Laughing Grass
Well-Known Member
That's so weird. Once I go into the buckets I top feed until I see roots then let it go. It almost looks like they're growing away from the water. Is everything in check with your nutrients and ph?
Totally agree, weird!That's so weird. Once I go into the buckets I top feed until I see roots then let it go. It almost looks like they're growing away from the water. Is everything in check with your nutrients and ph?
Hopefully someone more knowledgeable sees your posts and chimes in. Are you regularly calibrating your ph and tds meter?Totally agree, weird!
PH 5.7, 6.0, 5.6, 5.6
PPM 328, 342, 379, 363
Readings taken over the last 16 days, with a reservoir change in the middle.
Hope to see the roots drop in the next week or so!
Feeling pretty clueless on this one!?!?
Agreed.Hopefully someone more knowledgeable sees your posts and chimes in. Are you regularly calibrating your ph and tds meter?
I'd up my pH to 5.5 - 5.8. I'd change the Southern Ag to Pool Shock (CA Hypochlorite, much cheaper and just as effective) instructions here: https://rollitup.org/t/what-did-you-accomplish-today.560544/page-2680#post-15439965. The oily film and smell is most likely the Neem. Neem was not effective for me with Fungus Gnats. I usedHello All,
Looking for a little advise please.
Background...
I run a modified E&F system. 17 gallon tote as an external res, to a 5 gallon tote that has a 2 gallon fabric pot filled with expanded clay balls.
View attachment 4706322
This pic is just to give you an idea of my system. It is of this plant, but taken 25 days ago.
I have the flood timed at 1 minute on, 3 hrs 49 minutes off.
This is the third run on the system, and my third ever run.
The current plant is a Durban Poison that was vegged for 8 weeks and is 5 days into flower.
My troubles began when I noticed a severe spike in PH.
8 days ago did a reservoir change.
5.9 956
6 days ago
7.1 920. Adjusted to 5.2 936
5 days ago
6.6 918. Adjusted to 5.2 921
3 days ago
8.3 857. Changed reservoir. 5.6 980
2 days ago
7.1 920. Adjusted to 5.4 975
1 day ago
7.7 954 @ 3:30 PM, 8.0 @ 7:00 PM. Changed reservoir. 5.4 998
Today
7.0 963. Adjusted to 5.3 963
In addition to the PH spikes I have noticed a couple other points of interest.
1) I have fungus gnats
2) My reservoir will develop an odd odor as well as a film on the surface.
The odor is not a rotten smell, more of a cross of cabbage and radishes, it is strong however.
View attachment 4706324
My roots still seem to look fine.
I always use 1 ml of Southern Ag per 10 gallons of nutrients.
My reservoir sits on a basement floor and maintains approx. 65 degrees F.
In an attempt to get things under control I have been doing reservoir changes as noted above.
Yesterday I did a Neem oil spray of the entire plant and inside the 5 gallon tote. I also put out an old fashion fly strip. (only thing I could source locally)
Today the gnats seemed just as abundant,. After much reading, I did a drench with the Neem oil solution. (about 16 oz.)
Tomorrow I plan another reservoir change.
Thus far the plant is not showing major issues, but I fear that things are headed south so to speak.
View attachment 4706325
Any advise on what the hell is going on with my reservoir would be greatly appreciated!
Many thanks,
WillieP
Thank you for the assistance Ma'am!I'd up my pH to 5.5 - 5.8. I'd change the Southern Ag to Pool Shock (CA Hypochlorite, much cheaper and just as effective) instructions here: https://rollitup.org/t/what-did-you-accomplish-today.560544/page-2680#post-15439965. The oily film and smell is most likely the Neem. Neem was not effective for me with Fungus Gnats. I used
Amazon.com : Permethrin SFR jwpdlT 36.8% permethrin Quart 6666105, 1 Quart (Pack of 2) : Garden & Outdoor
Amazon.com : Permethrin SFR jwpdlT 36.8% permethrin Quart 6666105, 1 Quart (Pack of 2) : Garden & Outdoorwww.amazon.com
It knocked them out in three treatments. Best of luck getting through this.
The problem is the Fungus Gnats, creating the infection that drives down your res pH. Get some Potassium Bicarbonate to bring your reservoir pH up, check that and fix daily. You don't really need benes as you are in hydro, microbe herds are more useful in soil. Use Permethrin and kill the gnats to solve your issue.Thank you for the assistance Ma'am!
