How to prevent and get rid of algae on rockwool?

[Mad Lab]

Although some will suggest you don't need the covers because the algae itself will do very little harm to your roots, the reason most growers use covers are not so much for the algae itself.

Fungus gnats will lay eggs in your algae. So really your trying to avoid a gnat infestation here, especially near the coast or in wet areas such as Washington and Oregon.

 

[SKUNK420]

Although some will suggest you don't need the covers because the algae itself will do very little harm to your roots, the reason most growers use covers are not so much for the algae itself.

Fungus gnats will lay eggs in your algae. So really your trying to avoid a gnat infestation here, especially near the coast or in wet areas such as Washington and Oregon.

hell yeah, algae equals fungus gnats.
to prevent algae, keep top of block covered. It also helps create a vapor zone where roots grow on surface of rockwool.
To clean algae from blocks I take a rag or sponge soak it with alcohol and lightly wipe the surface of the block, it doesn't all come off but good enough. I feel the alcohol kills most of the microscopic algae crap. Let block dry out as much as possible without letting plant wilt and use a block covers from now on.
Any nutrient with organics will form algae sooner than those without.

 

[PetFlora]

Rock Wool is a bad choice on several levels, although still popular. Once you are done with your grow you toss it and BUY $$$$$ more. Alas, it does not break down easily in the land fills

I slowly morphed my set up into using only a small starter cube + polished ornamental stone (Dollar Store) + net pots. For larger grows, big bags are available from nurserys. Rocks are simple to remove from the roots, then sterilize and reuse

 

[Meison]

Rock Wool is a bad choice on several levels, although still popular. Once you are done with your grow you toss it and BUY $$$$$ more. Alas, it does not break down easily in the land fills

I slowly morphed my set up into using only a small starter cube + polished ornamental stone (Dollar Store) + net pots. For larger grows, big bags are available from nurserys. Rocks are simple to remove from the roots, then sterilize and reuse

Sorry this got to this point but I'm sick tired of you not answering the questions in threads and promoting your own methods only.

Its the same shit you don't stand in your thread, if you are not going to answer the question don't post at all. You aren't helping


You even got on the edge after some people went after you on your thread. Stick to the thread

BTW when are you going to post your g/w results?? We all wanna see those final numbers on that E&F ornamental store system to see how "much better" it is..

hell yeah, algae equals fungus gnats.
to prevent algae, keep top of block covered. It also helps create a vapor zone where roots grow on surface of rockwool.
To clean algae from blocks I take a rag or sponge soak it with alcohol and lightly wipe the surface of the block, it doesn't all come off but good enough. I feel the alcohol kills most of the microscopic algae crap. Let block dry out as much as possible without letting plant wilt and use a block covers from now on.
Any nutrient with organics will form algae sooner than those with out.

h202 in 10% works great to remove the green algae on top of the cubes. Made wonders for me, and figure out it wouldn't hurt the plants if you "splash" them

 

[PetFlora]

Sorry this got to this point but I'm sick tired of you not answering the questions in threads and promoting your own methods only.

Its the same shit you don't stand in your thread, if you are not going to answer the question don't post at all. You aren't helping


You even got on the edge after some people went after you on your thread. Stick to the thread

BTW when are you going to post your g/w results?? We all wanna see those final numbers on that E&F ornamental store system to see how "much better" it is..



h202 in 10% works great to remove the green algae on top of the cubes. Made wonders for me, and figure out it wouldn't hurt the plants if you "splash" them

You're a trip dude.

It's not even your thread, but damn you seem intent to throw negative vibes

Most intelligent people would understand what my answer IMPLIED that a better way of eliminating algae on RW means getting rid of RW in the first place

 

[Mad Lab]

Petflora I enjoy alot of our posts and I don't mind you expressing your opinion on the matter.

I followed alot of your attempted HPA without accumulator threads and learned quite a bit on my HPA journey.

I do understand the distain for rockwool, mostly treating the cubes and getting the limestone out. I don't like throwing the cubes away or wasting water soaking the cubes and flushing them when prepping.

But I have experience in almost every medium. DWC is awesome sure. But keeping up on EWC tea or maybe what some do, h202 and SM-90, no thanks. I can't do Drain to Waste with DWC. As a commercial producer I feel RDWC is not a safe method to keep up on.

If I'm not doing HPA (saving ALL that good stuff you mention Pet), I'm doing small 6x6 rockwool cubes/drip system/drain to waste. Not too much water being wasted on a 6x6 cube, and only a little 6x6 to throw away. I hate throwing away hydroton and I hate reusing it lol.

But thats's just me, my opinion. Most of my clients are using RDWC and I have to come in, fix their problem, and set them up with something easier, so they can get the same great yield but have the safety of an enclosed medium with no openroots.

