Please help with bubbleponics system!!!

Hi everyone, I need some urgent help with my bubbleponics system. I've got it a week ago and followed all the instructions and posts here. I germinated my seeds, checked water for Ph and it's at 6.4, temperatures are at 68-72F, 50% humidity. I checked the seeds and they seemed to have rotted. Others are not showing up and it's been 5 days already. I added a very weak nut solution to 6 gallons as Roseman said to do in one of his posts, but I didn't soak the rockwool. Water I'm using is Brita filtered tap. I've just ordered a water monitoring kit that'll tell me the EC/PPM levels of nutrients in the water. Why did the seeds rot? What is the best way to make them sprout using rockwool? Do i need to soak the rockwool first? Do i keep the seed in the rockwool in darkness until they sprout or can I put them under my CFL right away? Help appreciated!

I've never used a Brita filter, but if it uses salt to filter the water, (like a water softener) then the sodium will kill plants.

HTH

I think Brita is fine because i water basil/celantro with it and they looked great. I think I confirmed the problem might have been the seeds themselves. I decided to clean the system today and pulled out all rockwool cubes. Only 1 seed gave a long root inside the rockwool and that was an Afgaani i got from a different pack. My other seeds were freebies so I think that might have been a problem. I'm now sprouting inside rockwool cubes underneath a clear plastic saucer with good roots which gave great tap roots. Praying for them to sprout in a day or so, put em in the treated cubes this morning. Keeping them warm and dark.

i have a similar system and just put the seeds right in the cube. one thing i did differant then what was advised by people on this site and others was i ouyt the seed way down in the cube and then took an ey dropper and put a few drops of water down in there. I also noticed that by taking some duct tape and taping off all seems and edges it really keeps the system sealed tight, like a dry pussy!

It seems like you ph is too high for hydro, its suppsed to be between 5.2 to 6.2. I dont know about the britta water, but any kind of drinking water is bad. I started off with spring water and found it was better for my soil grow (between 6.2-6. but with my RO water i havent had to adjust my ph NOT ONCE!!!! I germed using the paper towel method and when they got the root i put them in dry rockwool and put in the system, 2 days later, i had babies!!!

i planted my seedlings in rockwool about 3 days ago i placed them in a bubbler system and they already sprouted and are 2 inches long! Im only using 1/4 strength nutes and i have the PH at 5.8 - 6.0

I also soaked my rockwool in water with the PH adjusted to 5.0 - 5.5 for 24 hours.prior to planting the seedlings!

(be sure to give the cubes a couple of hard shakes before planting the seedlings. you dont want them too wet.)

Yeah sprouts will survive on water they can't use the nutes yet! i mixed in a 1/4 stregnth anyway though.

two words, wet napkin.

the wet napkin is just to germinate them.

TheLegend1023 said:

the wet napkin is just to germinate them.

Click to expand...

"I checked the seeds and they seemed to have rotted."

Place the wet napkin inside a plastic ziploc bag next time.

you dont even have to mess with all that. just plant them straight in the dirt, or if you feel like you need an alternative method, drop them in a cup of water, theyll float.... leave them alone a few days and they will sprout on top of the water

has anyone ever tried oganic nutes like the botanicare for the bubble bucket method?

have had great success with botanicare pro blend/liquid karma in bubble buckets. If anything they may leave a bit more scuzz on your stones, something to keep an eye on