DREAMSPACEY
Well-Known Member
If your running a sterile res with hydrogen peroxide and decent temps in an ebb and flow, and topping off with RO and fresh nutes when 5 gallons of 25 are used. How often do you need to change the water?
How long can you maintain a reservoir?
- Thread starter DREAMSPACEY
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magic
Well-Known Member
I'm gonna keep an eye on this thread... I don't have the 'right' answer for you but I can tell you I'm doing my second go around with RDWC and I'm having success with removing and replenishing apx 75% of my total water volume every 7 days (not including top offs). Maybe its too much, maybe too little.. but its working so I haven't messed with it much. Happy growing! 
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
The standard for agricultural hydroponics is that once you've added two and a half times the water the res started with, the nutes should be considered to be depleted and then replaced.
I do changeouts every other week with topups as needed. I add back to balance EC as well, but I never get close to the 2 1/2 times mark.
I do changeouts every other week with topups as needed. I add back to balance EC as well, but I never get close to the 2 1/2 times mark.
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DREAMSPACEY
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the replies, i havent changed my water in 2 weeks and it still looks clear. Theres a little clay dust here and there on the rubber gaskets that hold the 1/2 in. Hose fittings but the plants dont seem to mind. Im thinking i could go another week without any problems. Cross fingers*
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
None of that matters. Watch the plants like a hawk; they'll tell you when they're running low on something. Change your res at the first sign of anything odd. In my case, that's often a sudden change in the pH pattern. If I suddenly have to add pH up every day for instance, that's a telltale sign that changing the res is due.
Once you've established this interval, you know to change your res a bit more frequently, and that's how you get the best results for your nute dollar.
And spend fewer of those dollars by using dry nutrient salts!
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
How big is your nutrient reservoir? I do changeouts every other week but my RDWC is 130 gallons. I often top up in between, as needed.
GIJonas
Well-Known Member
I agree with watching ph behavior. I run 55 gallons and just did a change after 2 weeks in flower. I had no reason to, but did it anyway. The veg room is only 15 gal and I would notice weirdness after 2 weeks. Probably fine to go a month, and some never do, piece of mind and tinkering are what we look for though.
Tone5500
Well-Known Member
I run single 27 gallon totes now one plant per ..
Old-School
Well-Known Member
Interesting.
I run a 12 gallon reservoir (about twice the volume of my E&F tub) and do not change or clean from seed to harvest. I add water and nutes when it gets low enough to require it. I have run several crops this way and have not had any issues thus far. Maybe I am lucky or maybe changing and cleaning is not necessary, I don't know.
I have been curious about why folks change and clean so often. Hell, I do not do any metering or anything. I guess my approach is that if the plant will grow in it then it is fine. My harvests are respectable and the flower is top notch.
Sorry, I am not trying to discredit anything, just curious.
I run a 12 gallon reservoir (about twice the volume of my E&F tub) and do not change or clean from seed to harvest. I add water and nutes when it gets low enough to require it. I have run several crops this way and have not had any issues thus far. Maybe I am lucky or maybe changing and cleaning is not necessary, I don't know.
I have been curious about why folks change and clean so often. Hell, I do not do any metering or anything. I guess my approach is that if the plant will grow in it then it is fine. My harvests are respectable and the flower is top notch.
Sorry, I am not trying to discredit anything, just curious.
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
Same here.
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
I'm in your camp more than you may think. I don't do any kind of heavy duty cleaning or sterilization between runs- in fact, I think that's counterproductive.
I'm also doing a run where I just add nutes. It's got a ways to go and so there aren't any impressions as yet.
I'm all about simplifying!
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Old-School
Well-Known Member
I do clean between runs but not during. There might be a detriment to this approach but it doesn't matter to me I guess. I am not selling it; my goal is fire weed for me to consume. I agree that simple is better.
Tone5500
Well-Known Member
I don't clean just once I've added back water a few times I drain left over usally less then five gallons out if 27 gallons . And new water fresh nutes . But I'm sure what your saying can be done
DREAMSPACEY
Well-Known Member
This is basically what im trying to accomplish, top offs with nute adjustment and no complete change outs.
Old-School
Well-Known Member
Everyone has their own way of doing shit for sure. My res temps are pretty low because I grow in a cool basement with LED lights. I do not have to worry about anything heat related.
As far as the nutes "spoiling"...I don't know. If my nutes are spoiled then my plants love spoiled nutes I guess.
Basically it comes down to what your plants are telling you. My grow style is this - you can do too much; keep it simple.
As far as the nutes "spoiling"...I don't know. If my nutes are spoiled then my plants love spoiled nutes I guess.
Basically it comes down to what your plants are telling you. My grow style is this - you can do too much; keep it simple.
Deadlytalon2014
Active Member
I'm running 2 10 gallon res, 30 days in no res change 
but I'm also growing with river rock that has no sediments. I take out about half the water every 2 weeks, just did it the second time, and then re-add water with nutrients but I haven't ever completely emptied my res yet, and my res is dark and cool so no baddies growing
but I'm also growing with river rock that has no sediments. I take out about half the water every 2 weeks, just did it the second time, and then re-add water with nutrients but I haven't ever completely emptied my res yet, and my res is dark and cool so no baddies growing 
StinkBud
Well-Known Member
When I first started aeronponics I used to change the res every three weeks. Then I learned that I can keep my PPM lower if I change it every other week. I kept messing around and found that if I change my nutes every week I can run half as much nutrients as before and the plants love it!
When you do the math you will find that nutes are a very small percentage of your overall total cost of growing. Changing your nutes every week will keep everything in balance and maximize your plant's growth potential. Think of it as cheap insurance.
When you do the math you will find that nutes are a very small percentage of your overall total cost of growing. Changing your nutes every week will keep everything in balance and maximize your plant's growth potential. Think of it as cheap insurance.