So I am having issues with algae in my hydro set up. I don't think it is too far along and I would rather try and kill it w/o draining the system. What is the reccomended dosage of peroxide to use when trying to combat this? Information about my issue can be found in my journal #4 in my sig or here: http://forum.grasscity.com/sick-plants-problems/539082-having-problems-white-castle-hydro.html
I am not 100% sure, but I think if you are using the 3% solution, the stuff you get at the store, then it is 10ML per gallon. If you can get the 35%, which is available at a hydro store and some garden stores, you would use 2-3ML per gallon. I read once that the 35% is in a less toxic stabilizer, if you can get that, I would recommend it. But, the main thing is this. Algae needs two things to grow. Light and a lack of oxygen. Examine your res for any light leaks and make sure you have enough air pushing through your stones. Good luck.
Well I am currently running Rump's system and he doesn't have stones in his res bucket but I will be putting at least one stone in each res bucket asap.
I don't believe that statement is accurate. I'm pretty sure he's aerating his res bucket(s) as well. It sounds to me as though you definitely want to be aerating your nutes in every container they may be in. Stagnation is bad news.
That statement is accurate. I asked Rump this before building the system and several other people have asked it as well. I added 25 ml per bucket in my system of the 3% peroxide. I have about 3.5 gallons in each bucket. I didn't want to overdo it on the first round. I will be looking for the 35% when I can get out.
This surprises me. I know Rump recommended an airstone in the res in post #3298 of the BB thread. I guess I assumed he used one. Even though each grow bucket is individually aerated, I don't know why you'd want to exclude a separate reservoir from aeration. Seems counterintuitive to me, to introduce less oxygenated water into the system when you don't have to. It should also improve mixing of the entire nute volume for more consistency (think circulation on a micro scale). I'm planning a 2-res/1-grow (3 bucket total) system, and will definitely run a separate pump for the reservoirs. I'm very eager to see how it plays out.
air stones are a must.....and that does seem odd bc rump has the same pov on air as me....the more the better....you can never have too much air but not enough will cause problems quick
This is very true. I am using the BB system as well. There is no way that it would work without have airstones on the bucket, the roots would not be getting any oxygen. Also, I agree with the more air the better. At first I only had one dual outlet pump running my bucket. It did the job, but I came into some issues with root rot. I won a hundred bucks from a lottery scratcher, and decided to upgrade a bit. I now have 3 pumps running one bucket. Ya, there are a shit load of bubbles (my face gets wet when I pop my net pot lid off). Ok I exaggerated a little but really though, there are a lot of bubbles. After doing this upgrade, I noticed nothing but happy happy happy ladies. I mean it's always nice to keep the girlies as happy as possible right? But for the facts, after upgrading my pumps, I noticed quicker growth, and much cleaner roots, and lush thriving plants. All good IMO.
I have plenty of bubbles in my plant buckets but Rump didn't have any in his res bucket and I had wondered about that. I have already put an air stone in each of my res buckets. Just watch out and make sure the air has some place to excape from that is light proof because it will pressurize the bucket and force water into the other 2 buckets.
ohh gotcha....well if anything itll just help keep the nutes mixed with the water better....you could even have a cheap aquarium water pump in there and just have it circulating water inside the res.....just to keep things moving....if everything is constantly moving and has alot of air it just makes it way harder for algae and bacteria and mold to build up bc it doesnt have a chance....when the water is just sitting there its a breeding ground
Exactly. I wondered about not having anything in the res at first but didn't add anything. Now I think the smell is actually starting to get weaker. Or maybe I'm just wishfully thinking it is. I want a larger air pump to do this with but do not have money to get one at this time. I wouldn't use the submersible because it will heat the water. The only reason I would use that is if I have lines going to the other bucket to make it a RDWC system.
