Droopy Leaves W/ Pics (DIY Aero) HELP PLEASE

[waterwise]

So, I woke up this morning with most of the fan leaves at the top drooping on 4 of eight plants and I have no idea what's going on!

Here's my set-up:
DIY Aero
18 gallon pump res. w/ 2 Boss Hog Stones and a #3 pump.
50 gallon plant run-off res.
Light 12 on, 12 off
Pump sprays 15 mins on, then 45 mins off
1000w Switchable Blast
CAP PPM-3 Controller: 6" exhaust fan, runs w/ temps over 78 & humidity over 55%.
Nutes: started at 680PPM at switch to flower, with nute levels increasing slowly to 1100PPM
Ph: Target of 5.9
CO2: Presently out
No Folier Feeding
Water: RO w/ 0PPM & Ph 7.0
Supplements: Pure Blend Cal-Mag (as needed), Pure Blend Liquid Karma & Hygrozme (As Directed)


During the veg. phase, Fox Farm (Grow Big, Big Bloom & Tiger Bloom) was used. Upon switching to flowering, the nutes were slowly transitioned from Fox Farm to Pure Blend Pro Bloom to replace the FF Big Bloom & FF Tiger Bloom. Last night, added more water (7 gallons) and the strongest dose yet of Pure Blend Pro Bloom (5 ozs). Had Ph at 5.8 and 1100PPM. This morning, Ph of 5.9 and nute levels of 1050PPM............sounds perfect right? Well here are some pics that were just taken of my droppy leaves. Please Help, any and all advise is greatly apperciated!


Thanks,

Waterwise

 

[waterwise]

Also, anyone know the main differences or have recommendation when it comes to useing Pure Blend vs Fox Foxfarm?

 

[waterwise]

From one to another here's more pics, 6 hours from one to the other ?????????? I must have done something wrong and would like to have some idea so moving forward I don't repeat

 

[bitpoop21]

its heat stress! I did the same thing move the light up.

 

[bitpoop21]

when the leaf edged point up (the leaf blade side tips point up its to hot.

 

[CANNACO-OP]

when was last res change or was it recently changed to 12/12 ?

I second the heat stress as an idea to look at, got good movement accros top of those?

also 15 /45? I run 15 on 15 off, maybe too much dry time, would need to see more of the diy set up...

quick thoughts.

 

[Citizen024]

I would say excess nutrients. And you need to be using about 100-150ppm cal-mag regularly. Pure Blend Pro in RO requires it. Try adding RO water to your current res, bring your TDS down by 10% and see how they respond, if needed keep dropping 10% till they chill out. Also, Pure Blend is a great backbone, but it could use some most bolstering in the bloom department. Bring it down to say, 600-750 and add a blooming (0-x-x) product up to your 900-1000. Let your ph drift from 5.8 up to about 6.2 or 6.5 before you control it back down. Watch your tds level in your res to check how much water your losing, and how much they are feeding. You could maintain a certain height/volume in your res and keep it level w/ RO water additions- you'll then observe your tds dropping and ph shift as they feed day by day. You may need to replenish with some cal mag (30-50ppm) after a few days.

In addition you need to check your light height, very well could be light stress. However, your not having top bright greening/yellowing, and your droop is not the tops. So, it could be a factor, but probably not the entire cause.

Owww, and in aero it is KEY to be sure your root zone, and nutrient temp's at 68 or lower. Warm= BAD! Often not something taken into account when most people first move into aero/nft. The other post is right on the money, you might want to run you pump more often to be sure your not building root zone temp up- that being said the more you run your pump, the more your nutrients will heat up as they absorb heat from the system/root zone and the pump.

Lastly: Not sure it would be entirely relevent to your case, but it need be stated. Just cause your fan kicks on at 78 degrees and 55 rh, doesn't mean your ventilation system can actually keep it cool/dry, especially if your ambient environment is getting high. This will result in a fan running, and no progress in bringing it down. Your CO2 (if you had any running) would be lost, and your emitter would stay off as long as your vent fan is on. Your only as good as the air you move. AC's and dehumidifiers are the only way to go beyond that- and they pose their own challenges.

 

[Citizen024]

Are you actually changing res's or simply adding? I caught your "added 7 gallons" comment. If your not changing, your could build up a lock out/deficency/excess situation.

 

[waterwise]

Thanks for the comments!!!

Thanks for the comments!!!

To answer some questions, I don't believe my light is too close, its aprox. 24" away from the plants. Within the small room is the in-line 6" exhaust fan, a smaller fan for circulation and an AC unit blowing right on them. Regarding the light, the plants were recently changed to 12/12 about a week ago, before 18/6 for a week and 24 on during veg. One thing I should mentioned here is that the breaker trip and lost AC for a few hours.........not sure how long it was off for but it wasn't very hot in the room. Now I'm thinking it must have been off longer than I originally thought.

