New RDWC Grow - Going Sterile for the First Time

[SweetLeafGrow]

Greetings Cultivators!

I recently started a new RDWC grow after my last harvest was complete. I have 3 RDWC systems but only two chillers and I need to keep my production up. I cannot afford to spring for a new chiller at this time so I have chose to start up this new system going STERILE for the first time. I prefer to run live but it's just not an option for me right now.

Here are the specifics of this grow.

RDWC single plant site with external res outside of tent (yea, the hump is present and accounted for) - total volume of water in the system is ~12.5 gallons
Running the strain Tropic of Censer by Brother Mendel Genetics started from clone
Running GH Trio + GH Calmag + Potassium Silicate + H2O2
MarsHydro TS-2000 for veg - switching to Spider Farmer SE 3000 for flower
misc fans

This clone has not had a good start, long story but it was supposed to go in another grow but I decided they were not healthy enough so I changed things up. This was the best one of 4 that I kept and threw the other 3 out. Soooo, not off to the greatest start but I do hope I can get this gal healthy enough to get a decent harvest and get some experience running a sterile res.

She was originally in a live system before I pulled her out and she has been in this new home for about 3 days. I'm seeing some minor improvement in the plant, roots look pretty good, no smell or slime despite temps in the res reaching 75F toward the end of the day....cools off at night, we are still very much in winter here.

I got a gallon of 12% h2o2 and diluted it down with 3 parts RO water and 1 part 12%, which gives me a diluted solution of 3% h2o2 with no fillers that the 3% from the store contains. I'm using 5 ml per gallon of this 3% based on 12 gallons and testing for h2o2 with low level testing strips to get to around 10 ppm h2o2, see photo. So far, I have had to add that 60 ml every day as when I test in the morning, I am showing zero ppm h2o2. I am wondering if this is going to be a daily thing?

PPM's are around 850 and to me doesn't seem to be too high so far. I used early growth medium feed guidelines to get my ratios of brown-green-pink in the GH trio line. If it's too much I will dilute it down but so far she doesn't seem to be too offended. Light is about 24" above set at 25%. Daytime temps have been 75+ with the RH around 60-65%.

I got in today and did some LST on this gal for the first time, removed some of the fans that were looking rough and some branches that will not make it to the canopy.

Hoping to hear from other DWC guys and especially if you are running sterile. This is my first time going this route, a little nervous about it but excited at the same time.

 

[Creeperpark]

You look like you are off to a good start after all the little setbacks. The pH range of pure H2O2 is below 4.5 so it will not stay the same when mix with your nutrient water. Keep posting and some other DWC guys will be around. Thanks for sharing your hard work.

 

[steamroller]

Very happy to be here!

 

[Smokedareefer]

You look like you are off to a good start after all the little setbacks. The pH range of pure H2O2 is below 4.5 so it will not stay the same when mix with your nutrient water. Keep posting and some other DWC guys will be around. Thanks for sharing your hard work.

You mention some dwc guys would be around.
I too grow in hydro. RDWC

Is there a area/place on the site where we could find other growers playing in the water. Tia

 

[BongBert]

If your water might get too cold, a small aquarium heater with a timer might help keep the water at least at a fixed temperature. Jacking up the reservoir with some styrofoam can also do wonders if they are not on the freezing cold floor.

Looks solid, I like to watch from the quiet corner.

 

[rvansteensel]

Well today is your lucky day

 

[rvansteensel]

 

[Smokedareefer]

The first video mentions keeping the water @58 deg.
Isn't that too cold?

In my system i keep the water temp @ 68 deg the same as the op

 

[londoncitygenetics]

Hey I have been growing RDWC for over a decade and after going through the beneficial bacteria option I have settled on 100% synthetic nutes and a sterile rez combined with a chiller nothing beats it.

Once that clone grows over the bucket it will help shade the rez lowering temps considerably, h2o2 needs applying often as it rapidly dissolves, it can also corrode root hairs if too strong.

A chiller (preferably oversized) is essential imo as its really the cold aerated water that stops the bad bacteria forming, that being said it defo can be done without.

So far so good!

 

[DARKSIDER]

You mention some dwc guys would be around.
I too grow in hydro. RDWC

Is there a area/place on the site where we could find other growers playing in the water. Tia

Indoor Grows - Hydro

 

[rvansteensel]

The first video mentions keeping the water @58 deg.
Isn't that too cold?

In my system i keep the water temp @ 68 deg the same as the op

idk but the product works

 

[SweetLeafGrow]

Yea, I was always under the assumption that 58F would be way low and the plant would probably grow, but not to her potential, would be my guess.

Hey I have been growing RDWC for over a decade and after going through the beneficial bacteria option I have settled on 100% synthetic nutes and a sterile rez combined with a chiller nothing beats it.

