Just started using MC and noticing a lot of sediment in the reservoir

[HemiSync]

Hemi i took the plunge and switched all my plants mid flower to MC/SC/BE and I'm loving what I'm seeing. I wish I had some logging data for this, but I'm pretty darn sure my plants are uptaking more feed water from the autopot res's now. Not sure why the heck that would happen. If its even related to the change in nutes or if its just the plants switching gears and rev'ing higher. But I opened the lid on one res with two plants on it, expecting to see a few inches of feed water in it like I usually do after filling that thing up 2/3's of the way on Thursday, and it was empty. And those two plants look like they the bloomed out on me quite a bit. Going to have to trim some lower larf that I was not expecting to have to do again.

And this is so subjective, but I keep looking at the plants and seeing more health and flower growth and frost.

And my tap water and the nutes seem to like each other, which is a big bonus for me.

I only switched two out of four and I almost want to switch all four now that I see the results, but will stay the course for now to see the differences. Plus, someone that was giving up growing gave me a large quantity of each of the Technaflora nutrients and I hate to waste anything. As you said, it can be very subjective as to how the plants are really doing and a lot of it becomes easier as you have more experience with different strains and growing styles. I only wish I access to labs to test one plants flowers vs another’s on different nutrients. For now I just go on how they look and how much bud weight they produce.

 

[tripaholic88]

i just mix my nute bucket up before feeding and it all seems to re-dissolve... and in my res the pump keeps everything mixed evenly

 

[lunarman]

i just mix my nute bucket up before feeding and it all seems to re-dissolve... and in my res the pump keeps everything mixed evenly

What find of res is that and what kind of pump do you use? I have the autopots reservoirs that came with the kits but also have 5 gallon buckets setup for that system too that I use for feeding water for the last 10 days of a grow.

I'm trying to figure out how to have my nutes get a mix throughout the day in the res and keep fine sediment suspended, especially for when I'm going to be gone for a few days. I believe there are air pumps and air stones that are one way to mix up a res. And then there are recirculating pumps that go right in the res that I assume doesn't add air like an airstone would. Is that basically the 2 types of pumps and reservoir mixing approaches? And is the recirculating the best for a gravity drain reservoir? I also read that air bubbles can change pH, which I would like to avoid like the plague.

 

[tripaholic88]

What find of res is that and what kind of pump do you use?

i have a bigger black rubbermaid tote that i use it can probably hold 20-25 gals of water. and i use a recirculating water pump/ fish pond pump to keep it circulated/mixed

I also read that air bubbles can change pH, which I would like to avoid like the plague.

yup thats the reason i stopped using airstones and went with the pump

 

[BII]

I'm trying to figure out how to have my nutes get a mix throughout the day in the res and keep fine sediment suspended, especially for when I'm going to be gone for a few days.

Maybe I missed it, but why would you want to "keep fine sediment suspended" for days? Sediment (reaction by-products, insoluble chelate/salt forms that formed in solution) is not good for lines and not bioavailable to the plants. Presuming you have a filter in your line, that should remove sediment.

My view of sediment is that it is best left as sediment (let it settle) and wiped/washed out later.

 

[STILLSMOKIN]

I mixed up some and found some sediment also. So i stirred it again checked the next day and nothing. I only run airstones no pump. My guess is i didnt mix well enough. Also i done a test before using. Sit a bucket mixed full strength mc put air stone in and left for a week. Ph was 6.0 and ppm 325. A week later and ph of 5.8 ppm 312.

This is my first dwc and not really good at it yet but mc is by far the most stable of nutrients i have used and all 8 of my plants are loving it. Got two of same strain in dwc one running an and one with mc. An has to be adjusted every 3 days for ph swings where mc is holding at 5.8 with botanicare ph down.

 

[lunarman]

I mixed up some and found some sediment also. So i stirred it again checked the next day and nothing. I only run airstones no pump. My guess is i didnt mix well enough. Also i done a test before using. Sit a bucket mixed full strength mc put air stone in and left for a week. Ph was 6.0 and ppm 325. A week later and ph of 5.8 ppm 312.

This is my first dwc and not really good at it yet but mc is by far the most stable of nutrients i have used and all 8 of my plants are loving it. Got two of same strain in dwc one running an and one with mc. An has to be adjusted every 3 days for ph swings where mc is holding at 5.8 with botanicare ph down.

Great post. Did you check that test batch daily? I'm working on finding a method to mix it up so there is nothing floating or sinking.

Just curious if it dropped to 5.8 in a day or it took at all 5 days @STILLSMOKIN ?

 

[Greenleaf Nutrients]

i just mix my nute bucket up before feeding and it all seems to re-dissolve... and in my res the pump keeps everything mixed evenly

The "sediment" is actually part of the organics in MEGA CROP, its not fallout or precipitation. They tend to sink to the bottom layer of the tank because they are heavier, but if you stir the water they should quickly join the rest of the solution.

They will not clog drip lines or drippers, we have run 100x concentration injectors systems with it fine. It may clog aeroponic misters since they usually have extremely fine opening holes . If you are running Aero or some type of system with very fine openings then I would definitely recommend a filter.

 

[STILLSMOKIN]

So i have been running MC in 2 dwc now and it is awesome. No defiency on anything but calcium. Maybe you all could add calcium and call it megacrop LED

 

[tripaholic88]

The "sediment" is actually part of the organics in MEGA CROP, its not fallout or precipitation. They tend to sink to the bottom layer of the tank because they are heavier, but if you stir the water they should quickly join the rest of the solution.

They will not clog drip lines or drippers, we have run 100x concentration injectors systems with it fine. It may clog aeroponic misters since they usually have extremely fine opening holes . If you are running Aero or some type of system with very fine openings then I would definitely recommend a filter.

yup no problems here in my res or lines i do run Drip clean also