Lost

I run a 12 site ebb and flow bucket system. All plants get the same nutrients. I have a clone machine that sprays water at the roots as they dangle. I run expanded clay pellets in the 12 site system.
So the problem seems to be when I transplant from the clone machine and they are thriving, like booming. Then to the clay pellets in an individual 3.5 gal bucket all connected like I said before. Drain and fill. They seem to die back and not recover well at all. Seems like a total nutrient deficiency. But even the clones are getting the same nutrients no stronger.
Also I found that when I transplanted into a rockwhool cube instead no issues at all. And again same nutrients are given. I fill and drain 3 times a day. 18hr light cycle. I guess so far the answer is rockwhool cubes in between from clone machine to clay pebbles. Maybe they don't like the shock. Also my water is 320ppm out the tap. Is that to high? Also no filter so chlorine and all that is present in the water. Shameful to say. But I have a small boy coming. I'm thinking it's partly the water. Even when I flush with just phed tap some salt can still be seen on the top of the clay pebbles. Just wish I knew what was going on exactly.
Also if I added air to every bucket I bet the problem would resolve just like the clone machine. I've kind of had this issue before and adding air solved it some how. And no my roots are not in standing water.

Don't know much about ebb & flow, I grow DWC. But one issue could be your starting water, 320ppm out of the tap is hard water and you don't know what that 320 consists of. If you don't have standing water in the bottom of your buckets, I can't see what adding air to them would change. I would recommend an at least filtered water source. Distilled and R.O. waters can be bought at most supermarkets, walmart... or be like me. I use rain water.

I meant with the air keeping the buckets full of water while adding air basically going to deep water culture.I've actually had a similar problem in the past and that's what I did and it actually solved the problem. I think it's a buildup of salts. I bought a small boy today we'll see what that does hopefully it makes some changes in the right direction

When you go dwc, yes aerate the hell out of it. My bins look like they are boiling. The aeration will remove the chlorine in a couple hours. What is a "small boy "? All i can find is the definition 'a young male human'.

Haha lol. It takes out chlorine and sediment and some other things I guess. But I learned that Sodium and chlorine make table salt. So I'm feeding my plants table salt at the moment I guess. Obviously not good. My water isn't as bad as some well water so I'm thinking this will help. And no waste water like RO. This also flows alot faster than Ro

I run buckets filled with clay pellets. I water once an hour for 7 seconds or so.

If the pellets dry out the salts leach from the water. They should be a lil damp always.

Possible you are drying out between water cycles?