Rez water maintenance. UV light?

mountainboy

mountainboy

Well-Known Member
Hi, everyone. I was just pondering something. I use h2o2 to maintain a sterile rez. As this is becoming a bit pricey,I was wondering if I could get some thoughts on using a UV water treatment system. I have one for my homes water system( well water). But was thinking of hooking one up to my rez. I could plumb the unit to a pump and just keep it recirculating the rez water 24/7. Any thoughts?

P.S. I run a sterile,chem nutes only rez, so no need to tell me about teas or pond zyme,etc.etc.
 
T

takeiteazy

Active Member
I thought it messes with the certain nutes ie iron and you have to use another additive.

I only use a UV filter when i do my first batch in RDWC (200l) and leave it run to clean the water BEFORE i add my nutes.
 
bomb hills

bomb hills

Well-Known Member
I too thoght it could mess with nutrients, be good to find out for certine. I've been using h2o2 for some time now and never thought it to be expensive... A quart is only around 2 or 3 bucks at Wally World. Guess if your res is big enough you could go through it pretty quick though.
 
mountainboy

mountainboy

Well-Known Member
I dont know what it effects. I'm here to find out if anyone has ever used this method. I was also wondering if it might effect nutes,cant see why it would the UV should only kill pathogens, I only installed one in my house because my well water had a bacterial problem. The UV light fixed that. Its not really a filter,just a glass tube that exposes the UV light to the water as it passes through.
 
tallen

tallen

Well-Known Member
Don't know about the UV light (and I'm sure I'll get flamed for mentioning this) but you can run light doses of bleach or pool shock for REALLY cheap!! I tried regular bleach halfway through flower (RDWC) at 1/2 ml. per gallon every 2-3 days for a few doses and it cured my root rot I had going, then I finished them out with 1/4-1/3 ml per gal every 3-4 days as a preventative until they where done and didn't have any issues. Bennies in my other flower system (both RDWC) produced much better roots on the rebound though, the bleach side never seemed to re-grow any roots (but they where in the last half of flower too, so I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it).
 
tallen

tallen

Well-Known Member
Forgot to mention, those where 3'+ plants in flower and they didn't miss a beat. I also had 8-10 inch plants in veg and at the same dose wilted pretty bad, and when I checked on them 24 hrs later had the worst case of slime I've had yet and almost lost them. So YMMV. I'm back to bennies in DWC but may go sterile when I get my flood tables up and running, haven't thought that far into it yet.
 
mountainboy

mountainboy

Well-Known Member
NO! never use bleach EVER! As far as the h2o2 at wally world, its 3% I would have to use gallons a week at that concentration...lol and its full of toxic stabilizers. My h2o2 work great,just trying to figure a cheaper way.
 
waterdawg

waterdawg

Well-Known Member
I fail to see how it could affect inorganic materials like nutes as it kills pathogens only I thought. Hope someone knows, you've tweak my interest! I just got an email were a tech removed a uv light from duct to use as a trouble light!!!! FUCK!!!! So yes he's having issues seeing now!!
 
P

PROF XAVIER

Well-Known Member
UVC light is what is used for water sterilization, same as ozone generators. Too much ozone is obviously bad for humans and plants and 24/7 UV light in the water will cause certain nutrients, mainly metals (I.e. iron) to oxidize and break down, leaving you with a deficiency. I found out the hard way. Did lots of research too. It is better to pre- treat your RO water and use continuous filtration. But UV will oxidize iron and possibly zinc, and any other trace metals.
 
neobes

neobes

Well-Known Member
Hey tallen - What kind of nutes are you using with calcium hypochlorite(pool shock) in RDWC? The reason I'm asking is that I've read that some of the nutes that are chelated with edta(like dyna-gro) can cause problems with nute absorption?
 
VX420

VX420

Active Member
Yes it will work, No it will not affect your nuts in anyway.. it only kills LIVING stuff.. it does not change nutz.
 
PetFlora

PetFlora

Well-Known Member
I grow with both bubbleponics and modified F & D. I use 45 L/M air pump plus large Oxystones. No issues here with either DM Gold, or Hydroponic-Research VEG+BLOOM (awesome dry mix)
 
The Cause

The Cause

Member
I am using sterilizers in both the drip-pan (9W) and the main rez (36W) - recirculating continuously
Did not have any issues - highly recommended
 
dbkick

dbkick

Well-Known Member
dunno but I've been told there is only one nutrient lineup that is compatible with UV sterilization .
 
Figong

Figong

Well-Known Member
mountainboy said:
Hi, everyone. I was just pondering something. I use h2o2 to maintain a sterile rez. As this is becoming a bit pricey,I was wondering if I could get some thoughts on using a UV water treatment system. I have one for my homes water system( well water). But was thinking of hooking one up to my rez. I could plumb the unit to a pump and just keep it recirculating the rez water 24/7. Any thoughts?

P.S. I run a sterile,chem nutes only rez, so no need to tell me about teas or pond zyme,etc.etc.
Click to expand...
Have to ask.. if it's sterile, why the mention of UV in the subject? No point in UV if it's already sterile. That said, have you at all factored microbial equilbrium? This is an important one, is why I'm asking.
 
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