DWC Root Slime Cure aka How to Breed Beneficial Microbes

[CaliMackdaddy]

So all is well with my grow these days but I have noticed something strange. (Just to remind you I'm working in E&F right now) The PPM of my solution will go up from around 650 up to around 1310 in like two days but the water level does not go down that much. My guess is that the bennies are fixing N and possible other elements as well. has anyone ever noticed this before?

Only thing i could imagine is you didnt take a proper reading each time, i wouldnt think thats even possible without the rez level going down.

 

[CaliMackdaddy]

After adding the tea.... three days later my pH has plummeted to 4.8 and my ppms are the same... What gives? Brewing up some more right now..

If you still have an infection of slime that can still cause ph dips. Wait till your roots are nice and clean and your ph will start to stable very very well.

 

[juggalo666]

What about the myco hydro would that work?

 

[gettogro]

Great thread and info here. I run a diy type UC system. I was wondering if it would be beneficial to ad a layer of lava rock to the bottom of each plant site?
I have been battling the slime for a couple grows now and have been going the steril route. I am going to give the tea a try as it seems to be working for people here.

I Just cut out all the bad roots and re potted them in new net pots. If I was to hand water the plants the tea till new roots reach the dwc water. Should I dilute the tea to 1 cup per gallon or can I pour the tea straight on the plant in the net pots? They are in rock wool inside the net pots.

 

[patchyboy]

Hi, all of my 8 res are showing improvement, but on half the roots are very snotty looking whilst the others have gone very white and fresh looking. i just suppose they are at different stages of recovery. Top growth on all is still way better though the ones with the better looking roots are showing paler new growth.
i also have noticed quarter inch lumps of what looks like spam tin gelatin on top of the hydroton on a couple of plants, i dont know what it is or where it came from but it isnt atached to the pebbles, just sitting there. weird.

 

[mr.bond]

Great thread and info here. I run a diy type UC system. I was wondering if it would be beneficial to ad a layer of lava rock to the bottom of each plant site?
I have been battling the slime for a couple grows now and have been going the steril route. I am going to give the tea a try as it seems to be working for people here.

I Just cut out all the bad roots and re potted them in new net pots. If I was to hand water the plants the tea till new roots reach the dwc water. Should I dilute the tea to 1 cup per gallon or can I pour the tea straight on the plant in the net pots? They are in rock wool inside the net pots.

just pour the tea straight on the plant in the net pots. no need to dilute. no need to add lava rock to the plant sites. once the roots get in there they will be the home for the bennies.

cheers
mr.bond

 

[patchyboy]

Just changed the reservoirs for the first time since using the tea and the roots and general condition of the plants is superb. i noticed that the biofilm snot on the roots dissipates whilst the roots are in the air during the res clean, revealing very healthy shiny white sprouts and fresh sprouts coming out of all sides of the hydroton.
Thanks all round! Don't think i'll have this problem again.

 

[mile.high]

Just wanted to say thanks again, my grow is in full swing now and the tea has kept me completely slime free so far!

 

[mr.bond]

if you brewed the tea right then theres not even any molasses left by the time you add it into the system. you could start by telling us what ingredients you are using for the tea brew

 

[patchyboy]

Hi guys, Heres the proof of the pudding. These were in big trouble a week ago, the shots of the roots are my best and worst (top and bottom right of picture) but all are recovering well.

 

[CaliMackdaddy]

More before and after pictures of my OG Kush that showed extreme changes.. the others did also but this one is super special.. was on the verge of death before i added the tea.

 

[CaliMackdaddy]

Im new here BUT yes I have tried the Tea, just yesterday 11/28/11 and after brewing for 48 hours and applying 1 cup per gallon of R/O water it did make my brown root slime even worse than when I started(very,very disapointed) when i told my local hydo shop what i did and the results I received they said It was the molasses, that made the roots turn brown. So after following all of the instruction below I feel pretty dejected and am wondering what went wrong and if I'll have this slime always. Heisenberg- I need some help.

Its possible you added too much molasses.. i keep it at 5mL Per Gallon max, and does wonders for me. Make sure you thoroughly filter the tea before use, when i attempted to use the tea without using a cheese cloth i had the same problem as you. Less molasses and filter out all the extra crap and your Golden.

 

[georgeforeman]

for my current batch of tea, i added 1 tsp of kelp meal to 5 gallons of tea at the beginning of the brew. 24 hrs later, the airstones were almost completely clogged with slime. Is this tea bad? Is kelp bad to use with tea?

 

[CaliMackdaddy]

for my current batch of tea, i added 1 tsp of kelp meal to 5 gallons of tea at the beginning of the brew. 24 hrs later, the airstones were almost completely clogged with slime. Is this tea bad? Is kelp bad to use with tea?

I wouldn't suggest it, Kelp is an organic molecule in a DWC System you want to shy away from anything organic.. it can feed problems more then help in most cases.

 

[tman420]

Hey Thanks Again Saved the garden. I found i cant live with out the TEA. Amazing reslutes on soil.

 

[gettogro]

I found some filter bags to use in brewing the tea. Anyone know what micron would be good for filtering the tea. 20 micron 100 micron.... I dont want to filter out any bennies. I figure it is mentioned somewhere on this thread but I cant find the rec.

Thanks

Edit: Found the answer 400 micron. Here are some 5 gallon filter bags I found I think would work well

http://www.filterbag.com/PEM4005GP-p500.html

 

[mr.bond]

I found some filter bags to use in brewing the tea. Anyone know what micron would be good for filtering the tea. 20 micron 100 micron.... I dont want to filter out any bennies. I figure it is mentioned somewhere on this thread but I cant find the rec.

Thanks

it was mentioned just a few pages back.

 

[sqydro]

ok so i was on here about a week ago with my root algae problem, well heres the before and after!!

before.....

after......bout a week later btw

there about 2ft in length lol

here they are lapping it up in the RDWC

 

[mr.bond]

nice recovery sqydro!! healthy growth and not a touch of green on the roots

cheers
mr.bond

 

[sqydro]

yeah mate that tea kicked the algaes ass, all the other roots are coming on a treat as well, with it, just going to brew up a new batch now, i have 2 airsones and a seperate pump for this one want the frothy head this time!