Smelly DWC Res Water

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TrevorCoreySmokesLetsGo

New Member
Hey friends. First timer here, so first of all thanks for taking the time to read!
I am doing my first ever grow in DWC. Things have been going less than smoothly so far, and I have had a couple run ins with smelly res water. I just wanted to get some first hand advice if I may, and confirmation of my theory.
It is important to note that I am using Botanicare Kind series nutes (organic-ish?) and Hydroguard for the average 75 degree temp in my grow tent instead of trying to cool the water. Also hydroton for medium. 126.8gph 2-outlet air pump and two large air stones, set to high 24/7. Tap Water...
The first time it happened, I thought it was from light getting into my orange Home Depot bucket reservoir. So I wrapped the bucket in foil duct tape until it was 100% light proof. Net pot lid is black.
After flushing with pH’d tap water +hydroguard and thoroughly cleaning all components with H2O2, I put it back in commission.
Then the smell came back 4 days after adding nutes again. I found the water quality report for my town and read that our water is treated with chloramine, which does not evaporate like chlorine does. Now I’m thinking this chloramine is murdering the “organic” parts of the Botanicare nutes I’m using, maybe even killing the bennies in the hydroguard?
I’m figuring my options are 1: to get an RO unit and keep using these “organic” nutes that I’ve heard so many great things about, or;
2: Switch to full synthetic nutes and keep using my pH’d tap water that comes out of the tap at 8.2 pH and over 300 ppm.
My guess is that option 1 is the better of the two, but I was just hoping to get some second opinions before I spend the money on an RO unit.

Any thoughts or thread references?
Any and all help is greatly appreciated!
I also have a full grow journal typed up that I will be posting soon if anyone is interested in the full details of my grow.
Thanks!
Caleb
 
redi jedi

redi jedi

Well-Known Member
TrevorCoreySmokesLetsGo said:
Hey friends. First timer here, so first of all thanks for taking the time to read!
I am doing my first ever grow in DWC. Things have been going less than smoothly so far, and I have had a couple run ins with smelly res water. I just wanted to get some first hand advice if I may, and confirmation of my theory.
It is important to note that I am using Botanicare Kind series nutes (organic-ish?) and Hydroguard for the average 75 degree temp in my grow tent instead of trying to cool the water. Also hydroton for medium. 126.8gph 2-outlet air pump and two large air stones, set to high 24/7. Tap Water...
The first time it happened, I thought it was from light getting into my orange Home Depot bucket reservoir. So I wrapped the bucket in foil duct tape until it was 100% light proof. Net pot lid is black.
After flushing with pH’d tap water +hydroguard and thoroughly cleaning all components with H2O2, I put it back in commission.
Then the smell came back 4 days after adding nutes again. I found the water quality report for my town and read that our water is treated with chloramine, which does not evaporate like chlorine does. Now I’m thinking this chloramine is murdering the “organic” parts of the Botanicare nutes I’m using, maybe even killing the bennies in the hydroguard?
I’m figuring my options are 1: to get an RO unit and keep using these “organic” nutes that I’ve heard so many great things about, or;
2: Switch to full synthetic nutes and keep using my pH’d tap water that comes out of the tap at 8.2 pH and over 300 ppm.
My guess is that option 1 is the better of the two, but I was just hoping to get some second opinions before I spend the money on an RO unit.

Any thoughts or thread references?
Any and all help is greatly appreciated!
I also have a full grow journal typed up that I will be posting soon if anyone is interested in the full details of my grow.
Thanks!
Caleb
Click to expand...
Myself I would switch nutes and try using your tap water before going to RO. Its just so much more convenient and RO machines waste alot of water. 300 ppm is pretty high but it could work.
 
Karlos777

Karlos777

Well-Known Member
I read up to 75 water temp....waaaay to hot Your problems are soved with temp. And if u cant you need 6 air pumps pushing air from a diff room than grow room.
 
T

TrevorCoreySmokesLetsGo

New Member
Grow tent temp is 75, humidity was around 15%. Got a humidifier, keeping it around 70% now, temps the same. Water temp is usually 70-71.
Didn’t know my air pump should be outside the tent, I’ll make that adjustment.
I switched to GH flora trio because cheap and easy, using the hard water flora micro. Water isn’t stinking and plant seems to be recovering after a couple days.
Bought an RODI anyways, sprouted another seed last night, same blueberry strain. Gonna try her in RODI water with the Botanicare Kind nutes to see if the problems still exist. Mainly because I don’t want to waste the gallon of each nutes I bought of it. But if the problem comes back, I’ll just be Mr. Synthetics from then on.
Thanks for the responses everyone!
Lettuce hope this grow turns around!
 
