Root rot in DWC

[medicalmj]

Had this in Indoor Hydro but think this might be better area...

So I've been battling this problem of roots looking awesome for a couple weeks or so in my recirc DWC and then the brown mushy sets in. Lately I have been doing a 1/2 oz per gallon H2O2 soak every 2 weeks to keep it at bay but it keeps coming back. I have a chiller and a big air pump. I used to use Root Oreganism and Humbolt Honey but starting to think it is the cause. Stopped using and since switched to Roots Excelurator with much better root development and much less brown mushy roots. Could be residual from last H2O2 drench at which time I pulled all (or most)mushy roots off.

Any advise on keeping rot at bay? Will bleach kill the Pythium in the system, if that's what is causing the rot? Is running H2O2 the only answer? What's better to run Roots Excel or H2O2 for keeping roots healthy?

 

[justalilrowdy]

Isnt that a heat issue that is common this time of year when you run hydro?

 

[Neo 420]

He has chiller... Use ewc tea and your rot will disappear.

 

[medicalmj]

Definitely a cause of many rots but I got it chilled to around 65F with the biggest pump they sell. Made for 12 and only running 6.

Also, had run the bennies with sugars this grow and it got bad. Pulled the brown and did a H2O2 drench. Looking much much better. But got a little cropping up again maybe in the system. Worried that it will overtake before finished. I'm lttle over 2 weeks into flower. I've heard things going south with bennies and sugars in hydro. Could it be true?

 

[Neo 420]

Definitely a cause of many rots but I got it chilled to around 65F with the biggest pump they sell. Made for 12 and only running 6.

Also, had run the bennies with sugars this grow and it got bad. Pulled the brown and did a H2O2 drench. Looking much much better. But got a little cropping up again maybe in the system. Worried that it will overtake before finished. I'm lttle over 2 weeks into flower. I've heard things going south with bennies and sugars in hydro. Could it be true?

What bennies did u have in there?

Rinse and flush your roots with RO water. Use basic ewc tea. Will clear up the root rot. When running dwc run a sterile Rez or you better know what microbe life your putting in. (or sugars)

 

[medicalmj]

Used roots oreganism and humbolt honey.

Thinking about running sterile. Buddies giving me a couple gallons of stabilized H2O2 from a commercial house. That's what all the major growers use in their hot houses. Although my bro makes his own tea for the nursery outdoor crops.

Would like to get ewc tea going in res on next cycle. Are you running tea in hydro? Any tips?

 

[Neo 420]

I ran hydro a couple years ago and ran into some similar issues like you. I learned that ewc tea can help battle the PythIum. I also learned to keep a sterile Rez and use tap water.....

 

[Shafto]

You're probably screwed for this run, but next time just stop putting crap in your res and you'll be fine.

Just use base nutes, and a booster of some type if you like. Don't add anything else, that's the key. The roots excel might be alright, haven't tried it myself, but definitely don't add any of that honey stuff.

Also, you'd do best to ditch the air pump and go with a water pump to maintain oxygenation. Bacteria loves to grow on airstones, and water circulation works better to oxygenate anyway.

If you run like this, you can also ditch the H2O2 and bleach, you won't need them. As soon as you achieve the balance in your system, by adding only nutrient salts (no snake oils), with proper temp and oxygenation, everything will maintain itself. No need for bennies or sterilization.

 

[Neo 420]

You're probably screwed for this run, but next time just stop putting crap in your res and you'll be fine.

Most likey true but try the EWC tea. You maybe surprised..

Just use base nutes, and a booster of some type if you like. Don't add anything else, that's the key. The roots excel might be alright, haven't tried it myself, but definitely don't add any of that honey stuff.

This is the most simple and failsafe way to go with DWC. Unless you understand microbes (aerobic and anaerobic) and how to maintain good bennie populations.

Also, you'd do best to ditch the air pump and go with a water pump to maintain oxygenation. Bacteria loves to grow on airstones, and water circulation works better to oxygenate anyway.

He has circulation with a water pump (OP is running RDWC). If you do not put gunk in your system and proper cleaning, airstone works wonders..

If you run like this, you can also ditch the H2O2 and bleach, you won't need them. As soon as you achieve the balance in your system, by adding only nutrient salts (no snake oils), with proper temp and oxygenation, everything will maintain itself. No need for bennies or sterilization.

I should have explained myself better. When i say sterile rez, I mean running only salt based nutes only.




I have been down this road before. Salt based nutes and tap water, plenty of oxygen, good temp and proper cleaning is the key.....

 

[medicalmj]

Yep, I fell for the snake oil BS at those stores run by idiots. Can only blame myself though. Never again! I had the best shit years ago with a simple 2 part and nothing else.

 

[azad]

Shafto is correct i belive..
The roots have grown so fast at start that now your system cant meet their needs of increased oxygen.
Need to create more oxygen in the rez and pump it through at faster rate.
Thats the key in RDWC.

Airstones cant do the job like a good fountain type pump strongly agitating the surface water in rez..
Thats what i learnt from Heath robinson!!

