Algae growing in new DWC, should I restart?! Help

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CentralCoastKush

Member
Hello all,
A days ago I picked up a small 6 net pot hydroponic box. First time trying it out. I set it up and put my little seedlings (that are in rockwool) in the hydroton and put in all the nutes. Now a few days later (about 3), I notice a algae line at my water line and some slimy stuff starting to form on my tubes. The water is fairly cloudy, Should I take the plants out and clean the res with bleach and h202? I didn’t do this prior. Second question should I take the cube out of the hydroton and rerinse it before the plants develop a solid root base? I’m using advanced nutrients trio, with rapid root, been using critic acid for PH down. Maybe the holes where my tubes go into the res need to be blocked from the light. I attached some pics but I wiped the alge ring off from the water line. Please help me!
 

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Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
It's impossible to decide anything with those pictures, but from what I see, your water looks crystal clear. I'm sure it's not tho.

The culprit is your white, opaque lid. Light gets through it and causes algae to grow. You just simply need to go to Walmart and grab a spraypaint can of black RustOLeum brand. It says "bonds to plastic" on it. Use rough grit sandpaper and do a quick once over sand job to the top side of the lid, set it on some cardboard, and spray it. Let it dry over a few hrs and give it another coat. That will keep your light out.
Do only the top. The underside of the lid should stay paint free
 
S

SamWE19

Well-Known Member
Airwalker16 said:
It's impossible to decide anything with those pictures, but from what I see, your water looks crystal clear. I'm sure it's not tho.

The culprit is your white, opaque lid. Light gets through it and causes algae to grow. You just simply need to go to Walmart and grab a spraypaint can of black RustOLeum brand. It says "bonds to plastic" on it. Use rough grit sandpaper and do a quick once over sand job to the top side of the lid, set it on some cardboard, and spray it. Let it dry over a few hrs and give it another coat. That will keep your light out.
Do only the top. The underside of the lid should stay paint free
Click to expand...
When I had this issue years ago I just went and bought tin foil tape. Covered my lid with it and it sorted the issue. It’s a cheaper and less time consuming option you can consider if you want
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Will also work with tape. But, that tape gets all sorts of fucked up over time. Crumbs n Shit in between the strips, peeling and what have you. Paint is just a very sleek, clean, and an almost "from the factory" look. That lid in all black against those pots full of hydroton will look bad ass.
 
C

CentralCoastKush

Member
Airwalker16 said:
It's impossible to decide anything with those pictures, but from what I see, your water looks crystal clear. I'm sure it's not tho.

The culprit is your white, opaque lid. Light gets through it and causes algae to grow. You just simply need to go to Walmart and grab a spraypaint can of black RustOLeum brand. It says "bonds to plastic" on it. Use rough grit sandpaper and do a quick once over sand job to the top side of the lid, set it on some cardboard, and spray it. Let it dry over a few hrs and give it another coat. That will keep your light out.
Do only the top. The underside of the lid should stay paint free
Click to expand...
I was thinking about painting the lid. It’s not really opaque though. It’s a thick white plastic. It is very dark in there when I look through the holes where my tubes enter. I will block those holes off. Will clean the res and see if the problem is still there
 
rkymtnman

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
CentralCoastKush said:
I was thinking about painting the lid. It’s not really opaque though. It’s a thick white plastic. It is very dark in there when I look through the holes where my tubes enter. I will block those holes off. Will clean the res and see if the problem is still there
Click to expand...
the clear tubing is a no go as well. black tubing always.
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Whatever the case, light is getting into your res and causing algae growth. But know when I say Light Tight, I mean PITCH BLACK. You can not have ANY light getting to your water AT ALL.
 
C

CentralCoastKush

Member
Airwalker16 said:
Whatever the case, light is getting into your res and causing algae growth. But know when I say Light Tight, I mean PITCH BLACK. You can not have ANY light getting to your water AT ALL.
Click to expand...
Got it! Thanks, I’ll work on fully light proofing the res over the next few days. Thanks again
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
rkymtnman said:
the clear tubing is a no go as well. black tubing always.
Click to expand...
Aaaaahhhh yes, @rkymtnman has a sharp eye. You can thank him for this Lil tip too.
Even though you're air lines to an air stone aren't carrying any water whatsoever, the fact is, theyre clear.
Even having clear tubing going into a pitch blacked out tote, will allow quite a decent amount of light in. The air line works similarly to fibre optics in this case to where it helps carry the light through it's clear walls and into the res. I just can't stress enough how important keeping your water in complete darkness is.
 
C

CentralCoastKush

Member
Airwalker16 said:
Aaaaahhhh yes, @rkymtnman has a sharp eye. You can thank him for this Lil tip too.
Even though you're air lines to an air stone aren't carrying any water whatsoever, the fact is, theyre clear.
Even having clear tubing going into a pitch blacked out tote, will allow quite a decent amount of light in. The air line works similarly to fibre optics in this case to where it helps carry the light through it's clear walls and into the res. I just can't stress enough how important keeping your water in complete darkness is.
Click to expand...
Sounds good. I’ll work on that too, thanks for all the help people :)
 
fragileassassin

fragileassassin

Well-Known Member
Airwalker16 said:
Aaaaahhhh yes, @rkymtnman has a sharp eye. You can thank him for this Lil tip too.
Even though you're air lines to an air stone aren't carrying any water whatsoever, the fact is, theyre clear.
Even having clear tubing going into a pitch blacked out tote, will allow quite a decent amount of light in. The air line works similarly to fibre optics in this case to where it helps carry the light through it's clear walls and into the res. I just can't stress enough how important keeping your water in complete darkness is.
Click to expand...
This is easily fixed with a 90 degree barbed connector through the side of the box.

@rkymtnman what are h2o2 dosing recommendations? I really need to right this shit down lol.
 
fragileassassin

fragileassassin

Well-Known Member
Ok, so from what im finding you could take a 3% solution and just give the roots a couple sprays.
10ml per gallon of 3% solution, up to 20ml per gallon for treatment.
with 30-35% youd want to dilute 1ml 10:1 with water before adding it.
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
CentralCoastKush said:
The hydroton isn’t contaminated? Should I rinse that when I clean my res? Or just leave it
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I've used the same hydroton for years now and never once washed it. I need to clean it though. There's just lots of pieces of stem, leaf, and other material that's found its way into it..
I'm thinking a screen of some sort to shake all the Shit through while leaving the hydroton on top.
 
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