Grow Mediums pH changes in DWC (Bubbler)

[Groff]

Try one at a time. If you dont have the proper stuff to brew bacteria, then you must do what you must do to save them. I dont trust Advanced Nutrients at all (other may differ). Usually, these products are way overpriced for the convenience of hobby growers.

What I do after months of learning/reading from scientific publications... Go to your general agro/horticultural store, and you should find little bottles of granular Bacilus bacteria & Myco's, and also get agro-fungi. Anything with a nice diverse of strains should work wonders. Also, a bag of premium worm casting soil (not liquid). Then get some unsulfured blackstrap molasses, or natural grade A honey.

Drop 5 handful of worm casting into bubbling water (around 10 -15L) at around 21ºC (temperature very very important for optimal results). Add half a table spoon of bacteria and let it run for 24h. You should see some foaming. Add another scoop of bacteria and myco's plus 2 table spoons of molasses (munchies for bacteria). let it run for 24h. Next day you should have lots more foam, and it should smell nice and earthy.

Strain, and drop into the rez/bucket. pH should rise, its normal, within a few days you should see good results, extremely effective and much much cheaper than anything in a bottle like ZHO or Great White etc.

 

[Kush T]

Hey Ramone515.. Check 'Down to Earth Kent' for Botanicare products in the Uk bro.. They'll sort you out

 

[ramone515]

Well I thought this plant was a goner, but the solution has simple and cheap: common bleach. (5% chlorine)

I was trying to cure root rot for over a week, everyday the same: I'd change water, set the pH, at about 15 hours later the water was at pH 8.0+ and at 24 hours later the whole tank would smell badly and I'd change the solution again. So after I tried cooling down the tank, using H2O2, some Guard n Aid Root stop (over $20 for 150ml...) I tried my last resort, bleach.

The steps I followed were:

1. Bought some common 5% chlorine bleach, like Clorox.
2. I created a strong solution in a small container. I used about 20ml bleach at a 2.5L bowl.
3. Put the whole root system inside (roots, net pot, clay pebbles) in it for ~5 minutes.
4. Cleaned well the roots and net pot under water, and also submerged it again in the small bowl for 3 times, with clean water each time to remove all excess chlorine.
5. Added fresh water to the reservoir, added nutes plus 0.4ml bleach for 12L water.
6. Go drink a beer and laugh at root rot bacteria genocide.

24 hours later, the pH problem was fixed. Another day and some new, white root growth appeared. 3 days later the plant has put on +5cm height and seems to continue normal growth.

I'll let you know how this goes. As I precaution I will add 0.3ml bleach each time I change the res, until mid-flowering.

Of course, this won't work if you are going organic.

 

[Waximus]

Nice work, ramone I know there's a bunch of cross talk about bleach in hydro, but I was in a similar situation to yours way back and found a low level of bleach, in a moderate root rot scenario, nixed it for good! I reckon its all about not overdoing it. Glad to see you've got it under control! Best to you!

 

[ramone515]

Thanks man. Did you notice anything different to the taste afterwards? I am a bit worried that it may harm the buds' taste somehow.

Just to add how I decided to use bleach, I found that the "magic" ingredient in popular product Pythoff, sold for about 17 quid for 500ml is chlorine.

As a matter of fact: http://www.flairform.com/downloads/msds_pythoff_commercial_strength.pdf

It's 2.5% chlorine that does the trick!

 

[Waximus]

I wasn't able to detect any flavor component from the chlorine. That said, that run got a good flush with AN Final Phase, but I have grower friends that have also used chlorine, and nobody has mentioned a down side to it's use. Its one of those "everything in moderation" things, methinks

 

[jackmc]

Hey Guys, Great thread! I try to avoid using bleach but it's always in the house. I am using tap water and Final Phase with decent results. Cheers.