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Blue 55 gallon barrel cleaning

Discussion in 'Hydroponic Growing' started by hydrorkkp, Oct 16, 2011.

  1. #1 hydrorkkp, Oct 16, 2011
    I was wondering if n e one could tell me that uses a blue 55 gal barrel to store their RO water in how often does it need to b drained and washed so it doesn't get slimy !!! I do have a bubbler n it keeping it oxygenated but I'm sure it still gets slimy! If so, is there n e one that has n e experience keeping theses clean?
    Thanks ahead of time!!!!
     
  2. #2 jakesterjammin, Oct 16, 2011

    The slim is bacteria growth...
    There is a few different ways to combat bacteria growth in standing water..

    Not sure why you want to store RO water, but the 55gal drum I use for my 12 site Ebb&Gro, I just wash with hot water and a clean wash cloth in between reservoir changes (every week to 10 days)....
     
  3. #3 hydrorkkp, Oct 17, 2011
    The reason for storing RO water is because I have a recirc. DWC (deep water culture)system and when I do a water change n the veg and bloom rooms, it takes about 40 gal and the little tank that comes with the RO system which is about 2 gallons!!! So I fill up the barrel and use it for topping off between full water changes and hauling that much water n 5 gal bottles is a HUGE pain n the add
     
  4. #4 jakesterjammin, Oct 17, 2011

    The Clear-Rez product on the market that will help...
    Or I just mix ONE gram of "pool shock" dissolved in one gallon of water...

    That and keeping the drum light tight will help combat the bacteria growth.. ;)
     
  5. #5 hydrorkkp, Oct 17, 2011
    WOW, POOL SHOCK??? That's kinda scary!! That won't kill my plants by putting chlorine n it? Isn't that counter productive? Because one of the reasons of using RO is to get rid of the deadly chlorine rt?
     
  6. #6 jakesterjammin, Oct 17, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 17, 2011

    Wrong...
    You use RO water because you do not want any impurities in the water...
    This gives you a "clean base or starting point" (if you will) when mixing your nutrients....

    Check this post out...
    http://forum.grasscity.com/advanced-growing-techniques/685546-ez-clone-experiences-breakthrough.html


    I too was having the same issue as Poindexterous (poster above link), but run across his post, and now use ONE Gram of "pool shock" (you can find it at ANY pool supply) per gallon of water, and my cloners stay slime free for maybe up to 10 days if I can keep the temps in the lower to mid 70s... If the temps get into the upper 70s, I'm changing the cloner water every 5-6 days... They root slower at the lower temps, but it does help the bacteria from taking hold.......

    Then of course you REALLY do not want to transfer any bacteria to your veg or flowering mediums!!

    Fish can't tolerate chlorine, but truth be told, plants can handle levels high enough to prevent or at least keep the bacteria in check without any adverse side effects...



    It's funny this came up, because I just mentioned in another post somewhere about old myths being smashed by new updated grow information.... ;)

    :wave:
     
  7. #7 jakesterjammin, Oct 17, 2011
    Oh and FYI...
    I clean my ex-cloners in between cycles with One Tablespoon of bleach per Gallon... ;)
    I also do the same on my Ebb&Gro site system cleanings....
     

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