5.6 PH is where I would normally like to keep it, but with the crazy swings I was trying to compensate some.
I am going to switch over to sterile reservoir, using the pool shock. Bennies just not cutting it this round.
Weird part about the film and smell is it was there before I used the Neem. It was the only known safe product I could source locally. I am looking into other products now. Thanks for the links.
Another forum said it could be a bacterial infection. I have high hopes that the shock will straighten things out.
Cheers,
WillieP
Sorry c2g, I did not see this earlier.The problem is the Fungus Gnats, creating the infection that drives down your res pH. Get some Potassium Bicarbonate to bring your reservoir pH up, check that and fix daily. You don't really need benes as you are in hydro, microbe herds are more useful in soil. Use Permethrin and kill the gnats to solve your issue.
If you have a Leslie's Pool Supply or any other pool supply store by you you can drive in and pick up a pack of Calcium Hypochlorite 73% or any percent as long as it's pure. Just ask @cannabineer to work out the dilution for you. I recommend Advanced Nutrients pH Down. It's the most bang for your buck. I dislike AN products but that one is great. Household bleach is Sodium Hypochlorite and I'd be concerned about that Sodium. That's why non stabilized pool shock is so important. I'd stop the beneficial bacteria and sterilize the res until you finish this run. You may not get rid of the smell until you have the ability to terminally clean at the end of this round.Sorry c2g, I did not see this earlier.
My reservoir's PH is not going down, just the opposite, it's shooting up overnight.
To the tune of, 5.4 to 7.3 overnight, (less than 12 hours)
I have pool shock on order, but in the meantime I have just started yesterday using regular bleach at a rate of 8 ml for 9 gallons.
Still went from 5.4 to 6.6 overnight. Still has odd smell, sorta aquarium mixed with cabbage.
Dosed the same rate of bleach again just now.
IN OTHER NEWS
I finally had enough with the Grape Ape plant and gave it the old heave ho. Yep, you're out of here!
I have replaced it with a start from a strain that we are calling 1968.
This is the start that I mentioned earlier. It has been ran "by the same old hippie" since 1968.
If I can make this work, I am really looking forward to see what the strain turns out to be.
This is the @tyler.durden recipe:Sorry c2g, I did not see this earlier.
My reservoir's PH is not going down, just the opposite, it's shooting up overnight.
To the tune of, 5.4 to 7.3 overnight, (less than 12 hours)
I have pool shock on order, but in the meantime I have just started yesterday using regular bleach at a rate of 8 ml for 9 gallons.
Still went from 5.4 to 6.6 overnight. Still has odd smell, sorta aquarium mixed with cabbage.
Dosed the same rate of bleach again just now.
IN OTHER NEWS
I finally had enough with the Grape Ape plant and gave it the old heave ho. Yep, you're out of here!
I have replaced it with a start from a strain that we are calling 1968.
This is the start that I mentioned earlier. It has been ran "by the same old hippie" since 1968.
If I can make this work, I am really looking forward to see what the strain turns out to be.
@WillieP.........snip.....
That cabbagy smell could be dimethyl sulfide.
He makes a stock solution 2x as strong but uses 1/4 the amount. I would up the 5 ml to 10 ml.@WillieP
Byproduct of bacterial contamination. Need to sterilize that reservoir. When you finish you need a really good cleaning. I'd use higher strength pool shock or a quaternary ammonium compound. I'd run a couple sterile res runs before adding 'beneficial' bacteria in.
@cannabineer does his 52% strength recipe check for same solution % as the 73%?
I think I am going to jump ship and start going the sterile with pool shock route. Using synthetic nutes I don't see the benefit of running bennies.@WillieP
Byproduct of bacterial contamination. Need to sterilize that reservoir. When you finish you need a really good cleaning. I'd use higher strength pool shock or a quaternary ammonium compound. I'd run a couple sterile res runs before adding 'beneficial' bacteria in.
@cannabineer does his 52% strength recipe check for same solution % as the 73%?
It should just be a few days till the correct shock gets here.He makes a stock solution 2x as strong but uses 1/4 the amount. I would up the 5 ml to 10 ml.
@WillieP The bleach you’re using is a sodium salt. At the low doses you’re using I don’t expect issues, but higher concentrations of sodium can lock out potassium and ammonium. Keep watch for those deficiencies.