Nutes: The last nute change was a week ago, but I must add water & nutes between changes as they go thru at least 5 gallons every two days. My pump is in a separate res from my plants and have considered changing the pump time from 15 on/45off to a 15/15 but it seems to be working very well at 15/45. Temp on plant res: 73. Can anyone recommend a good chiller for the price??? Anyone ever tried a prob type chiller??


I have been lucky thus far to avoid any major problems and the ladies look happier today after I added some RO water w/ hygrozeme & Cal-Mag to dilute the PPMs to 880PPM along with a little Ph+/-.

Citizen, do you have a recommendation as to a blooming additive to use with the Pro Bloom during flower? Would using some FF Tiger Bloom be a good idea?

 

[waterwise]

More Pics

More Pics

Here are a few more pics of the plant res and manifold.

 

[CANNACO-OP]

not so bad... I do notice that in the am when lights first come on, leaves strechin for the light, by about our 10, those things are tired and most if not all leaves are more "saggy", not bad lookin, just like they are ready to rest.

you got a temp monitor on both the rez tank and what the temp is in by those roots. I got 4" PVC and the rez tank is not under lights so keeps it 15 degrees cooler right there, but still, the space inside that 4" pipe heats up, blocked mine as best I could.....but still is warm in there.
the 15 on 15 off keeps the temps down when lights out, I wondered if maybe could go longer during night hours, but runnin good now.

also, I run about 7-10 gallons max, not even close to that much add needed, maybe there is something there also?

sorry more than my

 

[Citizen024]

Well, light height is good, for sure. Actually you are looking good all around. Way to go, nice tight little system there. Props. Nice little spot you built there.

Now then- your temp nutrient thing could set you up for a serious problem. The warmer the water, the less O2 it holds. Bad for your plants, and really really good for anaroebic (non-oxygen dependent) bacteria to get in an root rot you into sadness. Not the most knowledgable about chillers. Other then get a good one not a shitty one, you wouldn't need one that large for your res bing so small. I think 1/4hp is the smaller one around. Try aquarium ones- and for now you can work you ass off tossing frozen 2 liter bottle in there to keep it cool for a good number of hours. Pain in the ass in the long run.

Your root temp is something your going to want to solve. Could contribute to your droop for sure. 15 on, 30 off? Middle ground between 15-15 and 15-45.

Tiger Bloom is very similar to Pure Blend. Your really looking at a synthetic base with organics added in for flavor. But, essentially a chemical feed. IMO I would use one or the other, but not both. I actually dislike Fox Farm products, used them a long time ago and they are good and work and all, but think PB is more organic and stable in nature and performs much better in hydro. Remember Fox Farm is a soil company, mostly formulated for soil use. And it works great for that application- not so great in hydro. PB is defineately hydro formulated. Virtually clog free, and mostly organic (with a backbone of cal nitrate to be sure your good), very stable.

I would look to add say . . . Kool Bloom liquid (0-10-10) or something similar. Maybe PB Soil Flower 1-4-5 for a couple weeks in the middle of the cycle (don't trip that it is labeled soil, its just another bloom food, use it right and your fine). You have enough N from your Pure Blend and cal-mag, so no need to add more (which Tiger Bloom has more of), and it will make reducing it down towards the end difficult. If your looking to go organic, there are other options- but they tend to be less stable in resurc and could get gunky in your system.

I would be very careful about adding much nutrient when you top off. If has gotten me in trouble before. It seems all good, your TDS can be cool and all, but your ratios of nutrients can be weird and you cannot tell. Plants do not feed equally- meaning your adding to whatever they haven't eaten up, who knows what your really running.

In general bigger res= better nutri buffering. Try re-adding just water, cal-mag (no more then 30-50ppm) and keeping it level. You may have to change your res more frequentlu of your having stability issues. See what happens. One issue with NFT/aero is that it doesn't need a large res to run- this is cool. BUT your nutrients will flux very quickly if your res is small. Larger res can absorb more heat from your roots too, and then let it go while it sits (hopefully). See what happens. Sounds like you have thirsty ladies.

 

[Citizen024]

Water chiller add heat to your room. So guess what? Got to be able to handle that. AND- because it is added to your room, it can get back in your res, so its best to insulate the rez too. AC and exhaust fans are hard to get to work together. I'll stop there.

 

[waterwise]

What is too cold for the res temps?

 

[HeadyPete]

I agree that you are feeding too much and backing off as you have done is the correct action.

The warmer the temps, the less food your plants eat and the more water they consume.

I don't do aero but all the advice given here about low temps sounds spot on to me. Is it possible for your rez to sit directly on a concrete floor? That would help cool it. You may have to put some styrofoam under in the winter if it gets too cold.