Managing Tank Reservoir When The Tank is Difficult to Clean!

Overgrowtho

Well-Known Member
This is my flowering nutrient tank, I am using salt based clean fertilizer. The 2000 litre tank empties by pump from a pipe at near the bottom. I use a submersible pump to aerate and mix the water on a timer. I noticed the debris at the bottom and wonder if this is a problem. Normally I would try to clean out my nutrient tank between every water-change, however this is much harder to do in this new setup I have for a larger farm with tanks that cant be dumped out. The best I could do I think, is to run the tank capacity as low as possible (need to be careful not to dry out ph meter bulb), agitate the bottom, dilute with clean water and then drain a bit more. So I will never get the water/content in there 100% clean or remove all the old nutrients/sludge/precipitate that seemed to build up. Or how can I manage this better? Is this going to be causing a nutrient problem for me??
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If were me I'd speak to your nutrient company customer service, usually they're very helpful, naturally they want to keep you as a customer.

Fwiw i only use a small reservoir in comparison to yours but I have seen some sediment (possible precipitation) but I've never had any problems with my plants.

I'd maybe try to collect some sediment and if it's feasible get it tested, a length of hose m8ght help to siphon some out?
 
I don't understand what your long term plan is? Everything needs to be cleaned eventually. If you are not able to (or it is so difficult that you don't do it which is the same) then you need to fix that problem.

You also get biofouling, especially after an employee drops his lunch into the tank which requires a scrubbing.
 
If your nutrient tank is drainable vs the botom then it shouldnt be to hard. Wen your ready to dump out and clean the tank, thrown in a double amount of hydrogen peroxide and should see it all fizzing. Try and get a good scrubbing brush. Give it a quick scrub with the brush then pull the plug. Once drained just swill it out with hose, job done.
If your using good quality nutrients the water should always be clean, at most have a tint of colour depending on the nutrients and whats used. You shouldnt see build up of sludge and slime. The sludge a slime comes from either using unsutable nutrients with organic elements or a open tank were debry is falling in or light is able to get to the nutrients alowing growth of algee or slime. Its always best to cover your tank and also have a pump on running constant making a fountin within the tank so your water is kept constantly airiated and moving wich with help keep it clean.
 
Idk what ph adjuster you're using, but mine causes similar "issues" in a much smaller, 27 gal res.

It doesn't really affect the plants negatively, but I don't like it.
 
This is my flowering nutrient tank, I am using salt based clean fertilizer. The 2000 litre tank empties by pump from a pipe at near the bottom. I use a submersible pump to aerate and mix the water on a timer. I noticed the debris at the bottom and wonder if this is a problem. Normally I would try to clean out my nutrient tank between every water-change, however this is much harder to do in this new setup I have for a larger farm with tanks that cant be dumped out. The best I could do I think, is to run the tank capacity as low as possible (need to be careful not to dry out ph meter bulb), agitate the bottom, dilute with clean water and then drain a bit more. So I will never get the water/content in there 100% clean or remove all the old nutrients/sludge/precipitate that seemed to build up. Or how can I manage this better? Is this going to be causing a nutrient problem for me??
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I just had a look at your tank properly, its a barrel type. I agree they can be dificult to drain completly. Mine never used to have no plugs at the bottom. But good nutriens and h2o2 now and they used to keep them good. We did in between grows just pump all of the waste out and then take it into the shower room. Put a hose on a tap an put the other end of the hose in and get a sweeping brush and just scrub it out. Stop the hose , dump some h2o2 in brush it more then put it on its side and hose it all out. If you got the plug at the bottom you wont even have to put it on it side, just pull the plug at the bottom an hose it out.
Your tank looks nice and clean though, looks like your using good nutrients, ive seen some really bad tanks. I dont think you have much of a issue at all.
 
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