water sterilization poll

[Ripshot]

there is so much contradictary opinions out there... chlorine, no chlorine, h202, no h202. bennies, no bennies. this is a simple poll to see what the majority is using to sterilize their water if at all. its is simply a data point... take it as it is.

 

[Ripshot]

shit i should have added ozone and uv.

 

[Ripshot]

opinions and discussion are welcome

 

[Snype]

There are many methods that one can use. Personally I choose chlorine at the rate of at least 0.5 PPM but not more than 2.5 PPM. It's pretty cheap to use this method. H2O2 works for some but you would have to continue to add it just like chlorine and H2O2 could get expensive over time. Some people use bennies as well as other methods. It's really a personal preference for growers. I'd say do what works for your situation and keep accurate data so you can figure out what works best for you. In some situation H2O2 and Chlorine don't work and I have to strerilize my systems with antibiotics. It really depends on your water quality and how clean that your grow is. Most people probably have city water that's already been cleaned for you so nothing is really a problem for them. In those situations, some extra paranoid growers use a root rot product and maybe don't get rot but think it's from their product but they never had a problem to begin with. When I lived in a city for over 10 years, I never used anything and my plants never had problems until I moved. After I moved I had so many problems that I had to find solutions which at first was chlorine and then it went to erythromycin then back to chlorine when it was right for me to do so. That was real bad water though. Now all that I need is chlorine but once in a while I need some antibiotics here and there. I never use antibiotics with plants though.

 

[00420]

I use r/o with uv then boil so none of the above & my answer is other

 

[00420]

once in a while I need some antibiotics here and there. I never use antibiotics with plants though.

Who cares about the guy living down the street that the antibiotics leach into after you flush them down the drain it's ok that his plants have some ya?

 

[PuReKnOwLeDgE]

I use an ozone made for ponds or aquariums.

 

[Snype]

Who cares about the guy living down the street that the antibiotics leach into after you flush them down the drain it's ok that his plants have some ya?

Not with plants you idiot. Have you read my signature. The antibiotics are to clean out systems that contain cyanobacteria. Read any of my threads. And who said I put it down the toilet either.

 

[forgetmeplease]

This is what a lot of commercial greenhouse growers trust to keep the nutrient clean and free of bacteria, fungi, insects, algae, etc

 

[noyd666]

two filters then uv tube, filters usually full of dirty crud, since fitting filters the slimy feel on rubber hoses has gone.

 

[ydijadoit]

I use bleach now, after a few years of messing with peroxide. I was leery at first, and you do need to be careful, but it works so well, I will not be going back.
As with most things I read on this forum, I read up some on bleach in hydroponics.
Commercial lettuce/tomato/whatever growers use it. There are study materials available the show it to be an essential nutrient (Gets deep fast!) It's safe for our drinking water, at a controlled level, is used on every commercial cooking/kitchen surface we eat from, and sterilizes our hospitals.
Bleach is good. That's my vote!
Regards
PS to Snype, if you read this... What method do you use to get your chlorine level? My hottub kit is color based, and hard to get an accurate reading.. Are you testing for total and free chlorine, or just total? I have just been adding 1ml per gallon of plain clorox, about once a week. 2ml per gal as a "Shock", if you will, if I see anything looking like root rot.
Thanks.

 

[Stonefree69]

Other = chiller for me. I was against chillers at 1st but they don't use much electricity (for 1/10 & 1/4 hp I use) and aren't always running (good insulation). They serve a number of purposes like adding DO and help in preventing pathogens. Not to say I don't have Clorox bleach and ECW tea recipe handy. I don't know if Dawn original counts (also use as a surfacant w/Foliage-Pro spray) and rosemary oil or something like Azamax for pest/disease control - on the prevention side.

Also silica goes a long way too believe it or not, but that's more for the plant's benefit than pest control though it's supposed to help in that area (resistance).

 

[TheCleanGame]

---Snip---

 

[Chaghatai]

I use bleach and have a UV sterilizer hooked up after the chiller. Seeing new white roots in bloom for the first time in a long time after hooking up the sterilizer. The problem with bleach alone is dosing can be tricky and non-available bleach ends up building up. (when using hypochlorite anyway - I want to get a chlorine dioxide two-part product to try out for this reason - it's a stronger disinfectant and any remaining residue is available chlorine)

 

[drsmoke69]

other for me = r/o water with UV serialization.

Let me ask you this, would it still be organic if you add straight bleach into your water? i would think not but i don't know.

 

[Coconutz]

Why no option for just a dialed environment?