Once that clone grows over the bucket it will help shade the rez lowering temps considerably, h2o2 needs applying often as it rapidly dissolves, it can also corrode root hairs if too strong.

A chiller (preferably oversized) is essential imo as its really the cold aerated water that stops the bad bacteria forming, that being said it defo can be done without.

So far so good!

Thanks for chiming in @londoncitygenetics . Yea if I had another chiller I would be running it, just not happening right at the moment.

I understand that a chiller is necessary if running live, at least in my situation. I've tried to run without it and had root problems. I'm running this time, for the first time, sterile using h2o2 around 10 ppm....trying to keep my production up with the equipment I have.

I am wondering how often I need to add the h2o2? Testing it 24 hours after adding in 10 ppm, it's gone to zero. Should I amend every day or let it ride for a couple of days between adding more h2o2? I've read where you only need to add the h2o2 ever 3 days or so but I would have to add way too much for it to last that long. I'd like to stay under that 15 ppm to avoid damaging the roots any more than needed.

 

[londoncitygenetics]

A chiller is really always necessary as the 18°c temp kills off all the bad bacteria and is the perfect temp for oxygenation leading to super fast root growth.

I use a product called silver bullet only as a guarantee, I know at that temp I'll never see a bad root.

I dont think its available stateside so you'll need Hypochlorous Acid aka pool shock (get ready for white roots lol)

Under current systems sells it (clear rez?) if you have lots of money if not make sure you get calcium hypochlorite (adds calcium) NOT sodium (adds salt) .... I used this for a year or so, if I can find my old dilution rates I'll post them if not Google HAcid and undercurrent systems and you should find the recipie

One dose a week should see you through!

 

[SweetLeafGrow]

Under current systems sells it (clear rez?) if you have lots of money if not make sure you get calcium hypochlorite (adds calcium) NOT sodium (adds salt) .... I used this for a year or so, if I can find my old dilution rates I'll post them if not Google HAcid and undercurrent systems and you should find the recipie

One dose a week should see you through!

Thank you! I will do some research on your suggestions. If I had the cash to get another chiller, I would go live but I just don't at this time and going forward with what I have on hand now.

This plant has not been doing well and I do think I figured it out thanks to @Smokedareefer helping me out with feeding and nutrient numbers. From what I can tell, this grow, my Mac Dragon grow, and the Mendel's Aether grow have had similar over feeding issues and I guess I just needed to see what that looks like for myself....I think I have seen the light!

So I diluted the Mendels Aether down and also this Tropic of Censer, which is in the sterile res in a different tent. ToC was almost at 900 ppm and I diluted that down to ~550, got the Aether down to similar numbers.

ToC had just been looking very unhealthy, not really drinking and I wondered about several possible causes. One thing I am noticing about these two Mendel strains is they seem to be genetically disposed to a lighter green color and that is what has thrown me off thinking they were N deficient when they were not. Learning to read these strains has been a challenge but learning a ton here.

First, I'm flying by the seat of my pants and getting the 3rd tent going while juggling fans, pumps, and such from 2 tents and extra parts, and also one oscillator fan took a total dump on my a couple of weeks ago so I have to replace that. Environment in this tent has not been spot on so I wonder if that was the issue....trying to keep things trimmed enough to avoid any mold issues....end of the month I have a check coming and will be able to get what I need then. This has been an issue but I do not think the cause of what I am seeing.

Secondly, doing sterile for the first time and I wondered if I could just be doing it wrong.....don't think that is the case.

Then, Smoke showed me how I have been overfeeding and I think he is right. I diluted that res down yesterday and this morning she already looks better. I'm not seeing the weak and wilted, downward tacoing of the fans on the new growth and it looks like she might be trying to pray a bit, woohoo. Soon I will be able to dial this tent's environment in better and I think it should be fine, better late than never, but.....better never late.

I'll get more photos and update this when I have more time. I also want to get her in better shape before putting up embarrassing photos, lol. Pretty sure I know what is wrong, thanks Smoke and Moe!

 

[Moe.Red]

Sorry man, totally missed this thread.

I think you can get away with once a week on the H2O2. It takes time for a colony to develop, good or bad.

Knowing your situation and location, less is more. Even if you have pythium rampant in your environment (you don't - look at Smoke who uses nothing) you are killing it every week.

 

[DARKSIDER]

Sorry man, totally missed this thread.

I think you can get away with once a week on the H2O2. It takes time for a colony to develop, good or bad.

Knowing your situation and location, less is more. Even if you have pythium rampant in your environment (you don't - look at Smoke who uses nothing) you are killing it every week.

Agree with Moe once a week for h202 is what i use food grade..