T

TrevorCoreySmokesLetsGo

New Member
P.S. she’s just a baby seedling (reason for the high humidity), only the first 2 true leaves were coming out at the time of the smelly res issues, and growth had stopped.
Since cleaning the roots with h2o2, transplanting to a rapid rooter, and using GH flora trio in tap water, growth has resumed. 1st set of leaves are getting bigger and 1st node is finally starting to form, at 3 weeks since germination.
If this baby actually comes back from all of the shit I put her through being a 1st timer, then damn she’s a fighter!
 
Blent

Blent

Well-Known Member
Are you organic or not? You can't use hydroguard if you're trying to grow bacteria. Go sterile or go organic, you cant mix them.
 
Blent

Blent

Well-Known Member
TrevorCoreySmokesLetsGo said:
I was trying organic but that was causing the stank water. Now I’m doing it sterile, and testing the organic in RODI water to see if the issue comes back.
Click to expand...
Just go sterile my bro it's easier to keep everything clean. You'll find that unless you have a very balanced system that organics will grow bacteria and nasty stuff everywhere. Inside piping, pumps and root balls.... Put your phone camera on and drop it into your res when empty to check for light leaks, even a tiny bit of light will allow algae. Keep your res cool and use a chlorine or bleach wash down between cycles. I change my res 3 times per grow and rinse down between each one very well.
 
T

TrevorCoreySmokesLetsGo

New Member
Blent said:
Just go sterile my bro it's easier to keep everything clean. You'll find that unless you have a very balanced system that organics will grow bacteria and nasty stuff everywhere. Inside piping, pumps and root balls.... Put your phone camera on and drop it into your res when empty to check for light leaks, even a tiny bit of light will allow algae. Keep your res cool and use a chlorine or bleach wash down between cycles. I change my res 3 times per grow and rinse down between each one very well.
Click to expand...
Thanks man I think that’s gonna be my best option as well. I appreciate everyone’s input!
 
T

TrevorCoreySmokesLetsGo

New Member
Welp, it’s back again. 4 days after cleaning res with 34% H2o2 and bleach and using GH Flora Trio synthetic nutes. Cleaned my air pump tubes too. Did not add Hydroguard this time.
Stank is back and there is a foamy slime forming in the side of the bucket at the water line.
0 light leaks. Water temp is 70.
Is this root rot? Wtf is going on or what am I doing wrong? I just don’t get it.
 
fragileassassin

fragileassassin

Well-Known Member
Are you 100% on the light leaks? some colored plastics and tubes and even smaller PVC can still let light through.
I use southern ag fungicide at 1/4mL per gal and 70F water temps and dont have issues. Megacrop for nutes.
imo chloramine = use RO, but ive seen a lot of debate on it. You dont need a huge one, you can get a holding tank or barrel and use float valves.
I only have a 100 or 150 gal a day one, but I let it fill a 200 gallon tank so I can fill my 120+ gallon system in a few minutes with a pump.

The rot I have experienced was like a tan/brown snot that grew over the roots. It could be rinsed off in the early stages. The crop i saved from it, I changed my water out 3 times in a row, rinsed all of the shit I could off with fresh water, and gave it double dose of hydroguard. Recovered fine.

Go around the forum and make some posts so you can unlock the ability to post pictures.
 
T

TrevorCoreySmokesLetsGo

New Member
My air tubing is black, my net pot lid is black, and my buckets are completely wrapped in foil duct tape from top to bottom. No light leaks. I have another seedling going now in RO water, since yesterday evening. If I make it 4 days without stank and slime then I’ll know it’s the tap water causing it for sure. I added full strength hydroguard today as well. I’m getting tired of this shit tbh
 
T

TrevorCoreySmokesLetsGo

New Member
Just ordered some Mother Earth coco-perlite mix and some 5 gal grow bags. I think I’m just gonna give up on DWC if I can’t get away from this issue. With basically everything else eliminated, it probably comes down to temps, and I simply can’t afford to find a way to lower them.
 
fragileassassin

fragileassassin

Well-Known Member
Hang in there! With hydro, you should pretty much expect your first crop to either fail or at least be rocky. I almost lost my first crop to rot. It'll be worth it once you figure out why. My cloner has had the same water in it for 23 days now and doesnt smell at all. Just using my 50ppm tap water and the southern ag fungicide. Its temps sit at nearly 80.
 
fragileassassin

fragileassassin

Well-Known Member
also, your air pump is probably too small.
126gph is only 9.5Lpm. Most of what ive seen indicates you want a minimum of 15Lpm per site if you have no other water flow.
I have 4 stones on a 560gph pump in my 27 gallon mother box and theyve been doing great with 3 week changes.
You need either 1 of those pumps per stone, or one thats twice as big imo.
 
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