I get better yields than my RDWC guys with same strain/pheno, veg time and same plant count.

 

[Meison]

You're a trip dude.

It's not even your thread, but damn you seem intent to throw negative vibes

Most intelligent people would understand what my answer IMPLIED that a better way of eliminating algae on RW means getting rid of RW in the first place

Being hypocrite doesn't help either. If you were intelligent as you want to remark, you would have answer the right way instead of telling the guy "you are doing things WRONG drop the RW do as I do"this shit is getting old... and I haven't been around that much but this repeats itself.

You are not eliminating algae from rockwool, you eliminated rw. Not the problem of the algae...

 

[taunt]

Some landfills are asking for rockwool to mix into their landfill......... I didn't save the link or I'd post it......

I use Starter cubes, 4 and 6 inch blocks

 

[StoneyK]

I use reflective bubble insulation. Works great to block an even reflect light back up into the plant, they get plenty of air on top they dont fit tight on top tbey are reusable and best of all diy and super cheap to make.

 

[bluerock]

I don't worry much about algae but I do get concerned about evaporative water loss so I sometimes use block covers. They work fine for both purposes. I have also recently messed with the growstone gnatnix as a topping but that can get messy quick.

As for this 'ornamental stones as a grow media' idea, why not just use pea gravel? Aside from the fact that neither has any water holding capability? I hear some people still use sand.

 

[KangarooLover]

Had some very very minor algae growth on top of a few of my rockwool cubes, just wondering how you guys got rid of yours and steps you take to prevent it......


my guess would be block covers....on the way to pick up some now, but i would like to see what you guys have to say, especially how how to get rid of it

don't know if any one said this but house and garden algen extract I find it works really well also if ur not using aqua flakes

also might wanna switch out of using rock wool it can be hazardous to you health if u inhale it just my 2 cents why I don't use it and that fact its environmental hazard

 

[KangarooLover]

also I prefer hydroton or grow stones over rock wool grow stones kick rockwools ass by far and u can easily replace those rock wool cubes with 7x7 inch pots with either hydroton or growstones please I urge u to make the change for u own health I posted a thread it has info u also can look up rockwool on google

I already know three names in this forum who will talk and defend rock wool till blue in face but people can say what they want to about rockwool it doesn't make it any safer ya when its wet its not as dangerous but asbestos isn't hazardous when wet people still get lung disease from it

 

[KangarooLover]

Petflora I enjoy alot of our posts and I don't mind you expressing your opinion on the matter.

I followed alot of your attempted HPA without accumulator threads and learned quite a bit on my HPA journey.

I do understand the distain for rockwool, mostly treating the cubes and getting the limestone out. I don't like throwing the cubes away or wasting water soaking the cubes and flushing them when prepping.

But I have experience in almost every medium. DWC is awesome sure. But keeping up on EWC tea or maybe what some do, h202 and SM-90, no thanks. I can't do Drain to Waste with DWC. As a commercial producer I feel RDWC is not a safe method to keep up on.

If I'm not doing HPA (saving ALL that good stuff you mention Pet), I'm doing small 6x6 rockwool cubes/drip system/drain to waste. Not too much water being wasted on a 6x6 cube, and only a little 6x6 to throw away. I hate throwing away hydroton and I hate reusing it lol.

But thats's just me, my opinion. Most of my clients are using RDWC and I have to come in, fix their problem, and set them up with something easier, so they can get the same great yield but have the safety of an enclosed medium with no openroots.

I get better yields than my RDWC guys with same strain/pheno, veg time and same plant count.

switch those rockwool cubes with 6x6 pots filled with growstones growstones retain water and air better the two thigns roots really need why grow stones for the win buddy

im thinking of doing Drip system with table cuase i am doing DWC to my self along with soil and to be honest soil is nice to when u got a super mix

 

[SKUNK420]

keep the top covered and everything will be fine
Yes its a pain in the ass to water from the top having to remove covers but the results work for me.
I like the idea someone said of making a border around the cube and then filling in with something like hydroton to still let water through but not light. You could also pull up the plastic wrap to create the border but then bottom edge of rockwool is exposed to light but would help dry it out being exposed

petflora do I still need to get rid of my rockwool?

 

[FromHolland]

You need to cover them.

 

[PriznnPlanet]

Cover as best you can with aluminum foil

Panda film FTW

 

[Justagrowin]

algae will not hurt anything,forget about it. It will disapear when the plant gets big. Even if it doesn't it don't matter.

 

[Mad Lab]

algae will not hurt anything,forget about it. It will disapear when the plant gets big. Even if it doesn't it don't matter.

If your going to give advice make sure you give good advice.

The problem is not the algae so much as it is the fact that fungus gnats need algae to lay their eggs/larvae.

So your telling him to welcome gnats? good advice.