 

[Blaz3]

I second the sterile or "Dead" reservoir..this means using ONLY mineral based synthetic nutrients,so organic or organic based supplements,no microbes,sweet,honey,etc...strictly the basics.also you will have to use a sanitizer like bleach,goldzone,etc..I recommend bleach,but I dont know the correct dose.

I know when I sue sweet/mollses/liquid karma in my rez..within a few days it starts to get foamy..so def not the best idea in dwc...other hydro yes,dwc no

 

[medicalmj]

Most likey true but try the EWC tea. You maybe surprised.

Dude I'm trying the EWC Tea! I just went from pushin lots of H2O2 to full on microbial soup! It's been less than 2 days and so far so good.

My concern, so far. is that I seen a whole bunch of nematodes. Pretty big as far as nems go I'd say they're up to 2-3 millimeters but thin as a hair. Is this normal? I must say lookin under the scope and seeing the little bacteria zoomin about is crazy, but that was expected. And pathogens are anerobic so I'm not worried. But parasitic nems can live in aerobic enviro, right???

Compost tea is a new world for me. Any tips would be greatly appreciatied!

 

[Hydro-Soil]

If your dwc temps are fine, your issues will be dissolved oxygen levels or "hydro store crap" in your res.

When plants go into flower they begin using a LOT more oxygen...
I believe 3 watts/ 10 gallons is generally recommended as sufficient. I try to use a bit more, if possible. Add a second pump and stone and see what happens.

Stay Safe!

 

[GanjaPharma]

stop the h2o2 add 2ml household bleach per 10 GALLONS. run a dead res, and forget trying to grow a probiotic soup of mystical protection.

2ml/10 gallons until the crop is in. and 1ml/10 gallons as maintenance for future grows.

you can use chloramine as well (DM zone) if you wanna buy sumthing from a hydro shop.

at this stage anything but bleach/dead res ...is pissing into the wind.

 

[jm420]

I personally wouldnt go with teas ,lucas formula always worked for me even with res temps hitting 75 no sign of RR ,.Your temps are perfect so like hydro said your problem lies elsewhere .
I beleive you couldnt have said it better yourself "I had the best shit years ago with a simple 2 part and nothing else."I beleive thats your answer right there.
If you really want to do the bleach thing Search dead res or similiar, lots of peeps do the bleach theres a whole thread here somwhere.
IMO for sucess in dwc is the simpler the better otherwise known as KISS

 

[Shafto]

He has circulation with a water pump (OP is running RDWC). If you do not put gunk in your system and proper cleaning, airstone works wonders..

In my experience once you have proper water circulation an air stone is completely useless. I've tried throwing a few in a couple of the containers while not the rest and never noticed any difference except for the fact that the airstone was the nastiest, gunkiest thing in the whole system. No more air stones for me.

 

[Neo 420]

In my experience once you have proper water circulation an air stone is completely useless. I've tried throwing a few in a couple of the containers while not the rest and never noticed any difference except for the fact that the airstone was the nastiest, gunkiest thing in the whole system. No more air stones for me.

I never had that issue with air stone clogging. (what nutes u use?)

Once you have root rot, it is very hard to go "sterile" and expect everything to clear up. And I doubt u got root rot from lack of air. You got root rot from bacteria. That's why I say u feed ewc for a couple days, clean up roots and then when under control, go sterile.....

 

[medicalmj]

Once you have root rot, it is very hard to go "sterile" and expect everything to clear up. And I doubt u got root rot from lack of air. You got root rot from bacteria. That's why I say u feed ewc for a couple days, clean up roots and then when under control, go sterile.....

Thanks Neo420 ... I took your advice and am doing that now. Research has shown ACT will combat Pythium, but the right tea recipe and procedures must be used. Some teas are ineffective or worse, promote pathogens.

Since you have postive results you must have a good recipe and procedure. Would you mind sharing? Also, when should I stop using. And should I innoculate my new clone that are ready for transplant?

Oddly. some studies show poor results when adding molasses, which I did use.

I used progress earth's "earth compound", "earth tonic", and "earth syrup" at their recommended levels plus I added 1 T humbolt honey (molasses) and 1 T roots oreganism to a 4.5 gal batch. divided between 2 systems. One of which is the recirc dwc in question.

And when
Any tips on what has worked for anyone else would be welcome as well. Thanks!

 

[Neo 420]

1 cup Hugh quality EWC
5 gallons RO or de- chlorinated water
1 tsp unsulphered blackstrap molasses

Put ewc in Stocking
Stocking goes in 5 gall bucket
Put water in bucket
Bubble for 24 to 48 hours

Make sure you have cleaned your system and no remanents of the cleaner is left behind.
Use only RO or filtered water in the dwc or you will kill the bennies we are trying to establish.
Add 2 gallons of the ewc tea ( should be filtered if you used the panty hose or stocking) to your res. Run in your system for a 3 or 4 days. You may have to repeat another application. Then continue with your nute program. Make sure you aren't adding any sugars, enzymes or organic based nutes or you risk a repeat. You may want to keep the Rez sterile at this point.

When running hydro setup like yours, I would keep the nutes strictly salt based. If wouldn't not mind, please list the nutes you are using.


I say GH. Pretty stable and if used correct will not clog your line.