. Pretty simple to keep it from growing.
 

Icannabis

Well-Known Member
I don't see why there is so much comparing of what commercial growers are doing to small scale grows. I think that's like comparing walmart to your local farmers market. I've used what works for me. And I'm pretty sure most of the people on here are small scale grower with a closet grow. I think covering the table would be the easiest thing to do. Or try Zone it will help you plants all around. Just my two cents
 

bird mcbride

Well-Known Member
Sometimes when I spray my plants with my pump up sprayer I'll crank the pressure right up and spray clean the rock and other surfaces. I'll clean the white plastic reflectors before I place them back under the plants. Your rock should just cover your rockwool cubes. The water has to be able to leave the table and there can be no pooling water left in the bed. Resivoirs should be changed every five to seven days and the first 24 hour shift is fresh balanced water and ferts from there. F&D times are two to three times daily and for no more than thirty minutes. Any system using a thirty minute flood and drain has to have an upper and lower res. Single res systems maximum F&D time is 15 minutes.
 
Top