RedReign
Active member
I have been dealing with this for more than a month, and I can't find the problem. I have tried everything I can think of. I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction.
About a month ago I put 24 rooted clones in 3 30 gal Rubbermaid tubs, 8 clones per tub. I put 6 mls of FloraNova Grow, 5 mls of Hydroguard, and 5 mls of 3D Organics Third Eye (a root enhancing fungi blend) per gallon of tap water in each tub. They grew a couple of inches in the first 3 days like normal, and then they just sat there for about 10 days, very little to no growth. The tubs were under 2 6 bulb T5's and a 430 HPS, in a room with excellent temps and airflow. Each tub has a GH 4 outlet airpump and 4 6" airstones, so the roots have plenty of air.
I figured it had to be the Third Eye since I had never used it before. So I emptied the tubs and cleaned them with a mild beach solution. I rinsed the tubs very well and also rinsed off the roots of each plant/netpot. The roots looked perfect and there was no bugs, root rot, etc. I refilled the tubs 6mls of FloraNova Bloom per gallon and tap water, nothing else. They seemed to do better, grew a couple of more inches the first 3 or 4 days, and then the same thing happened, little to know growth for the next week or so.
At this point I figure it has to be the tap water, which was 8.2 ph, 125 ppm and a little cloudy at first, but it would clear up in about 5 seconds. I installed a Merlin Pro and the water is now 7.5 ph and 10-20 ppm. So this time I move the tubs into another room and put them under 2k MH. This room is sealed, with CO2 (about 700 ppm for veg), A/C, good airflow, etc. Pretty much ideal conditions just like the last room. I filled the tubs with 6mls of FloraNova Bloom again, but this time it was from a brand new bottle, and the RO water. Again they looked like they were coming around for the first few days and then nothing for the next week or so.
Each time the tubs were about 1.5 EC (750 ppms), 5.8 ph, and water temps about 70 degrees. Pretty much ideal rez conditions. So I decided to push them up to 2 EC. That was about a week ago and they still aren't growing and still look like crap.
The PH and EC have been very steady during this whole ordeal. The rez temps have been perfect the whole time, there are no bugs, there are no signs of root rot. Conditions have pretty much been ideal during this whole ordeal.
I have grown in DWC for the last 7+ years and have never had any type of growth issue. More often than not they would veg too fast. I vegged 8 plants per 30 gal tub under a 430 hps, with tap water and 6 mls per gallon of FloraNova Bloom the whole time.
I am at my wits end. I don't understand how this set up worked perfect for me for many years and now I'm having these problems. The only changes have been the new location, new tubs (but the exact same brand and size), and the tap/RO water at the new site.
Here are some pics.
About a month ago I put 24 rooted clones in 3 30 gal Rubbermaid tubs, 8 clones per tub. I put 6 mls of FloraNova Grow, 5 mls of Hydroguard, and 5 mls of 3D Organics Third Eye (a root enhancing fungi blend) per gallon of tap water in each tub. They grew a couple of inches in the first 3 days like normal, and then they just sat there for about 10 days, very little to no growth. The tubs were under 2 6 bulb T5's and a 430 HPS, in a room with excellent temps and airflow. Each tub has a GH 4 outlet airpump and 4 6" airstones, so the roots have plenty of air.
I figured it had to be the Third Eye since I had never used it before. So I emptied the tubs and cleaned them with a mild beach solution. I rinsed the tubs very well and also rinsed off the roots of each plant/netpot. The roots looked perfect and there was no bugs, root rot, etc. I refilled the tubs 6mls of FloraNova Bloom per gallon and tap water, nothing else. They seemed to do better, grew a couple of more inches the first 3 or 4 days, and then the same thing happened, little to know growth for the next week or so.
At this point I figure it has to be the tap water, which was 8.2 ph, 125 ppm and a little cloudy at first, but it would clear up in about 5 seconds. I installed a Merlin Pro and the water is now 7.5 ph and 10-20 ppm. So this time I move the tubs into another room and put them under 2k MH. This room is sealed, with CO2 (about 700 ppm for veg), A/C, good airflow, etc. Pretty much ideal conditions just like the last room. I filled the tubs with 6mls of FloraNova Bloom again, but this time it was from a brand new bottle, and the RO water. Again they looked like they were coming around for the first few days and then nothing for the next week or so.
Each time the tubs were about 1.5 EC (750 ppms), 5.8 ph, and water temps about 70 degrees. Pretty much ideal rez conditions. So I decided to push them up to 2 EC. That was about a week ago and they still aren't growing and still look like crap.
The PH and EC have been very steady during this whole ordeal. The rez temps have been perfect the whole time, there are no bugs, there are no signs of root rot. Conditions have pretty much been ideal during this whole ordeal.
I have grown in DWC for the last 7+ years and have never had any type of growth issue. More often than not they would veg too fast. I vegged 8 plants per 30 gal tub under a 430 hps, with tap water and 6 mls per gallon of FloraNova Bloom the whole time.
I am at my wits end. I don't understand how this set up worked perfect for me for many years and now I'm having these problems. The only changes have been the new location, new tubs (but the exact same brand and size), and the tap/RO water at the new site.
Here are some pics.
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I'm using 7.6 pH, 0.5 EC tap water. I too would've first pinnned blame on the new kid and done a 5% bleach solution for cleaning. I'd probably try it without the Hydrogaurd, too. With res temps at 70º or less, I don't know that you need it. After that, I'd start wondering if I picked the wrong mother
